Enya
(Deceased Cougar)
Cause of Death: Choked on food

Enya and her brother Fleetwood were born at Big Cat Rescue of breeders Glory and Cocoa. These two were some of the 'cabin cats' that Carole bred and had declawed to sleep unsupervised with paying guests at her bread and breakfast.

These cubs were taken from their mother and bottle raised, then trained to walk on a leash. Since Carole talks about Enya and her littermates (plural) there were probably other cubs in this litter who were sold. Enya grew up in the house with with Elijah, a caracal kitten who was also born at BCR to breeders Cachinga and Kenya.

Unless you believe that you rescue cats to breed them or exploit them out to paying customers, these 7 cats, Enya, Fleetwood, Glory, Cocoa, Elijah, Cachinga, and Kenya, were not rescued or abandoned.

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The Evolving Stories

Wildlife On Easy Street 2000

"Enya was a surprise  born to mother Glory, Glory and father, Cocoa, who was only one year of age when she was born. Male Cougars are generally two before they become sexually mature. Enya was bottle-raised and leash trained by Jamie Veronica. She often participates in educational programs and other events. Enya, and her littermates were filmed, at 10 days old, with their mother, by a crew from the British Broadcasting Company. The footage may be included in a documentary on the Florida Everglades and the Florida Panther. We quit breeding cougars in 1997."

Big Cat Rescue 2006 (Lynx medicine people? Did Carole suffer a psychotic episode after being exposed by Bay News 9?)

"Enya reminds us of the virtue of being someone who is trustworthy.  Have you "let the cat out of the bag" by speaking about something that you should have kept to yourself? Enya has learned from Lynx medicine people, who surround her at Big Cat Rescue, that trust is sacred and that a word whispered in private is to remain private.  Look and see if you are capable of being truly interested in other's ideas.  Lynx are tough teachers and have taught Enya that one cannot learn while they are talking.  It is only when you are listening that you learn anything at all.  Enya urges you to silently wear the Mona Lisa smile and the cat will not have your tongue, but YOU will have demonstrated the power over it."

Big Cat Rescue 2007

"Having this big cat at our sanctuary helps us realize what a cougar’s idea of the “cat and mouse” game really is. Enya is an extremely playful cougar. Each day, she loves to hide and then quickly pounce toward the keepers as they walk the perimeter of her cat-a-tat assuring its security. As the keepers approach her area, she crouches down in the bushes with her ears cocked low on her head and she stalks them until the most opportune moment for her surprise.  As she bounds towards them, the most ironic thing of all is the tiny little cougar voice you will hear. You would think that, with all this bravado, you’d hear a vicious growl.  Instead, you hear the squeaky sound of a cougar playing her favorite game. Despite the little voice she has, the keepers know that you can never let your guard down around Enya or any of these big cats."

Big Cat Rescue (present)

"Enya was born at the sanctuary back before we knew that none of the cats in private hands could serve any conservation effort. She was bottle-raised and leash trained from a very young age. Enya was filmed, when she was just 10 days old with their mother, by a film crew from the British Broadcasting Company. The footage was included in a documentary on the Florida Everglades and the Florida Panther. Just like so many cougars that are born into the pet trade, Enya, although hand raised, grew into her natural instincts and at a year old became unhandleable."