At 63, Mario Infanti, known as ‘Catman,’ has formed an extraordinary bond with a 200-pound mountain lion named Sasha, whom he considers his “daughter.”
With his wife’s support, Infanti has been sleeping alongside the massive feline for years in their Cape Coral, Florida home.
Infiniti, a professional jazz guitarist, adopted Sasha as a kitten; from that moment, she became part of the family.
“She’s more like family to me than many of my relatives. She’s the love of my life, my 200-pound daughter,” he explained. Infanti and his wife Lenore, 53, have been raising Sasha since birth, caring for her around the clock.
Originally, Sasha shared the couple’s bed, but they had to make other arrangements as she grew larger and started to chew on the furniture.
The couple constructed a 3,000-square-foot outdoor space with a pool, toys, and trees for her to enjoy.
Despite this, Sasha still loves spending time indoors, often curling up with Infanti while he watches TV.
Although their connection is strong, Infanti fully understands Sasha’s power. He admits, “She’s about four times stronger than me.”
While Sasha has never shown serious aggression, Infanti stays cautious, knowing she could accidentally harm someone through rough play.
To prevent any incidents, he carries a bottle of vinegar, which cougars can’t tolerate, as a precaution.
Having been fascinated with big cats since childhood, Infanti moved to Florida to take advantage of the state’s more lenient regulations regarding exotic pets.
He and Lenore have made significant sacrifices for Sasha, including deciding not to have children and spending over $118,000 on her care, with $33,700 going toward her custom habitat.
Despite some criticism, Infanti insists Sasha is better off with them than in the wild, where she would face threats like shrinking habitats, cars, and hunters.
“People say she should be in the wild, but how much of it is left? She’s safer with us, well-fed, and loved,” he said.
Lenore also forms a close relationship with Sasha, though she jokes about being the “second cougar” in her husband’s life.
When Infanti is away performing, Sasha often meows longingly for him, and Lenore has learned to feed her at dusk, Sasha’s favorite time for meals. On tour, Infanti even calls home to talk to Sasha.
Though keeping a cougar as a pet has challenges, Infanti is clear about his dedication: “It’s a lifetime commitment. You shouldn’t have one if you’re not ready to devote everything to caring for an animal like this.”
With Sasha only 14 and cougars in captivity living up to 30 years, the Infantis look forward to many more years with their unique family member.
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