Zoos and menageries once bred exotic-looking hybrid big cats to attract the public just as hybrid small cats (Bengal, Chausie etc) are now bred as pets. The bigger and more ferocious looking, the better the public liked it. Due to conservation efforts, deliberate hybridization is prohibited in most zoos. It still happens in private collections and there are plenty of individuals willing to experiment with breeding different cat species together.

Mutants are natural variations that occur due to spontaneous genetic changes or the expression of recessive (hidden) genes due to inbreeding. White tigers and black leopards are examples of mutations. In the past, the obvious reaction to any unusual big cat was to shoot it for the trophy room. As a result, many interesting mutations may have been wiped out before the genes were passed on. Some colour mutations which would disadvantage a wild big cat are bred in captivity for the sake of curiosity.