The ability to legally possess a cheetah is now strictly limited to specific authorized entities:
: Under the Big Cat Public Safety Act , it is illegal for private citizens to buy, breed, or possess big cats, including cheetahs. how to buy a cheetah
: Cheetahs are listed in CITES Appendix I , the highest level of international protection. Commercial international trade of wild-caught cheetahs is strictly prohibited. The ability to legally possess a cheetah is
: Only AZA-accredited zoos , research facilities, and registered sanctuaries may legally possess them under strict federal and state permits. or possess big cats
For the rare entities (like zoos) that can legally care for a cheetah, the financial requirements are massive: