Joe Biden is expected to sign a bill which will end Tiger King -style cat ownership in a bid to end cruel roadside zoos.
The president will put an end to private breeders and owners of roadside zoos in the US and ensure only universities and certified zoos can hold tigers, lions, leopards, jaguars and other large cats.
The House of Representatives voted for the Big Cat Public Safety Act in July with the US Senate passing the bill this week.
Following the bills passing, criticism towards private breeders has long been levelled at people who can fill out paperwork and purchase a $30 (£24) licence to own big cats.
Many conservation groups have argued for the bill saying the abusive treatment of big cats often creates a risk to the members of the public - especially with roadside zoos.
Susan Millward, executive director of the Animal Welfare Institute, told The Guardian the bill will put an end to making money off traumatised animals.
She said: "We must end the exploitative and dangerous trade in pet big cats, and ensure that no more cubs are ripped from their mothers at birth to be traumatised for profit."
Animal welfare groups estimate there are fewer than 4,000 tigers left in the wild with almost double kept in the US in small zoos or in confined gardens as pets.
It is thought the new legislation will see big cats continue living with their owners but zoos or displays open to the public will have to remain 15ft away or put up a barrier to stop close contact with the animals.
Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund, said the bill is the “death knell for the cub petting industry”.
The hugely popular 2020 Netflix documentary Tiger King highlighted the captivity of cats in Joe Exotic's roadside zoo in Oklahoma.
Since the documentary's release he has been convicted on animal abuse charges as well as an attempted plot to kill the rival big cat owner Carole Baskin.
Exotic is currently serving a 21-year jail sentence.
Carole has backed the new bill to stop big cats being owned by members of the public.
Mike Quigley, a Democratic lawmaker who put forward the bill, said: “For too long, lax laws have allowed private citizens to own big cats.
“Big cats are wild creatures – they should not be subjected to a life of confinement, where they are used and abused for entertainment purposes.
“Additionally, the possibility of one of these cats escaping, will no longer loom over our communities and first responders.
"These cats will be safer, and so will we. I look forward to President Biden signing this bill into law.”
