Although tigers are intelligent and playful, they are a real challenge for an animal trainer. They are free spirits and – typical for cats - independent and wilful. A tiger doesn’t take orders and cooperates only when he’s in the mood. So a successful act with tigers is based on the animals having fun with it. Keeping them motivated so they’ll cooperate is the trainer’s job.

In the case of Alexander Lacey, tiger motivation isn’t the only problem for the trainer. The second is the mixed act, with tigers and lions interacting with each other. As a basic principle lions and tigers are compatible, even genetically, though evolution separated them ages ago; but that doesn’t mean that their teamwork is always without problems. To get tigers and lions together doesn’t just require a large amount of sensitivity on the trainer’s side, but powers of observation and empathy as well. He must do justice to the different needs of all of his cats, and he can only lead his mixed group by always being one step ahead of its members.

Alexander Lacey’s successful mixed act was built up with a lot of patience, is rehearsed daily, and works so well because he manages to maintain his cats’ acknowledgment of his role as the alpha every day.