Starved lion cub found in tiny cage in empty Paris apartment

The little big cat was hired by a man who wanted to show off an exotic pet

The lion cub was found in an abandoned apartment in a Paris suburb (Facebook/Pompiers de Paris)

A half-starved lion cub has been discovered in an abandoned Paris apartment.

The animal, which was being kept in a small cage, was being hired by a 24-year-old man who wanted to show off, police said.

Officers began tracking down the little big cat after the man posted selfies with his exotic pet.

The man was discovered at his home east of Paris, having left the lion cub at an empty apartment in the Noisy-le-Sec suburb.

Firefighters said the animal was “wasting away” before they captured it with a lasso.

“It is important to remind everyone that wild animals are neither domestic animals nor toys and are subject to specific regulations,” they wrote in a Facebook post.

The man was taken into custody on charges of illegally keeping a wild animal and the cub is being cared for by an animal rights group.