The U.S. Department of Agriculture says a circus act featured at two Harrah's casinos in Nevada has not been treating its big cats properly.

 

The Associated Press reports the department cited Dirk Arthur's Wild Magic show in December for declawing lions and tigers, keeping a snow leopard in a rusty cage and chaining a bobcat in a dangerous way. The USDA also found that the animals' cages were too small.

 

In January, the USDA issued a formal warning about the way the animals were living.

 

The show is featured in Harrah's casinos in Reno in northern Nevada, and in Laughlin, outside of Las Vegas.

 

Gary Thompson, a spokesman for Caesars Entertainment Corp., which owns the casinos, says Dirk Arthur is correcting the problems.

 

Failure to rectify the issues could result in a fine or criminal prosecution. (AP)