The first few steps into the Big Cat Sanctuary are slow and taken with widened eyes.

This is not in gleeful expectation of the majestic kings of the jungle which visitors will encounter.

It is in shock at the low, gut-wrenching roars of its two best-known residents.

It is unsurprising that a lion’s roar can be heard five miles away once feline fans come across African lions Tiny and Kafara.

The two brothers often clear their throats early in the morning and in the evenings but have decided today they will give a noon performance to visitors of the sanctuary in Smarden, near Ashford.

They pace around the edges of their cage, surveying their territory, before an unusual burst of energy as they chase each other around a well-gnawed rubber tyre onto a platform, where Kafara gives up the game and slumps down.

Despite this generous show of exuberance from two animals which usually sleep for 16 to 20 hours a day, the real treat from these two comes later.

Before that, it is time to explore this tranquil breeding site for a collection of endangered species of big and small cats, run by the World Heritage Foundation.

In the next cage is Manzi, the blonde brother of Kafara and Tiny, who has been separated from his siblings to avoid a dominance battle.

He paws at his cage door as if he is pining for his two chums but really he is just after more food.

More than 50 cats live in varying sized enclosures dotted around the 32 acres of the park.

These range from well known species like snow leopards and jaguars to less famous rusty-spotted cats, jungle cats and servals.

One moment, visitors feel a mixture of fear and reverence as they watch Amur tiger Pan pacing his pen.

Then the mood switches to affection when wandering past snoozy leopard Artur curled up on the floor.

A curious coalition of cheetahs prompt a titter from families lined up along the railings as they fix their glare on a man who draws up in an electric wheelchair.

“Meals on wheels,” he jokes as one lets out a bird-like chirp (cheetahs do not roar like other big cats).

Perhaps the star attraction of the sanctuary is its pride of white lions.

Six females live together in one enclosure, where viewers can get brilliantly clear pictures through glass panels, as opposed to the meshed cages for most of the other animals.

The group are generally docile, licking and lying on top of one another, occasionally getting up to make a half-hearted dart at the glass at an unsuspecting visitor – an all-too-real reminder that these cuddly looking beasts are killers.

After a look at the pumas, lynx, fishing cats and north-Chinese leopards, it is time to head back to Tiny and Kufara, who are once again making a racket.

They quickly quieten down when a keeper arrives with a bucket of steaks and chicken legs.

Although the pair are not among the many former circus animals which have made the Big Cat Sanctuary their home, their next move feels like a trick straight out of the ring.

They jump onto their hind legs with their huge paws stretched up against the cage to take their dinner out of the keeper’s raised hand on the other side of the mesh.

The hand feed is a useful health checking method, allowing staff to see the animal’s paws, face, teeth, eyes and underbelly.

As the largest animal on site, Kafara draws gasps as he towers above the keeper when he climbs up the cage.

As he tries to get down, his claw gets stuck.

“Silly sausage, you’ll have to come up again mate,” says the keeper, lifting up another piece of steak.

Kafara gives a tug with his muscular front leg and his paw comes free with a bang as the cage rattles from the force.

With that he gets his second gasp from the crowd assembled to watch and he jumps up grab another bite.