It was fucking purring, man. Quill melted a little, because space tigers were apparently just really big fucking cats and the purr was the kind that made the animal actually kinda vibrate. Very cute. Must have, 10/10.
Gamora was going to give him such looks later.
In the end though, it was pretty easy stealing that tiger. All it really took was... well. Not at all discreetly leading it out of the Space Bar and back toward the door.