'Wild cat' on the loose in Ohio was a Savannah cat
A reported 'wild cat' on the loose in Ohio turned out to be a pet. Olmsted Township police say officers responded to a residential call Thursday and found a resident's escaped Savannah cat — a domestic-serval hybrid — which was later recaptured in a Lorain County wooded area with police and sheriff's deputies assisting.
Key Takeaways
- Olmsted Township police answered a Thursday report of a 'wild cat' on the loose in a residential area.
- Officers determined the animal was a domesticated Savannah cat that had escaped from its owner.
- Savannah cats are hybrids of domestic cats and African servals.
- The cat fled into woods in Lorain County; snare attempts failed before it was captured and returned for veterinary care.
What happened with the 'wild cat' on the loose?
According to UPI, Ohio police were dispatched after someone reported a 'wild cat' on the loose. Olmsted Township Police said officers responded to the call in a residential area on Thursday.
'Upon further investigation, it was determined the animal was a domesticated Savannah cat that had escaped from its owner,' police said in a news release. Odd animal callouts like this often land in Bizarre News & Florida Man.
What is a Savannah cat?
Savannah cats are hybrids of domestic cats and African servals. That hybrid background helps explain why a loose pet could be reported as a wild cat when seen in a residential neighborhood.
Police said the animal was domesticated and had escaped from its owner, not a wild predator at large in Olmsted Township.
How was the escaped cat finally caught?
After the report, the feline fled into a wooded area in Lorain County. The owner located the animal while accompanied by police and sheriff's deputies.
'Multiple attempts were made to safely capture the animal using a snare; however, those efforts were unsuccessful,' police wrote. 'The animal was finally captured and returned to its owner for veterinary care.'
The 'wild cat' on the loose report ended with the Savannah cat back with its owner after the capture in Lorain County.
Did the snare capture work on the first try?
No. Police said multiple attempts to safely capture the animal with a snare did not succeed. Officers and deputies accompanied the owner through the effort until the cat was finally captured.
Once secured, the Savannah cat was returned to its owner for veterinary care, closing the Thursday wild-cat call for Olmsted Township Police.