This 40-Pound African Cat Is Reunited With His Owners After Running Away And Spending 3 Days In The Wild
Spartacus is a beautiful 40-pound African serval cat that was adopted from a zoo four years ago. For the past few years, he’s been living with his family in Merrimack, New Hampshire. It’s worth mentioning that the family owns him legally and has a permit from the state’s department.
Turns out, the cat had recently gone missing after getting spooked by the family dog and running away. But don’t worry, we’ve got some good news—the cat has been found and he’s alright!
More info: Instagram
Apparently, this 40-pound African serval cat went missing after getting spooked by the family dog
Image credits: spartacustheserval
Apparently, Spartacus ran away after getting spooked by the family dog. “The dog didn’t want to come in last night. So my wife opened the front door. The dog and the cat spooked each other and off he went. He’s gone,” one of the owners told AP News. The family spent most of the night looking for the cat in the woods near their home. Police were also informed about the missing cat.
The search was pretty tricky since the police weren’t really sure what to look for
Image credits: spartacustheserval
According to the Daily Mail, the search was pretty tricky for the officers since they weren’t that sure what to look for. “They had no idea; I had to show them a picture of what they normally look like. So, like I said, this was uncharted territory. It was out of the norm for most people here,” Merrimack’s animal control officer Haylie Gulino told the Daily Mail.
After three days, the cat was finally found near its home
Image credits: spartacustheserval
After three whole days spent in the New Hampshire wild, the cat was finally found safe and sound. “The serval cat that was missing has been found. It was trapped near its home and is in good health. It’s been reunited with its owner. Thank you for all the interest and shares,” Merrimack Police Department announced the good news on Facebook.
Spartacus was adopted from a zoo 4 years ago
Image credits: spartacustheserval
“Dean and I want to thank everyone for your help and support. Spartacus is home safe and warm. I personally can’t express my gratitude enough! I have a bond with this cat and he is my person,” the owner wrote in a Facebook post.
“I personally can’t express my gratitude enough! I have a bond with this cat and he is my person”
Image credits: spartacustheserval
Here’s how people on the internet feel about the good news
74Kviews
Share on FacebookWild animals belong, shockingly, in the WILD. Servals aren't meant to be pets. For pity's sake. ... Wolves aren't dogs, servals aren't housecats, do we need to even say this?!
Yes we should stop domesticating wild animals, but releasing already domesticated "wild" animals is a death sentence to the poor critter.
Load More Replies...I question the type of 'zoo' that allowed this cat to be adopted, and not reintroduced into the wild (bit difficult from the US to Africa), or at the very least, a breeding program. He's in a cage. Wrong on so many levels.
a closing-down zoo? I wondered that myself too. It sounds like they had to place it elsewhere.
Load More Replies...Legal or not - animals like this one are not pets. As it was born in a zoo, it ought to have gone either to a rehab programme meant for release in the wild, or to another zoo where it is treated and taken care of according to the needs of a wild cat. But not as a pet in a private household. This is neither funny nor cute. Shame on this website for giving these people extra publicity. This entry should be deleted.
What wild? There will be no wilderness on this planet in near future.
Load More Replies...if you look at the instagram for him, they're providing for him as well as someone in new hampshire who also has enough money to adopt and care for a serval could be expected to. yes, he should be in the wild, with the next best option being a sanctuary, but he lives with them, and appears to have bonded very closely with them. he doesn't live in a cage 24/7, he seems to live as well as the better-off parrots do, with lots of enrichment and "out" time. without knowing details, it's a little unorthodox but he looks happy and healthy.
Ran away from home to be in the wild....ran away from the wild to be home. There fixed it for you.
Would a serval from a zoo be able to survive in the wilds of New Hampshire?
Load More Replies...Wait, the wild animals from africa didn't went to the wild and it was a problem??? This is a wild animal and we don't keep them as pets here.
All this criticism when we don't know the whole story - was this serval born in the zoo, if so, it can't be rehabilitated to the wild, esp as it came from Africa. It is also safer in this home, than out in the 'wild' where it can get shot by a trophy hunter who can't afford to bag a lion. Here in South Africa, there are so-called 'game parks' where lions roam freely, only to be shot by rich American 'hunters', like Donald Trump's son. This is the Canned Lion Industry. PLEASE SUPPORT ANTI-TROPHY CAMPAIGNS.
NOPE NOPE NOPE. He was not "reunited with his owners," he was forced back into captivity. At least take him to a wildlife center or a good zoo that treats him well and gives him plenty of room to run around. But, Servals belong on the Savannah, not in captivity.
that's the POINT. there is no good zoo where they live
Load More Replies...They aren't running a cat prison. I assume this cat is normally rather chill, but got spooked and behaved in an unusual manner. It happens.
Load More Replies...Wild animals belong, shockingly, in the WILD. Servals aren't meant to be pets. For pity's sake. ... Wolves aren't dogs, servals aren't housecats, do we need to even say this?!
Yes we should stop domesticating wild animals, but releasing already domesticated "wild" animals is a death sentence to the poor critter.
Load More Replies...I question the type of 'zoo' that allowed this cat to be adopted, and not reintroduced into the wild (bit difficult from the US to Africa), or at the very least, a breeding program. He's in a cage. Wrong on so many levels.
a closing-down zoo? I wondered that myself too. It sounds like they had to place it elsewhere.
Load More Replies...Legal or not - animals like this one are not pets. As it was born in a zoo, it ought to have gone either to a rehab programme meant for release in the wild, or to another zoo where it is treated and taken care of according to the needs of a wild cat. But not as a pet in a private household. This is neither funny nor cute. Shame on this website for giving these people extra publicity. This entry should be deleted.
What wild? There will be no wilderness on this planet in near future.
Load More Replies...if you look at the instagram for him, they're providing for him as well as someone in new hampshire who also has enough money to adopt and care for a serval could be expected to. yes, he should be in the wild, with the next best option being a sanctuary, but he lives with them, and appears to have bonded very closely with them. he doesn't live in a cage 24/7, he seems to live as well as the better-off parrots do, with lots of enrichment and "out" time. without knowing details, it's a little unorthodox but he looks happy and healthy.
Ran away from home to be in the wild....ran away from the wild to be home. There fixed it for you.
Would a serval from a zoo be able to survive in the wilds of New Hampshire?
Load More Replies...Wait, the wild animals from africa didn't went to the wild and it was a problem??? This is a wild animal and we don't keep them as pets here.
All this criticism when we don't know the whole story - was this serval born in the zoo, if so, it can't be rehabilitated to the wild, esp as it came from Africa. It is also safer in this home, than out in the 'wild' where it can get shot by a trophy hunter who can't afford to bag a lion. Here in South Africa, there are so-called 'game parks' where lions roam freely, only to be shot by rich American 'hunters', like Donald Trump's son. This is the Canned Lion Industry. PLEASE SUPPORT ANTI-TROPHY CAMPAIGNS.
NOPE NOPE NOPE. He was not "reunited with his owners," he was forced back into captivity. At least take him to a wildlife center or a good zoo that treats him well and gives him plenty of room to run around. But, Servals belong on the Savannah, not in captivity.
that's the POINT. there is no good zoo where they live
Load More Replies...They aren't running a cat prison. I assume this cat is normally rather chill, but got spooked and behaved in an unusual manner. It happens.
Load More Replies...
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