Big Cat On The Loose In Detroit May Be Hybrid Savannah Breed
This is not the kind of stray cat you want to offer a saucer of milk, or even encounter on the street. For the last several weeks, Detroiters have reported seeing a large animal that has been described as up to four feet tall and as long as an 85-pound Doberman prowling their neighborhood in the northeastern area of the city.
Savannah Cat (domestic)
According to WJBK-TV in Detroit, an expert believes the animal could be a Savannah cat, a hybrid breed that is a cross between an African serval and a domestic house cat. The breed was first introduced in the 1980s.
African Serval Cat
The cat is putting residents on edge. Fourteen-year-old Paul Hatley told the Detroit Free Press he ran into the animal recently.
“It wasn’t normal,” he said. “It didn’t run away like normal cat. It just stared at you. … It was scary.”
According to the Detroit Free Press, several residents have spotted the cat, which has unique markings. They reportedly called Detroit Animal Control, who didn’t respond. On Friday, the Michigan Humane Society told the paper it would investigate the situation.
Paws for the Cause Feral Cat Rescue has also set traps for the cat, Laura Wilhelm-Bruzek told WDIV-TV.
“What I think is that someone took this breed of cat on and then probably dumped it here,” she said. “They’re the wildest version of a domestic cat but they are not wild animals, they have been domesticated.”
Well it seems the humans that care didn’t move fast enough and the cat was shot and killed. Turns out the cat was a family pet (which explains why it didn’t run away) and yes, it was extra large. But it had escaped from the family home and not being micro chipped was wandering lost until some gun happy imbecile decided to shoot it.
Aside from the shame of destroying a beautiful animal, these are very rare and expensive cats.
- Males and females that are from a first generation who have more than 53% serval in them can cost anywhere from $7,000 to $23,000.
- 2nd generations (29% serval) can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $6,000. 3rd generations (16% serval) can cost anywhere $1,000 to $6,500, while a 4th generation can cost $1,000 to $2,800.
I can’t even begin to express how sickened I am by this outcome. Human’s are intolerant and we think we own the world. They couldn’t let the Animal Control people do their jobs and handle this. I’m sure the person who shot the cat is telling tales of his bravery in the face of this dangerous house cat. Grrrrr.
Is it any wonder that we have wars and crime and mayhem when we can’t even give a house cat a chance to find it’s home.