ROYAL OAK, Mich. (WWJ) – Royal Oak police say four African caracal cats have been removed from a woman’s home and sent to a sanctuary in Indiana.
One of the cats escaped from the owner’s home on East LaSalle around 8 p.m. Monday night and police were able to capture it a short time later and return it to the owner. She was issued a citation for keeping non-domesticated cats – a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500 and/or 90 days in jail.
Some reports say the cat was found on someone else's porch Monday night before it was returned.
It wasn’t the first time Royal Oak police have had to deal with the caracals, which can grow up to four feet and 25-40 lbs.
Back in October the cats escaped, prompting police to tell other residents to bring their small pets indoors while they searched. They were eventually captured and returned to the owner, who was told she had to surrender the cats.
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Police believe the owner may have sent them to a friend’s house, possibly near Toledo, only to bring them back sometime in the last few weeks.
After Monday’s incident, the owner agreed to surrender the cats to an animal sanctuary in Indiana.
Royal Oak Police Commissioner Brandon Kolo told WWJ the animals "clearly wanted out" of their enclosure.
"They were too confined. They're wild. They roam, they hunt, so the sanctuary will provide that for them, and it will keep our residents safe, which is our number one goal," he said.
On Tuesday officers returned to the woman’s home and were assisted by animal control officers from Berkley, Livonia and Redford as they removed them to be transported to the sanctuary.
One of the cats had to be sedated during the ordeal.
Kolo said Monday night the city was "in the process of figuring out our long-term approach to non-domesticated animals.”
“In the meantime, we have passed a moratorium on dangerous animals - which includes African Caracal cats,” he said.
Kolo also noted the city has laws that allow them to remove nuisance animals.
He said the situation “remains frustrating,” as the commission has policies in place to prevent this from happening.
“The neighbors and our community deserve better,” he said.
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