The tiger cat that escaped on Thursday in the Helmond district of Houtsdonk is back home. The feline predator, a serval, ran off on Thursday. The animal walked home again on Saturday but appears to have some serious injuries, says its owner.
A search for the animal by local residents previously yielded nothing. According to the Helmond animal ambulance, because the animal only listens to its owner.
Seen nearby
According to messages in the neighborhood app, the tiger cat was seen between bushes, in trees and near a football field. A serval is a wild cat that normally lives on African savannahs. The animal cannot be compared to a normal domestic cat.
“It is a real predator and people should therefore not try to catch it themselves,” the animal ambulance said earlier.
Owner overjoyed
The Helmond serval has been castrated and tamed, so it would not simply attack people. The owner is overjoyed that the tiger cat is back. “The animal had to be urgently taken to the vet,” she says. “It had injuries to a hind and a front leg. It was X-rayed to see if it had any broken bones, but fortunately it looks good. It is very special that the animal was still able to walk despite its injuries.”
The owner does not know how the animal could have been injured. “In any case, we immediately took him to the vet, waiting until Monday was no longer possible.”
List of prohibited animals from 2024
From January 1, 2024, servals will be on a list of prohibited animals. Anyone who has one at home can keep the animal, but it may no longer be bred.
There was a busy search in the area for the tiger cat: