BCSPCA Website - September 22, 2003 - BC SPCA Seizes Serval (Cheetah-like Wild Cat)

The BC SPCA has seized under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act an exotic cat called a Serval that has been missing in the Lower Mainland for the past week. The animal looks like a small cheetah and is native to the savannahs of Eastern Africa. The captive-bred cat is currently highly stressed and is the care of a Lower Mainland veterinarian with an expertise in exotic cats. Police have still not located the cat's guardian.

"For the first several hours the cat was showing signs of feline stress -- dilated pupils and alert posture," says Craig Naherniak, general manager, humane education. "However, by late in the morning, he did begin to eat, drink and eliminate (in a litter box). He has been looking more relaxed and performing some grooming behaviour but because we don't know the animal it is difficult to determine the cat's overall condition, which is why we are having him placed in a veterinarian's care for assessment."

The animal was reported stolen by a woman who was reportedly living out of a car in Surrey. It is still unclear how the woman came to be in possession of the animal, though while international trade is restricted without permit, once in captivity breeders can sell the offspring to anyone wishing to own one. "What people fail to recognize is that these are essentially wild animals with all the basic drives and instincts of wild animals," says Craig Naherniak, general manager, humane education. "While it may be legal to own one caring adequately for the animal is another matter not to mention the potential risks to the owner, to the public and to property."

Serval cats can be highly destructive and aggressive once they reach maturity if not constantly handled. Servals are agile, active animals that enjoy climbing and travelling great distances for food. These animals also need huge amounts of space. In their natural environment they would travel many kilometres per day. They will also eat virtually anything in a captive
environment including electrical wires, towels, soap, furniture and any household item they can get hold of despite these items causing serious digestive problems making them impossible to keep in a home environment. Also, males will scent mark up to 46 times per hour in their native habitat. In captivity servals are most often declawed to make them safer around people.

The serval in BC SPCA custody will be temporarily housed under the direction of a veterinarian with wild cat expertise pending the outcome of an investigation.”
www.spca.bc.ca

CKNW NEWS - “Cat update Sep 22 - 3:36:00PM

VANCOUVER(CKNW/AM980) -- The SPCA will be doing a detailed probe of the serval issue before deciding where the cheetah-like cat lives permanently.

Loki the Serval is off to a vet for a checkup and then to an undisclosed location after being turned over to Delta Police.

Eileen Drever with the SPCA says their investigation is on-going.

They've not yet talked with the cat's owner.

Drever says the cat is not going anywhere until their probe is complete.

She adds if charges are laid, the SPCA could go to court for a custody order.

Last week the cat was being kept in the back of a car when it was stolen in Newton. “