Imagine the surprise of residents in Merrimack, New Hampshire when they discovered an African wildcat roaming their neighborhood. But what shocked them even more was the realization that this wildcat was someone’s pet!
Usually, it’s the firefighters who come to the rescue when cats get stuck in trees, but this time the police had to step in for a different kind of pet emergency. And let me tell you, this was no ordinary pet.
Meet Lisa and Dean King, the proud owners of Spartacus, a serval—an African wild cat weighing almost 40 pounds. When Spartacus ran away from home, Lisa knew she had to call the Merrimack Police Department for help.
At first, the officers weren’t exactly sure what they were dealing with because they had never even heard of a serval. Lisa showed them pictures of Spartacus, including one where he stretched up to the kitchen counter, giving them a clear sense of just how big he really is.
You see, servals are wild cats native to Africa, typically found in zoos in the United States. It’s not legal to keep a wild cat as a pet in most states, but the Kings were granted a special permit after adopting Spartacus from a Florida zoo four years ago.
Now, none of the neighbors had ever laid eyes on Spartacus before. He had always stayed within his family’s property until this incident. So, what caused Spartacus to make his daring escape into the wild? Well, it was all thanks to the family dog, who frightened him away.
In their quest to find Spartacus, the police took to Facebook, urging residents to report any sightings of the elusive feline. Thankfully, after three days, Lisa and the police were able to announce that Spartacus had been found and safely recovered. He had been trapped not far from home, but he was unharmed. Lisa expressed her gratitude to the hardworking officers for their efforts.
Following the rescue, Lisa created an Instagram account for Spartacus, and let me tell you, he’s become quite the Insta-star! People are captivated by his sleek physique and unique coloring, often marveling at this “majestic” creature. He already has over 1,000 followers and counting!
However, the Kings want to emphasize that not everyone is cut out to care for a wildcat. Even experienced owners like themselves needed a helping hand in this situation.
So, there you have it—the tale of Spartacus, the wildcat who took Merrimack by surprise and captured hearts on Instagram. It’s a reminder that owning a wildcat is no small feat and requires responsible ownership.
