Missouri farmers trap what they thought was a 'crazy-looking cat' — ended up being an African serval
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Yueke
Mon, Jul 8, 2024
A wild cat native to Africa was recently found and rescued from a live trap in Missouri after a farmer emailed a tip to a wildlife sanctuary that specializes in big cat care.
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, responded to the emergency rescue email and retrieved an African serval that had been living in the forested area in Ava, Missouri, a small rural city.
In a press release issued on Friday, Jan. 20, the sanctuary revealed that locals had spotted the sub-Saharan cat in the last half year, but they didn’t know it was an exotic animal.
Servals are considered medium-sized carnivorous wild cats that usually live in savanna habitats, according to the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF).
The species is said to be native to more than 35 African countries, and wildlife experts currently recognize 19 subspecies.
Appearance-wise, servals have tawny fur coats with black spots and have long necks, long legs, and large ears, according to the AWF.
"You never know what the day will bring around here," said Tanya Smith, president of the Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, in a statement.
The farmers who found the serval in the live trap provided the animal with venison and water. They also took the cat to a local veterinarian, according to Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge.
Initially, the farmers set the live trap when they noticed feathers and bones had been stashed between their stacked hay bales.
"Less than twelve hours after placing the trap, they discovered an African serval inside," the sanctuary wrote in its rescue announcement.
One of the farmers reportedly told the refuge they thought the serval was a "crazy-looking cat."
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge documented the serval mission in a five-minute, 27-second video, which was posted to Facebook and YouTube on Friday, Jan. 20.
In the video, Smith said the serval appeared to be in "good health" and would be housed in a temporary quarantine station at the Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Arkansas.
She added that the sanctuary team plans to see how the rescued serval will interact with the other servals and bobcats that already live at the refuge.
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge is currently home to a number of big cat species, including tigers, lions, cougars, servals, bobcats, leopards, a single jaguar, and various big cat hybrids, such as ligers, liligers, and tiligers. The refuge also serves as a home to a hyena and a large group of bears.
"Even though the Big Cat Public Safety Act has been passed, small cats and other species are not protected," the refuge wrote in its press release. "It is common for private owners to release exotics into non-native environments."
Experts at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge reportedly suspect their recent serval rescue might have been abandoned by an exotic backyard breeder or a savannah cat breeder.
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge shared a Facebook post on Jan. 20 letting the public know that the serval was determined to be female and is still under observation.
In a health update video posted on Monday, Jan. 23, Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge let its Facebook followers know the rescued serval weighed 29 pounds, showed evidence of being able to bird hunt, and is estimated to be five years old.
The unnamed serval was also found to have fleas and anemia and was scheduled for a same-day partial tail amputation due to frostbite. She will eventually have a dental cleaning.
Those who would like to make a donation and receive naming rights to Turpentine Creek’s newest serval can reach out to Smith via email at [email protected].
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, responded to the emergency rescue email and retrieved an African serval that had been living in the forested area in Ava, Missouri, a small rural city.
In a press release issued on Friday, Jan. 20, the sanctuary revealed that locals had spotted the sub-Saharan cat in the last half year, but they didn’t know it was an exotic animal.
Servals are considered medium-sized carnivorous wild cats that usually live in savanna habitats, according to the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF).
The species is said to be native to more than 35 African countries, and wildlife experts currently recognize 19 subspecies.
Appearance-wise, servals have tawny fur coats with black spots and have long necks, long legs, and large ears, according to the AWF.
"You never know what the day will bring around here," said Tanya Smith, president of the Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, in a statement.
The farmers who found the serval in the live trap provided the animal with venison and water. They also took the cat to a local veterinarian, according to Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge.
Initially, the farmers set the live trap when they noticed feathers and bones had been stashed between their stacked hay bales.
"Less than twelve hours after placing the trap, they discovered an African serval inside," the sanctuary wrote in its rescue announcement.
One of the farmers reportedly told the refuge they thought the serval was a "crazy-looking cat."
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge documented the serval mission in a five-minute, 27-second video, which was posted to Facebook and YouTube on Friday, Jan. 20.
In the video, Smith said the serval appeared to be in "good health" and would be housed in a temporary quarantine station at the Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Arkansas.
She added that the sanctuary team plans to see how the rescued serval will interact with the other servals and bobcats that already live at the refuge.
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge is currently home to a number of big cat species, including tigers, lions, cougars, servals, bobcats, leopards, a single jaguar, and various big cat hybrids, such as ligers, liligers, and tiligers. The refuge also serves as a home to a hyena and a large group of bears.
"Even though the Big Cat Public Safety Act has been passed, small cats and other species are not protected," the refuge wrote in its press release. "It is common for private owners to release exotics into non-native environments."
Experts at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge reportedly suspect their recent serval rescue might have been abandoned by an exotic backyard breeder or a savannah cat breeder.
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge shared a Facebook post on Jan. 20 letting the public know that the serval was determined to be female and is still under observation.
In a health update video posted on Monday, Jan. 23, Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge let its Facebook followers know the rescued serval weighed 29 pounds, showed evidence of being able to bird hunt, and is estimated to be five years old.
The unnamed serval was also found to have fleas and anemia and was scheduled for a same-day partial tail amputation due to frostbite. She will eventually have a dental cleaning.
Those who would like to make a donation and receive naming rights to Turpentine Creek’s newest serval can reach out to Smith via email at [email protected].
Cats and Christmas Trees: Why Pet Experts Say You Shouldn't Scare Felines Away
Some cat owners are scaring their pets with Christmas trees as a way to protect festive decorations, and they’ve been posting their results on TikTok.
Becca Richards is one of many TikTokers who have tested out this tree preservation hack. Her video from Nov. 28, 2021, has racked up views and shows her startling her cat Stella by pointing the large tree at the feline.
"I saw a TikTok saying that if you traumatize your cat with your tree before putting it up they will leave it alone," Richards’ video said.
Richards uploaded follow-up videos letting her followers know that Stella is "fine" and hadn’t touched the Christmas tree since.
Fox News Digital reached out to Richards for comment.
Other TikTokers have documented themselves chasing cats around with their trees, and many users of the app report achieving similar results, but pet experts say this method isn’t the best solution.
"While possibly effective for keeping your cat away from the Christmas tree, scaring your cat away from the Christmas tree is not recommended," New York-based Pumpkin Pet Insurance’s Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Sarah Wooten told Fox News Digital. "This strategy will create conflict in your relationship with your cat, which can lead to additional behavioral or bonding problems down the road."
She continued, "[Scaring cats] may also create fear and anxiety that can result in issues such as redirected aggression toward other people or pets, stress diarrhea, stress cystitis (inflammation in the bladder wall that can result in painful or bloody urination), and inappropriate elimination, or urinating or defecating anywhere in the house other than the litter box."
Instead of using fear to control your cat’s behavior, Wooten suggests cat owners provide an alternative space where cats can spend time and stay occupied.
Monica Freden-Tarant, the director of feline lifesaving at American Pets Alive! – a national education and outreach program for the Austin Pets Alive! shelter – said scaring cats away from Christmas trees "is ill-advised."
"Your cat will simply associate the fear with you, their trusted owner, instead of the innocuous tree," Freden-Tarant told Fox News Digital. "By following this holiday suggestion, you are much more likely to fracture your relationship with your cat than save a single ornament."
If cat owners feel that their Christmas trees need protection, Freden-Tarant said placing tinfoil around the base of a tree is an effective deterrent that won’t "harm your relationship" with your pet.
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Emi Eaton of Oregon told Fox News Digital that "cats are naturally curious" and "the holiday season provides many opportunities for exploration and investigation."
She added that there’s a list of holiday decorations that should be kept out of reach from cats for safety reasons, including real candles, tinsel, metal ornament hooks, glass ornaments, and exposed electric cords. Tree stands should also be secured, said Eaton.
"Rather than use punishment-based techniques, we want to provide our kitties with an opportunity to engage in appropriate exploration. Redirect the cat from the Christmas tree to something like a scratching post or approved cat toy," Eaton said. "Catnip can be an effective attractant and training tool, so feel free to sprinkle it on scratching posts and cat towers. When the cat chooses to explore approved areas, reinforce the desired actions with praise, treats, and affection per the pet’s preference."
She continued, "If your pet seems fixated on climbing the Christmas tree, restrict the pet’s access with the use of collapsible gates. Finally, make sure that your cat always has access to a safe, calm, and familiar space away from the holiday excitement, when wanted."
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