Big Cat on Drugs Captured by Police in the U.S.

Dennis Agyemang Editor

March 19, 2023, 2:38 pm | Read time: 4 minutes

In the U.S., police encountered a serval wildcat with cocaine in its system. This led to a dramatic rescue operation, earning the animal the dubious nickname “Cocaine Cat” in the media.

The police were quite surprised when they encountered a runaway serval during a traffic stop in the U.S. state of Ohio. The wildcat, also known as Leptailurus serval, was being kept illegally by its owner and is currently gaining unfortunate fame online as the “Cocaine Cat.”

In January, police officers encountered the wildcat during a traffic stop. This followed a call to the station reporting a “leopard” sighted in a tree. The animal had escaped from its owner’s vehicle during a traffic check and climbed a tree. The responding officers were able to rescue the serval from the treetop and take it to an animal shelter.

Also of interest: After ban in the U.S.–what happens to big cats in private ownership?

Disturbing Certainty: The Cat Has Cocaine in Its Blood

With the help of a consulted wildcat expert, the shelter staff were able to definitively identify the species. Previously, there had been several speculations. The expert, who had also served as a consultant for the Netflix series “Tiger King,” suspected a serval. This is a long-legged, large-eared wildcat native to sub-Saharan Africa, and its ownership is prohibited in Ohio. A DNA test eventually confirmed the suspicion.

Another test revealed a disturbing finding: The animal had cocaine in its blood. But why was the serval tested for drugs in the first place? According to Ray Anderson from the Cincinnati Animal Care shelter, this has been part of the standard protocol since last year. The trigger was a capuchin monkey named Neo, which the local animal protection agency had confiscated after a veterinarian saw disturbing videos of the animal.

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The footage of the monkey suggested something was wrong with the animal. The veterinarian quickly suspected that the capuchin monkey might have been given the sedative Xanax or cocaine. A subsequent drug test came back positive for amphetamines, allowing the monkey to receive appropriate medical care. Since then, all new arrivals at the shelter are tested for drugs, Anderson reveals, including ordinary dogs and cats if there is reason to suspect.

How Did the Cocaine Get Into the Cat?

Back to Serval Amiry: “When he was with us, he was extremely agitated, which is understandable considering what he experienced that morning, but we were able to calm and treat him,” before he was taken to the Cincinnati Zoo. How the cocaine got into the animal was not disclosed.

The question remains whether the wildcat’s owner deliberately administered the drugs or if it was an “accident” where the animal ingested the drugs. Environmental factors could also be possible. The statement simply reads: “Given the nature of his capture, we cannot currently say whether this was intentional or environmentally induced.”

How the Serval Is Doing Today

Since the shelter involved in rescuing Serval Amiry is not equipped for housing wild animals, the wildcat was transferred to the city zoo. There, the “Cocaine Cat” can now enjoy appropriate care and recover from its dramatic rescue. The serval had a broken leg, which, according to the zoo management, is healing well.

“Amiry is young and very curious. He is exploring his new habitat and eating well, both great signs of progress,” says Linda Castañeda, the lead trainer at the Cincinnati Zoo. “We are working on building his trust and making him feel comfortable in his new home.”

In Ohio Raccoon Caught with Crystal Meth Pipe During Police Check

From Africa Serval Seized in Berlin: Why Wild Cats Shouldn’t Be Kept as Pets

Protection Shows Results How the European Wildcat Returned to Germany

Sources

npr.org, “A wild cat was found in Cincinnati with cocaine in its system. No, it’s not a movie”, (Accessed on 03/14/2023)
oe24.at, “Cocaine Cat? Serval full of drugs after capture”, (Accessed on 03/14/2023)
nypost.com, “‘Cocaine Cat’ who jumped out of car in residential neighborhood rehabbing at Cincinnati Zoo”, (Accessed on 03/14/2023)

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of PETBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@petbook.de.