Photo: Courtesy of Rob Halpin / MSPCA-Angell
LINCOLN, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) – Members of the MSPCA-Angell Community Outreach team have secured an injured African wildcat from one Massachusetts town.
On Tuesday afternoon, the team responded to a call from residents in Lincoln about a large cat that was seen roaming around a neighborhood.
The cat was actually a Serval, which is a wild cat native to sub-Saharan Africa. This kind of feline is illegal to own in the state of Massachusetts, expect for zoos that possess a proper permit. Ultimately, the organization said owning this kind of animal can be detrimental and dangerous.
“Their physical and behavioral needs cannot be met when kept as a pet,” said Sarah Holmquist, director of Advocacy at the MSPCA-Angell. “This results in harm to the animal and potential danger to people and other animals.”
The British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BCSPCA) says Serval cats should not be kept as pets because of their “wild instincts” and that they “are difficult to contain in a home or enclosure setting.”
BCSPCA adds “their own safety is also in jeopardy in captivity. Escaped Servals have died by being hit by cars or of starvation since they never had the opportunity to learn how to hunt.”
While MSPCA-Angell did not specify exactly how the cat was injured, they did say they are determining the best possible treatment which may involve an amputation of the leg.
The Serval, which the organization named Bruno, was not wearing any tags and was not micro-chipped, making it nearly impossible to identify the owner. Given these circumstances, the team is looking to place Bruno with a zoo or sanctuary once he completes his treatment and recovery.
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