Serval cat back home after suspected break-in

The owner of a serval cat in Devon said he is thankful to have her back in one piece after she got out following a suspected burglary.

Gavin Lee said his beloved Rosie, who is about 15 years old and about the size of a whippet dog, escaped on Wednesday morning in Plymouth after an attempted break-in at her enclosure.

He said he was able to trace Rosie within a few hours and was able to get her back home.

Devon and Cornwall Police said it received reports the cat had been seen near the A38 in Plymouth at about 01:15 BST on Wednesday and officers were investigating the reported burglary at the property.

Serval cats are native to savannahs and wetlands in Africa and are listed as "least concern" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's red list of endangered species.

Mr Lee, who has a licence to keep a dangerous wild animal, said he has kept Rosie since she was a young cub.

"Normally she would come up to us like a dog, but she was petrified when we found her, so we had to encircle her to get her back," he said.

"I'm just relieved that we've managed to get her back in one piece."

Plymouth City Council, who issued the dangerous wild animal licence, said it contacted the cat's owner after being told of the sightings.

A spokesperson said it would be carrying out an inspection of the property to make sure it has "sufficient security and all licence conditions are complied with".

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