African Wildcat Found in Woodland Hills Backyard

WOODLAND HILLS —  A 40-pound neutered male African wildcat was captured by animal control officers without incident after it was discovered in a resident’s backyard, authorities said Friday.

A homeowner in the 4500 block of Willens Avenue called authorities about 8:45 p.m. Thursday to report that a 4-foot-long, 2-foot-tall spotted wildcat was roaming the backyard, said Officer Mike Partain, a Los Angeles Police Department spokesman.

Los Angeles city firefighters, police and animal control officers responded to the call, Partain said.

Animal control officers used an aluminum pole fitted with a lasso-type cable to capture the animal, said Lt. Richard Felosky of the city Department of Animal Regulation.

Animal control officers identified the wildcat as a serval, a long-legged, long-eared species indigenous to Africa, Partain said.

“The animal was very docile and appeared to be domesticated,” Partain said. “It was not spooked by human beings and had been declawed, and that led the animal control officers to believe that the cat was a pet that either escaped or was dumped.”

The wildcat was taken to the West Valley Animal Care and Control Center in Chatsworth, Partain said.

City and state permits are required to own servals, Felosky said. The incident remained under investigation Friday.

Two animal compounds have expressed interest in adopting the serval if the owner is not identified by Monday, authorities said.