Days After Escaping From His House, Exotic Pet Cat Is Reunited With Owners

Spartacus is an African Serval, an exotic wild cat that hails from the grassy savannas of sub-Saharan Africa. But after escaping from his owner’s house in New Hampshire, the 4-year-old pet became a fugitive in the mid-sized town of Merrimack, which offers a distinctly different vibe compared to the grassy plains where this species typically roams.

"The dog didn't want to come in last night," Spartacus' owner, Dean King, told the AP. "So my wife opened the front door. The dog and the cat spooked each other and off he went," King said. The cat's worried family spent the subsequent days looking for Spartacus in the surrounding woods, but so far their efforts have come up short. "We're devastated," King said sadly. "Hopefully, he comes back." Meanwhile, the cat's disappearance has sparked concern among other residents, particularly those worried about the safety of Merrimack's other companion animals. Servals typically eat rats, mice, shrews, birds, frogs, and insects, but they've also been known to take larger prey on occasion.