By Mitchell Willetts
The Charlotte Observer
CHICAGO — Police are asking the public to keep their eyes peeled for an exotic wild cat spotted roaming suburban Illinois.
A recent photo shows the animal, a caracal, sitting alert in what appears to be a flower bed outside of a home in Hoffman Estates. Hoffman Estates is a suburb of Chicago, and a roughly 35-mile drive northwest from the city’s downtown.
“Over the past few days, the village was made aware of a large cat in the area,” the Hoffman Estates Police Department said in an Oct. 14 news release. “The cat has been identified as a Caracal, this cat is a native species to Asia and not common to the United States.”
It’s not clear where exactly the cat came from or how it ended up in Hoffman Estates, police said, though they are sometimes kept as exotic pets.
“The village is currently working with local and federal agencies for proper removal. We ask that you do not attempt to feed this animal,” police said.
Based on what experts say about caracals, it might not need any help staying fed.
Even among felines, caracals are renowned predators and “supremely acrobatic,” able to pluck a bird from the air and pounce on top of larger prey, according to the Smithsonian.
Although police have asked the public not to approach the caracal, it remains to be seen how many will heed that advice.
“Oh you better believe I’m petting that kitty,” one person commented on the department’s post.
“Poor kitty…..I hope someone doesn’t try to hurt it,” said another. “It’s beautiful!”
With their eye-catching black facial markings and fuzzy ear tufts, it might be tempting to approach a caracal, but keep in mind they are not domesticated. And while they may seem relatively small at first glance, they are powerfully built and often weigh in at around 40 pounds — about four times heavier than a typical house cat.
Caracals are “the heaviest and also the fastest of the small cats,” according to the San Diego Zoo.
Despite their wild nature, people sometimes keep caracals as pets. Experts advise against this.
“They likely are stuck inside a home or inside a cage. So they cannot roam. They cannot do anything that comes natural to them,” Jodie Wiederkehr of the Chicago Animal Alliance told WFLD.
Wiederkehr said the caracal is possibly someone’s escaped pet that they bought on the black market, according to the station.
While it’s not against the law to own a caracal or other “dangerous animals” in Illinois , attempts are being made to change that. A bill proposed in the statehouse, HB 4446, would make owning a caracal illegal, with “specified exceptions.” However, the bill was referred to the Senate Assignments committee in April and no actions have been taken since.
Residents who see the animal, or who know where its owner is, are asked to call the police department.
“The goal of the Hoffman Estates Police Department is to safely relocate the animal to a zoo or wildlife facility that can properly care for it,” police said.
“As always, our first priority is the safety of the residents of Hoffman Estates and the community.”
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