Escaped large African cat finally caught after over 24 hours on the prowl

By Harrison Moore via SWNS

A large African wild cat that escaped its owner and prowled through a residential suburb for 24 hours has finally been captured.

The caracal was reported missing around 6:30 a.m. on October 13 in Royal Oak, Detroit, Michigan, after escaping from its enclosure at a local property.

The cat’s weight is estimated at 49.82 lb (22.6 kg) and is among four big cats held in cages that allow them to go in and out of their owner’s garage.

It is believed that two big cats escaped through an open gate, but the owner was able to use raw meat to lure one back to the enclosure.

The missing cat was on the loose for over 24 hours before it was captured in a local resident's back yard by animal recovery group South Lyon Murphy Lost Animal Recovery.

"Thankfully, we were able to capture the cat without harming it in anyway," said a spokesperson.

"People are instantly afraid of the cat's appearance and how they sound, but they're not aggressive unless they are threatened.

"These domesticated cats don't meow. They use hissing as a form of communicating with one another."

This is not the first time the cats have escaped their enclosure as its reported they have been missing at least twice before.

Their most recent adventure has raised some eyebrows about whether they should be allowed to be kept as pets, and police have claimed their species isn't regulated by the state.

South Lyon Murphy Lost Animal Recovery trapped the cat in a cage before returning it back to its owners.

A spokesperson said: "Hopefully, this will be the last time we have to intervene and the cats are monitored more closely from now on."