Wild cat caught after being loose in Chicago suburbs

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Police said Tuesday that an exotic cat found wandering in northwest suburban Hoffman Estates has been captured and is being cared for.

One day after reporting the caracal sighting in the area of Della Drive and the Hilldale Golf Course, authorities found the large cat unharmed, hiding under a village resident’s deck. Jill Carnegie, with the Valley of the Kings Sanctuary and Retreat , will aid in the transfer of the wild cat to their facility in Sharon, Wisconsin.

“It’s a very young cat. I would say eight months to a year old,” Carnegie told WGN News. “It has to be someone’s pet that they had and let go.”

According to Hoffman Estates police, the department was alerted to the cat’s sighting in the 1600 block of Foltz Drive around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday. Cell phone captured the cat’s removal.

Once the cat was in custody, Carnegie received a rare call from the police.

“Definitely a first,” she said. “Very interesting because usually, animal control is called to get them.”

Carnegie pointed out that rumors persist about caracals being kept as household pets. While the general public can legally purchase the exotic cat, the wildlife rescue worker noted that caracals require specialized care.

“They’re not pets, but unfortunately, anybody and everybody can buy these animals,” she said. “They can kill a small child. They can kill your cat. They can kill your dog. And usually, as they grow, and if they’re aggressive, people can’t handle them, so they dump them.”

Although native to Africa, the caracal, which Carnegie has named ‘Kabuki,’ will join other large and small cats in calling Wisconsin state home. Carnegie believes the move to the Valley of the Kings Sanctuary and Retreat will help the large cat thrive.

“We have a huge, monstrous enclosure with nice grass and a heated den,” Carnegie said. “She’s going to love it.”

A caracal is an internationally protected endangered species.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.