Escaped serval in Lexmond has been recaptured

The serval that escaped in the night from Friday to Saturday in Lexmond, Utrecht, has been recaptured, the Animal Ambulance Vianen reported. According to RTV Utrecht, the cat was found in the back neighbor's garden and is now being taken to Culemborg.

On the same night, another serval ran away in the Houtdonk district of Helmond. The police warned residents to keep dogs and cats indoors or on a leash, as the tiger cat can be dangerous with its sharp teeth and claws. In November, a serval also escaped in Brabant but returned on its own after a few days. Two months ago, a serval also escaped in Lexmond.

A serval is larger than a cat and has long legs, a long neck, large ears, and a short tail. Even though the tiger cat, which is native to Africa, may appear harmless, it is not. That's why people should call 112 and not do anything themselves if they see a serval, according to NOS.

The serval was recently added to the list of banned pets in the Netherlands. However, there is an exception for pet owners who already had the tiger cat in their home before January 1, 2024. In this case, the serval can be kept in the house until it dies, NOS reports.