Spartacus, a stunning 40-pound African serval cat, embarked on an unexpected adventure when he fled from his home in Merrimack, New Hampshire, after being startled by the family dog.
Adopted from a zoo four years ago, Spartacus has been an integral part of his human family, who legally own him and hold a permit from the state’s department.
Concerned for their beloved pet’s safety, Spartacus’s family immediately launched a search operation, even braving the dark woods to find him.
Despite their efforts, locating Spartacus proved challenging, especially for local law enforcement officers unfamiliar with the appearance of a serval cat.
Merrimack’s animal control officer, Haylie Gulino, had to provide authorities with an image of a serval cat to assist their search efforts. “They had no idea; I had to show them a picture of what they usually look like.
So, like I said, this was uncharted territory. It was out of the norm for most people here,” Haylie explained.
After three tense days, Spartacus was discovered trapped near his home, safe and sound. His relieved family expressed their joy and gratitude on social media, with one member writing, “Spartacus is home safe and warm. I can’t express my gratitude enough! I bond with this cat, and he is my person.”
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