A homeowner in Kirkland, Washington, ended up with a best-case scenario last week when they called 911 for an intruder in the house. But instead of a two-legged burglar, officers arrived to find a very surprised bobcat in the house.
According to Fox 13, officers encountered the bobcat in the hallway and quickly retreated to keep both themselves and the animal safe. They then used drones to track the cat’s position while they waited for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to arrive.
Fortunately, they were able to safely capture and then release the bobcat, keeping officials and the animal free from harm during the process. As to how the cat got into the house in the first place, well, that remains a bit of a mystery.
But as best they can tell, officers believe that the cat got into the house through an open window, most likely in pursuit of the homeowner’s cat. No matter why this cat burglar showed up, it sounds like it left everyone involved with an exciting story to tell.
The Homeowner Initially Heard Banging Noises
King5 News reports that the homeowner was initially concerned that something was wrong after they heard banging noises coming from inside the house. Assuming the worst, they called 911 for help. However, officers found the source of the noise almost immediately since the bobcat was sitting at the top of the stairs waiting for them when they entered.
After giving the cat some space, the animal retreated to an isolated room, where they continued to monitor it until the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife was able to sedate the cat. Once unconscious, the cute critter was transported to an area near Forbes Creek, which is close to where it was found, and then released.
Bobcats Are More Dangerous to Animals Than Humans
The good news is that the bobcat was more of a threat to the homeowner’s cat than the homeowner themselves, since the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife says that they aren’t very aggressive towards people. That being said, they are known to prey on both wild and domestic animals and will often go after backyard chickens when they aren’t secured correctly.
According to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, you can usually scare a worrisome bobcat off with loud noises. That being said, the agency says that you’re better off avoiding contact with the wild animal.