Serval cats on the loose in Nanaimo area; domestic pet killed

The BC SPCA is warning people in the Nanaimo area of two serval cats that have escaped and already claimed the life of a pet.

The organization is urging residents to “remain vigilant,” recommending that locals keep dogs on-leash while out for a walk and to keep their cats indoors for the time being.

Servals are wild animals native to parts of Africa. According to Sara Dubois, chief scientific officer with the BC SPCA, the two servals were being kept as pets when they escaped.

“And this is the dilemma, of course, is that these animals are not regulated under the Controlled Alien Species legislation that prevents you from having a pet tiger,” she told CityNews.

The organization describes serval cats as being not “much bigger than a medium-size dog.” It notes that despite not being in a savannah or wetland setting, they “still retain their wild instincts and are cunning escape artists.”

“[They’re] difficult to contain in a home or enclosure setting, and pose a risk to their keepers and the public, and even native wildlife if they escape.”

Dubois explains the cats have been brought over to Canada over the past few decades and kept and bred in captivity as pets over that time.

“These are still wild animals and they are very popular, unfortunately, on social media. They cost up to $10,000 often to buy as a kitten, so they are being bred here on Vancouver Island as well as other parts of British Columbia for sale,” she said.

No legislation covering serval ownership in B.C.

While there is no provincial ban on owning servals as pets, some municipalities in B.C. do have restrictions preventing them to be kept in homes.

“There is a patchwork of bylaws in certain townships and cities across British Columbia that prohibit exotic ownership of pets. So you can’t have a serval cat. But, unfortunately, this appears that this individual lives in the regional district of Nanaimo, which does not have exotic animal bylaws,” Dubois explained, adding the BC SPCA has been pushing for provincial laws to prohibit personal ownership of these kinds of animals.

In addition to concern for local pets in the community, Dubois says there are also worries for the servals that are on the loose.

“Not only are they probably very afraid, they’re not able to hunt, they’ve never been out in a wild situation before. But I would be concerned if I was out there walking a small animal or if I had a small child,” she said.

The BC SPCA notes the BC Conservation Officer Service and Coastal Animal Services have been contacted about the servals. However, Dubois says neither is mandated to respond, given servals are not under the Controlled Alien Species legislation or banned by local bylaws.

In such a case, Dubois says it would be up to the cats’ owners to track down the animals, because they are technically pets.

“I would image the owner is very concerned about them and wants to have them back at home, but again, these animals should have never been there in the first place,” she added.

-With files from Kurtis Doering