After the sound of banging led a Washington homeowner to call 911 about a potential burglar, officers found an “unexpected intruder” at the top of their staircase.
It was a bobcat that made its way into the Kirkland resident’s home last week, police discovered.
“Cat burglar apprehended,” the Kirkland Police Department captioned a Monday, August 31, Facebook post detailing the discovery.
The bobcat, which was immediately discovered by one of the responding officers, is seen standing at the top of the homeowner’s stairs in footage shared by police.
Before safely corralling the wild cat in a room, officers used an “unmanned aircraft” to keep an eye on the feline, according to police.
“This allowed officers to maintain a safe distance and guide the response without placing anyone at unnecessary risk,” police said.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife officials ultimately arrived and the bobcat was sedated, followed by its release near a local creek, according to police.
Another video shared by police showed the bobcat racing out of a cat kennel and into the woods upon its release.
The bobcat was taken to the area of Forbes Creek, “close to the natural habitat where it was found,” police said.
The bobcat potentially entered the Kirkland resident’s home by scaling a tree and hopping into an open window after it noticed the homeowner’s pet cat, according to authorities.
There were no injuries to officers, the homeowner, the bobcat or the domesticated cat as a result of the incident.
“If you encounter a bobcat, give it plenty of space and never approach or feed it,” police advised. “Washington Fish and Wildlife also recommends keeping pets indoors, especially between dusk and dawn, and securing small livestock and poultry. If a bobcat enters your home, move people and pets away from the area and call 911.”
Bobcats are quick hunters and can reach speeds of up to 30 miles per hour, according to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. They’re mostly active during dawn and dusk hours.
The wild felines can be found throughout the U.S., where most bobcats in the world are located. They also inhabit Mexico and southern Canada, the National Zoo says online.
Their diet includes rabbits, hares and sometimes other wild animals, including squirrels, small deer and snakes. They’re also known to prey on domesticated animals, such as cats and dogs.
Kirkland is located about a 15-mile drive northeast from Seattle.
