Hybrid Wild Cat Stalks Two Children In North London

Police are now investigating an escaped “supercat” after it was seen roaming a North London neighborhood Sunday night.

According to The Sun, the runaway animal is believed to be a hybrid Savannah cat. It can grow as big as a medium-sized dog and is a cross between a Serval (Leptailurus serval), a large-eared, medium-sized wild African cat and a domestic cat.

Dr. Neetu Nirdosh, who had witnessed the beast terrorizing her kids in their back garden, said that the feline was taller than her son, Alexander, and daughter, Falcon, aged four and five, respectively.

“My heart was jumping out of my chest. As I ran outside, I saw it pulling at Falcon’s jumper,” said Nirdosh.

The resident of Hampstead, North London added that the animal was circling her kids as if it were stalking its prey and ready to pounce at any given moment. The hybrid also showed off its teeth during the act.

“I thought at first it was a cheetah – or something that had escaped from the zoo,” described Nirdosh.

Hybrid Savannah cats carry the spotted coat pattern of the African Serval Cat. It is the only “accepted pattern” by The International Cat Association (TICA), although there are several non-standard patterns and colors including rosetted, marble, blue, cinnamon, chocolate and lilac, among others.

With her maternal instincts kicking in, Nirdosh hurled a toy horse on the direction of the animal in an attempt to divert its attention.

“I screamed and threw a toy at it and pulled the children inside, shutting the glass behind me,” she said.

But instead of running, the cat turned its attention on the toy horse and began attacking it. The source said that it sunk its teeth on the plush horse repeatedly.

“It utterly demolished that toy.”

The mom-of-four said that it would have been dreadful to think of what the animal could’ve done to her children had she been elsewhere.

After the incident, the cat was reported to have made its way into the neighborhood.

Wikipedia pointed that Savannahs are the largest of the cat breeds, with “F1 hybrid male cats” being the biggest. These types can weigh up to 20 pounds, but later generations can go anywhere between seven to 15 pounds.

Savannah cats are long and leggy with a wide head and long and slender neck. They have a “boomerang” shaped eyes along with a hooded brow and a “cheetah tear” markings that run from the corners of their eyes down to the side of the nose.

Although they are known for its loyalty and can be very social and friendly, Frank Tunbridge said that owners “soon realize” that they have a wild animal in their homes and dump them if they become too unmanageable.

The expert added that Savannahs attack domestic cats and dogs and even claw children.