911 Caller Reports Cat Burglar, Police Find Bobcat In Home

When a 911 caller in Washington reported a possible cat burglar in their home, authorities were surprised to find the suspect was in fact feline.

The Kirkland Police Department said officers responded to a residence in the Moss Bay neighborhood last week when a 911 caller reported a possible burglary after hearing banging inside their home. They arrived to find an “unexpected intruder perched at the top of the stairs: a bobcat.”

Officers deployed a drone to monitor the bobcat’s movements inside the home. Video shared by the police department shows the wildcat hissing at the drone from the top of the stairs before entering a room.

Police said officers corralled the bobcat into the room while waiting for Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife personnel to arrive. Wildlife officers sedated the bobcat and transported it to more suitable habitat.

Another video shows the bobcat being released near Forbes Creek, near where it was found.

No injuries were reported to the bobcat, the homeowner, officers or pets in the home.

“Officers believe the bobcat climbed a tree and jumped through an open window, possibly drawn inside by the resident’s cat,” police said.

“If you encounter a bobcat, give it plenty of space and never approach or feed it,” police added. “Washington Fish and Wildlife also recommends keeping pets indoors, especially between dusk and dawn, and securing small livestock and poultry.”