Why Is This Exotic Cat Roaming Loose In An Illinois Village?

Someone must have a weird pet.

If you own a cat, you know that it likes it's personal space every once in awhile and authorities are reminding you that's definitely the case for one loose animal in a village.

Police in Hoffman Estates (in the northwest suburbs of Chicago) are trying to do a couple of things. One: capture this exotic cat that's loose in this neighborhood, and two: figure out why exactly it's loose in the village.

The cat is a caracal. It may look cute but they're not cuddly. I've seen caracal owners post videos on Insta and TikTok. They have huge teeth and will pin their ears back and hiss at just about anything.

This isn't the caracal that's lost, but here's a TikTok of a pet caracal for reference:

@pumbacaracalofficialPumba wants to give you a high five!

♬ original sound - Pumba Caracal

They're an internationally protected endangered species and are generally nocturnal, eating small mammals and birds.

The latest post from the Hoffman Estates PD says that the caracal was seen in the area of Della Drive and the Hilldale Golf Course. If you see it, you're asked to be careful and not try to feed it. Authorities are going to take it to a zoo or a wildlife facility that can properly care for it, according to the post.

And if anyone around the village knows where the caracal is or has info on the owner, they're asked to call 911. And if you own a caracal, probably best to keep an eye on it and not let it wander around a town.