A Washington resident who called 911 after hearing unexplained banging inside the home feared a burglar might be inside. Instead, officers found the intruder was a true “cat burglar” — a bobcat sitting near the top of the stairs.
The startling discovery happened last week in Kirkland’s Moss Bay neighborhood, where police managed to safely contain the wild animal before wildlife officials later released it back into its natural habitat.
The Kirkland Police Department said the homeowner, responding officers and the bobcat all avoided injury during the unusual call.
Officers used a drone to track the bobcat’s movements inside the Kirkland home while maintaining a safe distance from the animal. (Kirkland Police Department)
According to police, the resident first reported the incident as a possible break-in after hearing noises inside the house. Once officers entered the home, they realized the source of the commotion was the bobcat.
Authorities deployed a drone to monitor the bobcat’s movements inside the home, allowing officers to maintain a safe distance and coordinate their response.
Officers safely corralled the bobcat into an isolated room until wildlife officials arrived to sedate the animal. (Kirkland Police Department)
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Video released by Kirkland police shows the bobcat growling while perched at the top of the staircase.
The unexpected house guest was safely corralled into an isolated room until the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife arrived.
After being sedated, the bobcat was later released near Forbes Creek, close to the natural habitat where it was found, police said.
Police believe the bobcat climbed a tree and jumped through an open window, possibly after being drawn inside by the homeowner’s cat.
Wildlife officials released the bobcat near Forbes Creek after it was safely removed from a home in Kirkland, Washington. (Kirkland Police Department)
The resident’s cat was later found unharmed.
Officials warned residents never to approach or feed a bobcat and to give the animal plenty of space if encountered.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife also recommends that residents keep pets indoors, especially between dusk and dawn, and secure small livestock and poultry.