‘Cocaine cat’: Serval that escaped during owners Cincinnati arrest tests positive for drug

An exotic cat discovered by police during a traffic stop is recovering at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden after city animal control officials said it tested positive for cocaine.

The wild discovery which has sparked a state investigation took place the morning of Feb. 28 in Cincinnati’s Oakley neighborhood after police made an arrest there, Ray Anderson with Cincinnati Animal CARE told USA TODAY Wednesday.

As officers with the Cincinnati Police Department took the man into custody, the cat – later identified via DNA testing as a serval –  jumped out of the man’s car and ran up a tree in the neighborhood on the eastern side of the city.

Initially, Anderson said, animal workers responded to the scene after someone reported seeing a leopard in a tree.

“We were called in to get the cat out of the tree,” Anderson said, adding the animal was “not excited” to be removed from it. 

What is a serval?

Servals are medium-sized wild cats with tawny, black-spotted coats and long necks and long legs that allow them to see over savanna grasses. According to the African Wildlife Foundation, they have large ears, excellent hearing and weigh 19 to 40 pounds.

The serval, who officials later learned is named Amiry, weighed about 30 pounds and did not want to get out of the tree: Anderson said Amiry suffered a broken leg as animal care workers removed him.

Toxicology showed cocaine in cat’s system

Back at Cincinnati Animal CARE, medical staff gave the cat pain medicine and treated its broken leg. In addition to a DNA test, staff also conducted a toxicology report which Anderson said came back positive for cocaine.

“We don’t know how the animal got the cocaine in the system. I don’t know … whether the owner gave the cat it intentionally,” Anderson said.

Amiry was then transported to the zoo.

“We were thrilled they could take him on because a big cat expert told us they are very hard to place,” Anderson said.

Case under investigation by state

It was not clear Wednesday how the serval’s owner came into possession of the cat.

Cincinnati police could not immediately be reached for comment.

As of Wednesday, Anderson said the Ohio Department of Agricultural was investigating the case to determine whether chargers will be filed against the owner.

By Friday, Amiry’s health had improved enough for him to move to the zoo’s cat ambassador program, said Michelle Curley, the zoo’s communications director.

“He is still recovering from a leg injury, so the CAP team will keep an eye on that before allowing him to run, jump, and engage in other activities that might impair healing,” she said.