Big cat scare sparks armed police response in London street
Written by News on 27/05/2020
Armed police were sent to an upmarket London street over concerns a big cat was on the loose.
Pictures from a garden in East Finchley show a large cat with spotted markings, with some residents concerned it could be a cheetah or leopard.
The Metropolitan Police said armed officers were sent to Winnington Road – near an area often referred to as “Billionaires’ Row” – at around 9pm on Monday.
A resident of the street, Nirmal Sethi, told MailOnline that police came into his garden to look for the animal and that a helicopter was also part of the search.
Police said the cat eventually “made off” from the garden but only after an animal expert had visually assessed the beast.
“Their conclusion was that the animal was a hybrid, namely a cross-breed of a domestic cat and a Savannah cat,” a police statement said.
“The expert opinion was that this animal was not dangerous and not a threat to the public.”
A Savannah cat is the largest cat breed and a cross between a domestic cat and a serval.
Police said on Tuesday that they were still making enquiries to try to track down the cat and its owner.
(c) Sky News 2020: Big cat scare sparks armed police response in London street
