An African serval cat is suspected to be responsible for the death of at least two pets in a Sooke neighbourhood.

For over a decade, Gail Bishop and her husband Steve have been feeding a feral cat they call Midnight, which has been visiting their sundeck twice a day.

B次元官网网址淥nce they are feral, it's pretty hard to get them and do anything with them but feed them,B次元官网网址� said Bishop.

Over the years, the couple have developed an affection for the black short-haired cat, so when the feline went missing after Christmas, Bishop was worried.

B次元官网网址淚 kept calling and calling for her,B次元官网网址� she said.

But BishopB次元官网网址檚 worst fears were confirmed when the catB次元官网网址檚 dead body was found on New YearB次元官网网址檚 Day.

B次元官网网址淭he cat wasn't eaten, there were just marks around the neck,B次元官网网址� she said.

Bishop and her husband suspect the culprit to be a serval, an animal native to Africa, seen roaming on their sundeck around the same time their feline friend went missing.

In B.C., serval cats are not included in the provincial Controlled Alien Species Regulation, which controls the possession, breeding, shipping and releasing of alien animals that pose a risk to the health or safety of people, property, wildlife or wildlife habitat.

With no permit required to own a serval, it is unknown how many of the medium-sized wild cats are kept as pets in B.C.

Bishop says a neighbour has at least two servals in a nearby enclosure, visible from her property.

While the couple did not see the serval kill the stray cat, they believe the timing of its appearance in their yard and the disposal of the uneaten body points to the wild African feline as the likely suspect.

B次元官网网址淲e feel terrible,B次元官网网址� said Bishop. B次元官网网址淚t's awful, we still expect to see her B次元官网网址� of course, we will for some time.B次元官网网址�

And Midnight may not be the only victim.

When Bishop shared the news of MidnightB次元官网网址檚 death on social media, she was contacted by a woman living nearby who had also recently lost a cat.

B次元官网网址淭hey thought it was a cougar,B次元官网网址� said Bishop. B次元官网网址淏ut she also lives very close to us and very close to where this enclosure is.B次元官网网址�

This is not the first time an exotic cat has been seen roaming in the BishopB次元官网网址檚 neighbourhood. 

In 2022, a serval cat was reported missing in the 7000 block of West Coast Road.

B次元官网网址淲e had no idea they were this close to us,B次元官网网址� said Bishop, who feels more should be done by the provincial government to restrict ownership of serval cats.

B次元官网网址淚'm sure this animal would be quite capable of taking a small dog, or chickens B次元官网网址� I'm sure it would go after them too.B次元官网网址�

The BC SPCA is campaigning for serval cats to be added to the provincial Controlled Alien Species Regulation and for all municipalities and governments to adopt exotic pet laws prohibiting the keeping of servals and other exotic animals. 

According to the animal welfare organization, servals have a B次元官网网址減oor quality of lifeB次元官网网址� when kept as pets.

B次元官网网址淚t is extremely challenging to provide for the nutritional and veterinary needs of a wild cat like a serval in captivity,B次元官网网址� said a BC SPCA spokesperson in an emailed statement.

B次元官网网址淭hey are not easily house-trained and will frequently mark their territory with urine. This is in addition to the fact that it is difficult to contain them in a home or adequate enclosure setting to meet their needs.B次元官网网址�

However, change could be on the horizon according to the Conservation Officer Service (COS), which enforces Controlled Alien Species regulations, who say the serval could be added to the list of restricted exotic pets.

B次元官网网址淲hile African servals are not considered wildlife or a controlled alien species and therefore do not fall under the jurisdiction of the COS, the province is in the process reviewing and considering changes to the Controlled Alien Species Regulation to ensure they are effective,B次元官网网址� said a spokesperson.

For more information about controlled alien species, visit: .