Vancouver, Canada – Police in Vancouver, British Columbia responded on Sunday night after residents discovered a large and unusual animal beneath a porch in East Vancouver.

Officers from the Vancouver Police Department, together with conservation officers, were called to the home after a report of a large animal under the structure.

The animal was identified as an African serval, a type of wild cat significantly larger than a typical domestic cat.

Authorities said the animal was found hiding beneath the porch among stored holiday decorations, where it was filmed hissing.

Police noted that the escaped animal was around three times the size of a regular housecat and reminded pet owners to inform neighbours if an animal gets loose.

The serval was later safely returned to its owner.

New rules in British Columbia banning ownership of exotic cats came into effect on May 1, although animals owned before that date remain exempt. Owners of servals, caracals, ocelots, and other exotic cats have until May 1, 2027, to apply for permits allowing them to keep the animals for life.

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