Spartacus, an African serval cat, ran away after the family dog spooked him at the front door. Luckily, he is back with his owners.

Spartacus escaped his luxury home and rushed into the New Hampshire wild after the family dog spooked him.

“The dog didn’t want to come in last night. So my wife opened the front door. The dog and the cat spooked each other and off he went,” King said right after Spartacus ran away. “He’s gone.”

Luckily, the African serval cat was found safe and sound near its home. Merrimack police reported that the big cat was returned to the owner, Dean King, who was more than happy to have his pet back.

King adopted his large cat from a Florida zoo four years ago. He was impressed by the long, spotted cat with lengthy ears. The proud owner keeps followers updated, sharing photos of his cute pet. One of the photos features Spartacus with his big paws up on the kitchen counter. Yes, he is watching the coffee maker.

The King family obtained a permit from the state’s department of fish and game. Spartacus lives inside their home, and bugs everyone throughout the night. Just like every other cat.

According to Merrimack’s animal control officer, Haylie Gulino, officers had some trouble finding Spartacus. They had never had a case like this before, and they didn’t even know what to look for.

“They had no idea; I had to show them a picture of what they normally look like,” Gulino revealed. “So, like I said, this was uncharted territory. It was out of the norm for most people here.”

Dean’s wife, Lisa, shared a video of Spartacus enjoying the comfort of their home.

“Dean and I want to thank everyone for your help and support,” her Facebook post read. “Spartacus is home safe and warm.  personally can’t express my gratitude enough! I have a bond with this cat and he is my person.”

Merrimack is about 12 miles north of the Massachusetts state line. It’s covered in woods and conservation areas, and we bet you have heard about the Wildcat Falls Conservation Area.

Source: www.houstonchronicle.com