Residents of Paterson NJ were rubbing their eyes when they saw what they thought was a mountain lion roaming the neighborhood.
The big cat is a hybrid known as a Savannah cat. Savannah cats are part domestic cat and part Serval cat.
The Serval cat is native to Africa and is three to four times larger than a domestic feline.
Patterson animal control received dozens of calls from worried citizens.
Animal control officer Lysa DeLaurentis said Savannah cats are legal in the United States as long as they are at least 1% domestic cat.
The cat was captured and taken to Wildlife Freedom Animal Rescue in Wanaque.
The animal will remain in the shelter until the owner can be notified.
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