A homeowner in San Manuel, Arizona, came home after work and was shocked to find a cat in her dog’s bed – and not just any house cat – it was a bobcat!
The cat was getting cozy with her dog, Squeakers, nowhere to be seen.
It appears the cat got in to the home through an unlocked doggy door and took over Squeakers bed on Monday, March 6th the homeowner immediately reached out to Arizona Game and Fish Department after snapping a couple of photos of the bobcat lounging in the bed.
Arizona Game and Fish Department/Twitter
The bobcat doesn’t look too happy to have been interrupted from its nap. By the time the wildlife officers arrived the bobcat had run away. The department tweeted, “A bobcat lounges on a dog bed in San Manuel home Mon. The homeowner, who found it upon returning from work, suspects it entered through an unlocked doggie door. The bobcat escaped before an officer arrived. Don’t handle entrapped/hurt wildlife yourself. Call 623-236-7201 ASAP.”
As odd a story it is for the general public to see a bobcat in a dog’s bed, it wasn’t such a funny story for Squeakers. The poor dog turned up the next day badly mauled by the wild cat. He must have run away after being injured by the cat and ejected from his bed. His mom shared a photo on Instagram and wrote (from Squeaker’s POV): “Thank you for all your concerns. The staff at Veterinary Specialty Center Tucson did an amazing job patching me up after I met up with the bobcat.”
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From the photos, Squeaker’s hind legs look badly scratched up and bitten. Squeakers is now home resting in his new dog bed and getting better each day, according to his family. A follow-up post reads, “As an update, I’m home relaxing in a new bed and taking it easy while I heal up.”
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He’s also getting a bit of time outside in the sun and walking around.
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Squeaker’s family set up a GoFundMe to raise funds for his care, with extra funds going to animal charity.
A bobcat lounges on a dog bed in San Manuel home Mon. The homeowner, who found it upon returning from work, suspects it entered through an unlocked doggie door. The bobcat escaped before an officer arrived. Don’t handle entrapped/hurt wildlife yourself. Call 623-236-7201 ASAP. pic.twitter.com/zcQFD4m08h
— AZ Game & Fish Dept (@azgfdTucson) March 7, 2023
Bobcats are a protected species in 10 states. According to the department’s website, “Shelter for bobcats can include rooftops, attics, patios, and the space underneath decks. Other small spaces can also make attractive dens (i.e., planters, rubbish piles, sheds, etc.). Bobcats are attracted to thick brush, shade, and unoccupied yards where they will sometimes rest during the day or bask in the sun.”
The department cautions people to contact your county animal control office if you have a close encounter or find one in your home!
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