Escaped big cat found in plant pot after two-month search

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Big cat found in plant pot after two-month searchImage source, Kevin MurphyImage caption, The cat was found sat in a pot in a back gardenByOwen SennittNorfolkPublished17 July 2026An escaped big cat believed to have been roaming the countryside for two months has been captured after being found with injuries in a plant pot in a back garden. Kevin Murphy, of Norfolk Wildlife Rescue, has been trying to track down the Savannah cat since it was spotted three weeks ago near Bramerton, south of Norwich. The feline is native to sub-Saharan Africa and it had been on the loose since escaping from its home in May.

Murphy, who used a net to catch it safely in Bramerton, said the owner had been confirmed as living in the NR1 postcode area of Norwich, about four miles away, and that the animal had been taken to a vet with a broken paw. Image source, Kevin MurphyImage caption, The Savannah cat was found injured in someone's gardenThe Savannah cat is a cross between a serval and a domestic cat and it has brown spots and pointy ears. More from Norfolk:One person taken to hospital after Broads boat firesParents upset by sudden end of training coursesCrowds flocking to river beauty spot spark tensionIt was first seen in a field between the A146 Loddon Road and Framingham Lane on 23 June.

The Details

Tom Baker, 27, who spotted the cat last month, likened it to a "small leopard" when he saw it from a distance. Figure caption, The large cat was caught on camera by a dog walkerImage source, Kevin MurphyImage caption, The cat was put in a cage after a net was used to catch itThe June sighting generated national headlines. Murphy said the cat had been microchipped so the owner was able to confirm it was theirs and that its name was Blaze.

Murphy added the Savannah had a broken right paw and a wound on its chest following its adventures in the Norfolk countryside. Image gallerySkip image galleryImage source, Kevin MurphyImage caption, A net was used to catch the catImage source, Kevin MurphyImage caption, The cat has been taken to the vets and is recovering from its injuriesImage source, Kevin MurphyImage caption, The Savannah cat has roamed at least four miles from its home1 of 3 Previous image Next imageSlide 1 of 3 , A cat can be seen in a net having been captured in a garden , A net was used to catch the catEnd of image galleryOwners of serval cats and first generation Savannah cats require a Dangerous Wild Animals (DWA) licence to keep them. However, this cat was believed to be in the F2 category, which would mean its owner did not require a licence.

Figure caption, The escaped big cat is captured in a plant pot in a back gardenAccording to a recent freedom of information request by Born Free, a charity that works to protect wild animals, there are two Savannah cats and three servals registered as being kept at private addresses in South Norfolk. Do you have a story suggestion for Norfolk?

The story has become one of the most prominent items on the global agenda.