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Mom and baby bobcat found living in Scottsdale home reunited and set free

Officials said recent damage to the homeowner's roof allowed mom and baby bobcat access to the home.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — A bobcat and her kitten have been reunited after they were found living in a Scottsdale home.

According to Arizona Game and Fish Department, the homeowner heard a noise in their attic and when they went to check it out, they found a baby bobcat.

AZGFD said the homeowner was able to capture the kitten, but its momma was nowhere to be found. Later in the day, however, the homeowner got another surprise when they found the baby bobcat's mom - in their bathroom!  

Game and Fish officers arrived and found the momma bobcat peering out of the shower and were able to work together to carefully capture and contain the wild animal.

After checking the attic to make sure no other kittens were waiting for mom up there, AZGFD officers safely reunited and released the mom and her kitten back into the wild.

Officials said recent damage to the homeowner's roof allowed mom and baby bobcat access to the home.  

Earlier this year, an Arizona resident was surely surprised to find a wild bobcat snuggling in a doggie bed after returning home from work.  

That bobcat was suspected of gaining entrance through an unlocked doggie door and managed to escape before an officer could arrive to retrieve the animal.

Anyone else who may find a bobcat residing in their home is encouraged to contact AZGFD at 623-236-7201. 

More information on living around Arizona's bobcats can be found here.

(Watch to the end to see the mom and kitten get released!) You gotta be kitten me! 🐱 On June 8, when a Scottsdale homeowner heard noises in the attic, they went to investigate and found a baby bobcat! Recent damage to their roof allowed mom bobcat access and apparently she liked the spot. The homeowner was able to capture the kitten, but mom was nowhere to be found, so our friends at Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center took the kitten in. Later in the day, however, the homeowner got another surprise when they found the bobcat mom - in their bathroom! AZGFD Officers Groves and Sheer responded along with Kim Carr of SW Wildlife. The trio cautiously entered the bathroom and were met with a pair of golden eyes peering out of the shower. Well aware of the dangers that accompany approaching a wild bobcat attempting to locate her kitten, they were able to work together to carefully capture the mom bobcat. After checking the attic to make sure no other kittens were waiting for mom up there, they were able to safely reunite and release the mom and her kitten back into the wild! 👏 #NationalKittenDay

Posted by Arizona Game & Fish Department on Monday, July 10, 2023

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