Arizona Bobcat ‘Lives It Up Like the Taj Mahal’ After Entering Through Doggy Door

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One Arizona bobcat decided to make themself at home after entering through an unlocked doggy door. Once inside, it seems they wanted a taste of the pampered pet lifestyle for just a little while. Unfortunately, the bobcat presumably also attacked a resident dog, who required veterinary treatment but thankfully survived.

When homeowner Nikola Zovko in San Manuel came home and opened the door, they were astonished to see the bobcat in their dog’s bed. At first, he thought it was a house cat. The big cat was laying with a blankie nearby, which Zovko managed to get pictures of. 

“Freaked me out a little bit,” he told 12News. “He just looked at me and started growling,” Zovko said. “Which is a little unnerving.”

Images via Twitter/AZ Game & Fish Dept

Later the Arizona Game & Fish Department shared the shocking pictures on social media. Before the Game and Fish officer arrived, the bobcat took off through an open door. But not before lounging and grooming in the bed for almost an hour.

“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.,” the department wrote.

Living it Up Like it’s the Taj Mahal

According to Arizona Central, the man immediately called Arizona Game and Fish and got his pets into closed bedrooms. He also opened all the doors leading outside the home to give the cat an escape route. It was a “textbook response” of what to do in such a situation, as highly unusual as it is. But at first, the bobcat didn’t want to leave, and his dog Squeakers was missing.

The bobcat stayed for about 45 minutes. Only after the cat finished grooming did he or she return to life in nature.

“A nice warm, comfy place, living it up like it’s the Taj Mahal,” he told 12 News. (see video below)

“Just doing what cats do,” Zovko said. “He was sitting there cleaning himself and licking himself.”

Video by 12News Arizona:

Squeakers Recovers

The department shared an update on Squeakers, a 10-year-old Chihuahua-Dachshund mix. He turned up with severe lacerations requiring immediate veterinary care.

The bobcat appeared on Monday, and it wasn’t until Tuesday that Zovko found the injured dog in the front yard. He found him after returning from work that day.

“He’s very fortunate to have survived,” Zovko told 12News.

Donations Pour In for Squeaker’s Vet Care

Nikola Zovko organized a GoFundMe for Squeakers and met the goal of paying for the dog’s emergency surgery in just one day. With 172 donations at the time of this writing, they raised over $4K, topping the goal of $3.3K. 

Squeakers was still shaken up by the attack and staying indoors in quarantined to rule out exposure to rabies, although he was current on his vaccinations. 

There is an Instagram to show updates on Squeaker’s recovery.

Squeakers the dog recovers from attack via Instagram.

“Thank you all for you concerns. The staff at Veterinary Specialty Center Tucson did an amazing job patching me up after I met up with the bobcat,” the GoFundMe shared.

Nikola Zovko in San Manuel talks to 12News with Squeakers the dog via GoFundMe 

If you should ever encounter a bobcat or other wild animal, Arizona Game and Fish says, “never to handle entrapped or hurt wildlife by yourself.” Get out and call your local wildlife department or Animal Control for assistance.

Bobcats rarely attack people but can pose a danger to small pets given an opportunity. It’s unusual to hear about a generally reclusive bobcat entering a home, much less lounging in a pet bed. One wonders if this cat was familiar with being around people. We’ve previously posted how to respond in the unlikely case you encounter an elusive mountain lion.

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