
A feral cat caused a stir in San Francisco's prestigious Pacific Heights neighborhood after wandering the streets for hours, with residents watching anxiously from their closed windows.
The cat was first spotted on Monday morning, with local authorities issuing warnings and instructions to citizens.
"At first I thought it was a dog, but then I saw the tail and realized it wasn't a dog. Then the house's light sensor went off and I saw its nose and realized it was a feral cat," describes Roxanne Blank, an area resident who was returning to her apartment at 3 a.m. Monday.
A mountain lion was spotted on video in San Francisco overnight Sunday and may still be at large in the city, SF Animal Care and Control said on Monday. pic.twitter.com/yoXn7CtatJ
— San Francisco Chronicle (@sfchronicle) January 27, 2026
A few minutes later, the wild animal started running down the stairs and ran away when Blank's dog started barking from her apartment, Blank said. That's when she called 911.
The stray cat was spotted Tuesday hiding in a garden between two mansions, according to Mariano Elias of the San Francisco Fire Department.
Authorities shot the cat with a tranquilizer three times "to make sure it was completely unconscious. They tied its eyes and legs to make sure it wouldn't run anywhere," he said.
San Francisco Zoo veterinarians examined the cat before placing it in a cage. According to Elaya, it will undergo further tests to confirm it is healthy and then be released into the wild.
Although coyotes are common in San Francisco, cougars are extremely rare.