The “cocaine cat” is recovering at the Cincinnati Zoo
Maybe known to many cocaine bear, The thriller comedy is based on the true story of a black bear who was found dead near a holdall loaded with $2 million worth of cocaine.
But have you heard of Cocaine Cat?
There is no film yet – but luckily his story has a happy ending.
Earlier this year, a 35-pound African serval named Amiry escaped from a car that police had stopped for a traffic stop in Cincinnati.
The freaky cat ran up a tree. Amiry broke his slender leg while being rescued by the local animal shelter.
Photo by: Cincinnati Animal CARE/Facebook
He was admitted to Cincinnati Animal CARE, where the medical team tested him for narcotics. The hospital explained on Facebook that this “has become standard procedure for ‘exotic’ animals after we took into custody Neo, a capuchin monkey who tested positive for methamphetamine in early 2022.”
They soon discovered that Amiry was strung on cocaine.
Photo by: Cincinnati Animal CARE/Facebook
recreation at the zoo
In Ohio, it’s illegal to own multiple cats — let alone snort cocaine. Amiry’s owner was not arrested, but he had to give the cat to the Cincinnati Zoo.
The zoo announced on Facebook that Amiry is on the mend.
“Amiry’s health has improved to the point where we were able to bring him into the Cat Ambassador Program area yesterday after being cared for at our veterinary facility. He’s still recovering from a leg injury, so the CAP team will keep this in mind before allowing him to run, jump, and engage in other activities that could interfere with healing. They will focus on helping him adjust to a new environment and his new care team,” they wrote.
So where did Amiry get the hit? Police are still investigating whether Amiry’s cocaine use was accidental or forced. The charges against his former owner are still on the table, said Troy Taylor, Hamilton County’s chief canine warden CityBeat.
What is a serval?
The serval is a wild cat native to Africa. It has a small head, large ears, golden yellow to buff fur spotted and striped with black, and a short, black-tipped tail. Relative to its body size, the serval has the longest legs of any cat.
The cats have recently become increasingly popular as pets – and legal in certain states. According to Pets4You, they can cost anywhere from $1000 to $1500.
Still, many animal experts don’t support the trend, saying that servals require a balanced diet and special care that goes far beyond that of a house cat.
“There are much better pet options that are much safer, economically smarter, and more sustainable,” Julie Sheldon, clinical assistant professor of zoo medicine at the University of Tennessee, told the University of Tennessee Associated Press.
Photo by: Cincinnati Zoo