Homeowner finds a bobcat in dog’s bed: Here’s what to do if you encounter one

A homeowner returned to her San Manuel, Arizona, residence after work and found an animal lounging on her dog’s bed that wasn’t her pet. It was a bobcat.

The bobcat is believed to have gotten into the home through the unlocked doggie door, according to CBS News.

The homeowner took a photo of the bobcat, which the Arizona Game and Fish Department on Twitter. Arizona Game and Fish Department officers arrived on the scene, but the bobcat was already gone.

According to the department, here’s what you should (or shouldn’t) do if you come in contact with the animal.

“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. Call 623-236-7201 ASAP,” the department wrote on Twitter.

Hence, it’s recommended not to deal with the issue yourself when you come into contact with a bobcat.

While there was no dog in sight of the bed, bobcats are dangerous to small pets like birds and dogs.

Bobcats look similar to mountain lions. They have dark spots and tan coats. They are also very common in places like Arizona, the department confirmed. They live in deserts in the Southwest, swamps in the Southeast and Northern forests, according to Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.

Bobcats live in every state except Delaware, the International Society for Endangered Cats Canada reported.