An investigation is underway into the origins of an exotic cat rescued in a Chicago suburb

A rescued caracal found in Hoffman Estates is recovering at a sanctuary in Wisconsin

After being rescued in Hoffman Estates, the exotic cat, now nicknamed “Kabokey”, is recovering at the Valley of the Kings Sanctuary in Wisconsin.

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• • A young caracal was rescued in Hoffman Estates and is recovering at a sanctuary in Wisconsin.
  • The caracal, named Kabokey, is believed to have been sold online or bred locally before escaping.
  • Hoffman Estates police are still investigating the origins of the feral cat and are asking the public for information.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. – After being rescued in Hoffman Estates, a young caracal is recovering at the Valley of the Kings Sanctuary in Wisconsin.

The exotic cat, now called “Kabokey”, a common male name from Sudan, was found in the northwestern suburbs and is native to northeastern Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia.

Kabokey arrived at his new home on Tuesday evening and is showing signs of both hunger and shyness. Volunteers at the sanctuary give the animals space to adjust.

Lauren Walker, a volunteer at the sanctuary, explained: “They are nocturnal, so she will probably come out more later. For now, we’re just letting her do her thing until she gets used to it here. “

The sanctuary provides Kabokey with water, beef and chicken legs, which he quickly devours. The young caracal, estimated to be 5-7 months old, still has its baby teeth and appears to have experienced trauma. It took two hours to calm him down and transport him safely to his cage.

Experts, including Dave Bernier, chief curator of the Lincoln Park Zoo, assessed the situation. Bernier explained that domestication likely changed the caracal’s natural instincts.

“This cat may not understand what another caracal is and would not be able to breed or reproduce. He kind of lost all those opportunities and now he relies 100% on people to take care of him for the rest of his life,” he said. he said.

It’s still unclear how the caracal ended up in Hoffman Estates. Police in the area continue to investigate, but there are no leads at this time. They are reviewing video footage and searching the area, hoping to find information that could reveal the animal’s origins.

Authorities are also asking the public to come forward with any relevant information if they notice anything unusual about a feral cat.