A photo taken Monday by a resident of the serval cat that got loose in the area of Cherokee Drive and Bender Road. The animal was captured Monday afternoon in the same area. (Photo provided by the Washington County Sheriff)

A serval cat that got loose from its owner has been captured, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s department Monday afternoon alerted residents of the cat being spotted in the area of Cherokee Drive and Bender Road in Warren Township.

The cat was found later Monday, Sheriff Mark Warden said.

Questions about the incident were referred to the Ohio Department of Agriculture, which said in a statement the department is looking into the incident.

“The cat is no longer loose, however, we are still working to confirm the breed of cat,” the statement said.

“It is illegal to own an animal as defined as a Dangerous Wild Animal in Ohio Revised Code 935.01,” the statement said. “Illegal possession of a Dangerous Wild Animal is a 1st degree misdemeanor.”

Servals, excluding hybrids with domestic cats commonly known as savannah cats, is included in the definitions of a Dangerous Wild Animal in the code.

According to the African Wildlife Federation, the carnivorous serval is a medium-sized wild cat with a tawny, black-spotted coat, long neck and long legs that allow them to see over grasses and large ears and an acute sense of hearing. They weigh from 19-40 pounds and can live more than 20 years.

The missing cat has been in the possession of the owner for 15 years, Warden said. It may have been domesticated, however, the animal could have been a threat to people and small animals while in the wild, he said.

That possibility was why the department issued an alert warning residents, Warden said.

Residents were warned not to approach the animal and to watch their children and small pets when outdoors.