Serval found during house fire

New Orleans firefighters responding to a small house blaze discovered an African serval illegally caged in the backyard of a Marrero home on Tuesday.

Cramped cage violated local law

The serval was confined in a 9-by-9-foot enclosure resembling a dog kennel. Marrero law requires an exotic animal permit to legally own a serval, which the homeowner did not have.

Servals are powerful jumpers

African servals have striking black spots, lean bodies, and can leap up to 7 feet in the air. They share some traits with house cats like grooming and purring, making them appealing to potential owners.

Captivity causes chronic stress

Servals cannot thrive in home environments. They mark territory, become aggressive as they mature, cannot be house-trained, destroy furniture, and require specialized diets and care beyond what house cats need.

“Servals in captivity do not have the physical space and stimulation needed to engage in normal, healthy behaviors, and they endure chronic stress as a result.”

Zoo placement offers proper care

JPaws director Michelle Brignac announced the serval was placed at a zoo where it would have space, enrichment, and appropriate care designed for its needs. The agency had given the animal an entire room while seeking placement.

Social media fuels serval popularity

The Marrero serval is the latest in a growing trend of serval ownership driven by social media content creators posting videos online. Cases involving servals have generated widespread news coverage across North America.

Other serval incidents across North America

A serval in Ohio tested positive for cocaine in 2023. A Pennsylvania serval escaped and was hit by a car in late 2025. Vancouver returned an escaped serval to owners in June, though British Columbia later banned exotic cat ownership.