Call For Help
Something she heard had forced her to look at her neighbor with fresh new eyes, and now there was no unseeing it. When she watched the footage and the truth had finally dawned on her, it was already too late.
She paused the footage and zoomed in. She looked closer and closer until she began to realize something was definitely wrong. Startled, she whipped out her phone.
Brenda Stuart
Brenda Stuart lived on the ground floor of a small apartment complex by herself and her two cats. If you didn’t know any better, you might mistake her for a ‘crazy cat lady’.
She loved cats, but she also loved her job as a teacher. Her work schedule meant that she could enjoy long evenings as well as a long 3-month work-free summer! That gave her the time to practice her favorite hobby: snooping.
Nosy Neighbor
Brenda was a very friendly neighbor to her fellow apartment owners in her apartment block. Some thought she was overbearing and nosy about their lives, others just thought she was a bit lonely. Truth is, it was a bit of both.
And no one knew this more than the man who lived closest to her, her neighbor Mark.
Strange Cargo
When her tenant got back from a trip to the Czech Republic, Brenda was intrigued to see what he was unloading in the driveway.
She watched as he unloaded his luggage and a black crate, but Mark immediately turned it -- as if he was reluctant to let her see what was inside. Why was he being so cagey about his cargo?
What Was Inside?
On closer inspection, Brenda realized that Mark was carrying a pet cage. The size looked appropriate for a cat. Brenda got closer and asked if she could see it. But surprisingly, Mark refused.
He closed the door behind him, but only after the animal made a very strange noise. As a cat lover, Brenda never heard a cat make that noise before. Alarm bells went off when her own kitten – who was usually very calm – cowered in fear. Something was off.
Something’s Wrong
Being a cat lover, Brenda had certainly seen her fair share of weird and wonderful kitties on social media. And seeing as the animal had come from a foreign country, it was entirely plausible this was just an exotic breed.
But then she heard something she couldn’t ignore. She marched over to her tenant’s apartment and banged on the door.
Suspicion
Mark opened the door a small crack to talk to Brenda. “Is there a problem?” he asked. Trying to push her way into the apartment, Brenda demanded he let her see the animal that was causing such a ruckus.
But the man refused, claiming it was just a kitten and that she would need to give him proper notice to inspect the apartment. After he shut the door, the landlady stood in the corridor, stunned. What did he have in there?
Further Action
Having briefly peeked into his apartment, Brenda feared the animal inside was worse than she had previously imagined. She desperately hoped she was wrong and that it was indeed just a very grumpy cat. But if it was as bad as she thought, she would need to take action fast.
The woman double-checked her contract and found she could enter the apartment with 24-hours notice. Tomorrow, she would find out what was going on once and for all.
Warning Signs
When the woman entered the apartment the next day, she looked around the space, confused. “Where is it?” she asked. The tenant told her the cat was getting a routine check-up at the vet.
But as Brenda went to leave, she noticed the long, deep claw marks down the side of the couch and curtains. This clearly wasn’t an animal that should be kept in an apartment. This thing needed to be in chains.
Hidden Camera
Brenda was eager to question Mark again about his new pet but she hadn’t seen him leave the apartment in days. He worked from home so Brenda became even more suspicious when he didn’t answer the doorbell.
There was only one thing left to do. He had to go outside with his new pet eventually right? So, instead of waiting outside all week, Brenda set up a hidden camera. But she never could have guessed she’d catch this on tape.
Imagination Running Wild
She placed the camera outside her door and turned it in the direction of Mark’s apartment. After two weeks of recording, Brenda played the footage back.
As she settled into her couch, her imagination ran wild. What animal would make a sound like the one she had heard? But what she was about to see was much bigger.
Something’s Wrong
Brenda pressed fast forward on the footage until she saw movement. At first she saw nothing unusual, just Mark leaving for the gym or groceries. But then she spotted something in his window.
She paused and zoomed in. It was definitely not a kitten, and there seemed to be something off with its eyes. They resembled something else entirely. She looked closer and realized something was definitely wrong.
Making The Call
Startled, Brenda immediately reached for her phone and called animal control. She reported exactly what she saw in Mark’s apartment and all about his reclusive behavior and unwillingness to let her see the animal.
She reassured them that it could be nothing but animal control wasn't willing to take that chance. Soon, all hell would break loose.
Altercation
Animal control showed up with the cops shortly after Brenda’s call. They banged on Mark’s door, stating their presence and to let them in. Brenda watched with fascination as Mark resisted their entry.
After a long battle of door shoving, the authorities finally entered his apartment. However, they had no time to rejoice as they walked straight into danger.
The Beast
Authorities busted through the door to see Mark panting, winded from trying to keep the door shut and something big behind him. They froze as they took in the sight of the rare beast.
Brenda, looking in from outside the door gasped in shock. The police ordered Mark to restrain the animal and hand him over. What was he hiding?
A Puma
Brenda’s hunch was right. Animal control busted through Mark’s doors and caught him red-handed. He was hiding a puma in his apartment which was illegal in the state.
Mark did as the officers commanded and managed to get the big cat into a carrier without much difficulty. The puma, named Tuscan, was young and relatively friendly but with big cats that could change in an instant.
New Home
Animal control brought Tuscan to a big cat sanctuary, about a two-hour drive from Mark’s apartment. It was a devastating blow for Mark but he also knew it was the right thing to do.
As the animal grew, Mark suddenly realized that his apartment wasn’t big enough for him and with his existence in his apartment being illegal, Mark began to feel cruel as he couldn’t let him play outside. But it wasn’t the end of the story for Mark and his beloved cat.
Visitors Welcome!
Mark tried to visit the sanctuary as often as he can and will often come bearing treats. Tuscan still remembers him but also enjoys the bigger space and presence of other cats to play with. So it’s a win-win situation.
However, once the media got hold of this story, not everyone agreed with how the situation was handled.
Opinions
Some questioned the law in place that bans big cat’s from being house pets. If Mark was treating him well and it was a safe situation, why couldn’t he keep it?
But the majority agreed with the ban, including experts who had some surprising information.
Media Illusions
Shows like the Tiger King paint a completely wrong picture.
While Mark was probably imagining a big playful cat that would make him look cool, the reality would be very different. Aside from being expensive, big cats never lose one particular, and dangerous, trait.
Starting Small
They might start small and cute, but they are hunters. They are wild. They are also used to wide-open spaces that let them roam free and run as they please.
Being cooped up in a small house would cause two major stressors. One would be perilous to Mark … the other to the entire neighborhood.
Big Pain
Anyone who has owned a cat knows that their little fangs and claws can hurt. Take that and couple it with a huge beast.
Big cats naturally play rough so they can learn and prepare to hunt. Their bodies can take damage. Human skin is no match. Mark could have ended up like one, unfortunate Florida man.
Not Really Safe
One visitor to a big cat sanctuary paid $150 to have a picture up close with one animal.
In seconds he was mauled and rushed to the hospital. If professional zookeepers can’t always predict behavior, there was no way Mark could. But what about his neighbors?
Cats Gone Crazy
Experts commented that with the mix of his ignorance and small housing, it was only a matter of time before Tuscan would have escaped.
It would have wanted to run and hunt out its pent-up energy and do whatever nature dictated. This brought in the second, more dangerous stressor.
New Surroundings
It would be in an unfamiliar environment.
Cars, animals, and new humans would have overwhelmed its senses and it would have been so scared. Terrified animals can act in unpredictable ways. Brenda might have been a nosy neighbor, but she did one thing right.
New Idea
Despite comments that her surveillance was cross the line a little bit, she was right to call animal control.
Her precious fur babies could have been a quick snack for the puma. The entire situation could have gone so much worse. But now knowing their mutual love of felines, Brenda had a brilliant idea.
Secret Drive
Mark might not have been the chatty, dream neighbor she had hoped for, but she was still going to help him.
With promises of something very special, one day she managed to lure him out of the house and into her car. It was nearly impossible to keep the secret for the two-hour drive.
Big But Domestic
When they pulled up to the animal shelter, Mark looked at her with a mix of confusion and annoyance.
However, when they stood before one particular cage, it finally clicked. Huge, fluffy, and pacing back and forth was a beautiful Maine Coon. It had to be over 15 pounds.
A New Friend
Mark might not get his wild feline, but the enormous domestic cat needed a new home.
It was the closest and safest thing. Brenda grinned as he started to play with it. Maybe now they would have something to talk about.