Owner Of 'Bam, Bam' Issued Five Citations; Police Want Cats Gone

ROYAL OAK, MI — The owner of the African caracal cat that escaped Wednesday was issued five citations from the Royal Oak Police Department.

Additionally, the police department strongly encouraged her to move the cats to a more suitable environment, since she cannot keep them contained on her property.

She has agreed to relocate the animals and contracted with a transportation company to have them moved on Monday, police said.

The exotic cat owner, Elaine Westfall, 62, owns four African caracals total and estimated she spent $50,000 or more purchasing them and setting up enclosures for them in her backyard and garage.

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Police said Wednesday was not the first time Westfall's cats have gotten loose.

Residents were warned Wednesday that one of Westfall's cats had escaped from its home.

Later Wednesday night, a resident in the area of 2100 N. Altadena called police and said the cat was in their backyard.

Officers arrived and contained the cat by setting up a perimeter on the backyard. Shortly later a wildlife trapper hired by the owner arrived and set up a trap, which safely captured the cat.