Woman bitten by pet lynx in Atlanta neighborhood
ATLANTA — A woman sent to feed several exotic cats while the owner was away was attacked by a pet Siberian lynx in an affluent Atlanta neighborhood Tuesday, according to police.
The lynx's owner was reportedly out of town. The woman, in her early 20s, sent to feed the cat in the Buckhead section of Atlanta was bitten on the head, according to Atlanta Police Sgt. Gregory Lyon.
The woman was conscious and bleeding heavily from her head, Lyon said.
The lynx was placed back in its cage, police said.
A helicopter view showed a large cage on the property on Paces Valley Road, which appeared to hold several of the large cats.
A neighbor said there were between five and 10 exotic cats, including lynx and servals on the property at any given time. Though the owner sometimes sells the cats to the zoo, he considers it a hobby and not a business, according to the neighbor.
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources says his current menagerie includes four Siberian lynxes, a Canadian lynx, two caracals, and 2 servals. Neighbors say he's kept them for at least 17 years.
The neighbor said that when an electric fence that holds the cats loses power, they sometimes escape. The neighbor said the cats have gotten out at least six times over the years.
According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the owner has the proper permits to keep the exotic pets on his property.