A serval cat which was spotted roaming city streets after getting out during a suspected break-in at its owner’s property has returned home.

Plymouth City Council said it received a call about a possible sighting of a large cat near the A38 in the city on Wednesday.

The council said officers contacted the cat’s owner, who is the only person in the city with a licence to keep a dangerous wild animal, who told them it got out during a break-in. It later returned to its enclosure safely, a spokesperson added.

Devon and Cornwall Police said it was investigating the reported burglary and enquiries were ongoing.

“It was a bit nervous and came back on its own accord,” the council spokesperson added.

“But we will carry out an inspection of the property to make sure it has sufficient security and all licence conditions are complied with.”

Serval cats are native to savannahs and wetlands in Africa and are listed as “least concern” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s red list of endangered species.