BY TOM O'NEILL
The Cincinnati Enquirer
WAYNE TOWNSHIP -- Tigger comes home today with a heck of a story about his time away. But he's not talking.
The 50-pound, 8-month-old male cougar was stolen Aug. 26 from licensed exotic pet owner Robert Long of Wayne Township, in the northeast corner of Clermont County near Blanchester. The chain was broken on his cage and a baby bear was killed during the theft.
Tigger was discovered just walking around Northern Kentucky this weekend. A Boone County firefighter recovered him near the Cincinnati - Northern Kentucky International Airport, some 50 miles away.
Tigger's odyssey continued, however, when he was remanded by Boone County Animal Control to an animal preserve near Lexington, Ky. Tigger had a collar but no identification, and officials were unaware Mr. Long had reported his cat stolen.
Cat didn't swim
When a relieved Mr. Long proved ownership and made plans to bring him home today, one question was answered but two others remained. How? And with whom?
"That cat didn't swim no river and he didn't cross any bridges," Mr. Long said Tuesday. "Not without being seen. It's just real cool to get him back."
Mr. Long theorized that someone stole Tigger, then let him loose after learning firsthand the challenges of controlling a "baby" cougar.
Clermont County Sheriff Tim "A.J." Rodenberg said, "We have no idea how it might have gotten that far, it's a mystery." Mr. Long, an electrician, said Tigger could go about a week without eating and might be able to fend for himself for a month or two. But young cougars grow quickly and eventually he would have been strangled by the fitted choke collar he wears during their leash-walks around Mr. Long's property.
Mr. Long operates a 5.5-acre farm with about 25 exotic animals, including emus, rams and a collection of exotic snakes. Weekend tours draw many local visitors.
A young black bear was killed and a Burmese python was let loose during the theft, which occurred while Mr. Long was out of town. The 14-foot-long python was found in a bale of hay.
Mr. Long, who is licensed by the Ohio Department of Agriculture to own exotic animals, said he bought Tigger this summer and the cat's diet recently graduated from cow's milk to processed chicken. Laura Carpenter, a keeper at the Cincinnati Zoo cat house, said the big cats there are fed ground horse meat.
Mr. Long, an exotic animal enthusiast and self-taught caretaker, said he used to keep snakes and alligators in cages in the bedroom -- until his wife, Robbin, objected.
"It was either me or the animals in the barn and it's getting awfully cold out," he said with a laugh.
