California Family Shocked to Discover 'Cat' Chased Up Tree by Their Dog Is Actually a Mountain Lion

A California family encountered an unexpected backyard guest Monday morning when what they assumed to be a cat - chased up a tree by their dog - actually turned out to be a young mountain lion.

The Tustin Police Department recounted the startling encounter in a social media post. "One Tustin family was in for quite the shock when they let their dog out in the morning and it chased a cat up a tree. When they looked a little closer, this wasn't just any cat, but a California Mountain Lion."

The mountain lion, perched about 20 feet high in a tree near Irvine Boulevard and Holt Avenue, appeared stuck, with its front legs gripping branches and its back legs dangling.

Firefighters and biologists from Fish & Wildlife promptly responded to the scene to safely remove the animal. For the safety of both the responders and the lion, the animal was tranquilized before being carefully lowered from the tree.

The Orange County Fire Authority shared a video of the rescue, showing a coordinated effort by a team of five responders to treat the tranquilized mountain lion on the ground.

"Biologists from Fish & Game then provided care and prepared the cat for transport — first to a processing center and then back into the wild, albeit an area much further from civilization," the OCFA reported.

The family and their dog were unharmed, and the mountain lion was safely released into Cleveland National Forest.

"While this is not common, we are proud to be of service to our partners at Fish & Game," said the OCFA. "Today's incident is also a reminder that when it comes to wildlife, giving them their space and calling the appropriate authorities is best for their safety and ours."