The owner of a house located on the outskirts of Sant Antoni, on Camí de sa Vorera, had an unexpected surprise this morning when he found a civet cat in his swimming pool. The encounter took place around 8 a.m., when the owner went out to the garden and saw the small mammal moving calmly along the water’s edge.
The civet cat is a common species in Ibiza, although difficult to spot due to its elusive nature and nocturnal habits. According to the owner, he and a relative managed to approach within about four metres without the animal showing any signs of fear. “It was very calm, it looked at us, but it didn’t try to run away”, he said.
In recent days, the family had noticed disturbed patches of soil in the garden and had attributed the tracks to a neighbour’s dog. The presence of the civet cat, however, has cleared up the mystery.
Although it is not the first time they have found a genet in the area, it is the first time they have seen a live one. “A few years ago we found another one, but it was dead — already half dried out — among some bushes. This time it was different”, the owner explained.