In Colorado Springs, a local pet store staff got the shock of their lives when they arrived to open shop one morning — only to discover a mountain lion lounging lazily in the middle of the toy aisle.
Security footage later revealed how the unexpected visitor managed to sneak in overnight. The big cat prowled quietly through the store, padding past shelves stacked with dog food, bird seed, and aquariums. But instead of hunting for meat, it made a surprisingly deliberate choice: the catnip section.
Once there, the lion knocked down a bag, tore it open, and instantly rolled itself into bliss. Cameras captured the surreal moment as the wild predator flopped onto its side, rubbing its face and paws into the shredded bags, clearly intoxicated by the strong scent. For hours, it remained sprawled out in the aisle like an oversized housecat that had found heaven.
When employees arrived in the morning, they froze in disbelief. Instead of a routine day of feeding puppies and parakeets, they were faced with a 150-pound mountain lion “shopping” for cat toys. Wildlife officers were immediately called, and after carefully coaxing the groggy cat outside, they successfully relocated it back into the nearby foothills.
Experts noted that while mountain lions don’t typically respond to catnip the way domestic cats do, the powerful aroma could have triggered curiosity or even a temporary playful state. “It’s unusual, but not impossible,” one wildlife biologist explained.
The pet store owner, half amused and half exhausted by the ordeal, summed it up with a wry smile: “Colorado is famous for plants that make people feel good… now I guess we know animals are getting in on it too.”
#Wildlife #MountainLion #Animals #Viral #Colorado