Toby, the missing Hardeeville exotic cat, hospitalized in Port Royal

Just in time for Christmas, a missing, 45-pound serval cat was found Saturday in Palmetto Bluff.

The exotic cat went missing from its Hardeeville home nearly four months ago in August. Owner Christine Ismail previously said she believed the cat jumped out of the window of her home.

There have been several sightings of Toby in recent months, with many of them in the Palmetto Bluff area.

Animal Control Director Tallulah Trice said a Palmetto Bluff official spotted Toby near a pond within the private community Saturday afternoon.

Trice said a trap was used to capture the cat at about 3:30 p.m. She said the focus since has been on warming the cat.

As of Sunday morning, Toby is being cared for at Port Royal Veterinary Hospital, an employee confirmed.

Hospital veterinarian Marikay Campbell said Sunday morning that Toby is in stable condition, but that Ismail asked her to not go into further detail for the time being.

Trice said on Sunday that when Toby was found he “had lost a lot of weight and was dehydrated.”

She expressed faith in Campbell, though, and said that getting Toby rehydrated would do a lot to help him.

Ismail declined to comment Saturday evening as she said Toby was still being evaluated.

This story was originally published December 16, 2017 at 6:25 PM with the headline "Toby, the missing Hardeeville exotic cat, hospitalized in Port Royal."