Evie Button, the RSPCA’s senior scientific officer, said: “We have concerns about the breeding, trade and keeping of wild, or exotic, animals kept as pets, including those classified as dangerous wild animals, such as servals.
“Animals should only be kept in captivity if good welfare can be assured and this can often be very challenging.
“Exotic pets are wild, non-domesticated animals kept in captivity and so their needs are essentially no different to the same species living in the wild.
“Some species – like servals – are unsuitable to be kept as pets because their needs are too complex to be met in a household environment.”
Button encouraged prospective owners to do thorough research before keeping an exotic animal as a pet.
Kevin Murphy, who runs Norfolk Wildlife Rescue, has alerted people on Facebook and is keen to find its owner.
“To have one roaming about is a bit of a worry, but these things happen,” he said.
“The owner should check the enclosure and make sure it is secure.
“They are smaller cats than tigers and lions, but they are still big animals to have.
“They are more temperamental than average cats.”
He added servals were “prolific hunters” capable of catching lots of prey.
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