ATLANTA -- The owner of an African wildcat captured Thursday near Georgia Tech could be facing charges.

The cat, caught after a chase along Midtown Atlanta streets, was identified as a male serval. Animal control workers at first thought it was an ocelot, but later confirmed it is a serval.

It is illegal in Georgia to keep a serval as a pet. Zoos, wild animals and circuses can get special permits to keep them.

The owner could face misdemeanor charges for having the illegal animal, which is native to the savannahs of Africa.

Fulton County Animal Control used a net to capture the tan, black-and-white spotted serval from bushes along 14th Street early Thursday morning.

Authorities say the serval could end up at one of the state's zoos or wild animal businesses.

Two years ago, a serval was found in Atlanta's Buckhead neighborhood after it escaped from its owner, who runs an exotic cat business.