The mystery creature had toured the city's suburbs

The creature which was spotted hopping around the city was found to be a fox suffering from mange, malnutrition, and an injured leg.

RSPCA staff caught the vixen on Tuesday afternoon and said it was put down on humane grounds.

Police in Cardiff investigated several sightings of the animal in the Llanishen and Lisvane areas.

The RSPCA said it had been caught in a trap laid by the organisation.

A spokesperson said: "The fox was a very sick animal suffering from extensive mange and a damaged front leg.

Some thought it was a young kangaroo

"She was extremely emaciated and full of sores.

"As a result, she was put to sleep by a local vet."

The fox's leg injury is the reason why eyewitnesses thought it was hopping.

The animal was been caught on camera in the Cardiff suburbs several times, including on a garden patio.

One city resident, Wayne Joinson, photographed it in his garden.

"It looked very odd, it had a grey body and a different sort of pointed nose," he said.