Black cats

[secretagentmole]

I think they are spread all over the country.

I also think there are yeti's in Snowdonia

Yup Skoda has dealershops everywhere these days, even Wales!

[matty*]

I had what I would describe as a big black cat type thing run out in front of me whilst at RAF Honington Suffolk. It was at night in a remote part of the airfield, just a few small buildings and junk. I was with my shark on the lead aka police dog. The cat was equal in height to the dog with a long tail. The dog went for it nearly dislocating my arm with the lead.

One thing though that surprises me about big cat theories , why do none get found dead, either of old age, hit by cars or even shot?

There was a lynx shot by a keeper that only came to light when he was suspected of shooting buzzards and they looked in his freezer, also was a jungle cat? I think found on the road side been hit by a car.

[jonny thomas]

I once read a comment in viz

"Why do people who see ghosts and aliens always have sh## cameras"

Just about sums it up for me

[SimpleSimon]

Driving back from the farm shop just now, I like to take the "scenic route" down the lanes and have a peek down the hedgerows for munties...

Anyway, what did I see but a big fluffy looking backside disappearing through the hedge on a field about 100 yards away. I wound down the window, grabbed the binoculars and found my quarry in the stubble on the other side. A big cat. Not a Big Cat but definitely a cat which was bigger than most! Scrappy ears from fighting, matted "lynx like" shaggy coat, but undoubtedly just a big bad farm cat, probably out looking for a terrier to beat up.

[TONY R]

They dont exist no viable population whatsoever, the mates down in Yorkshire (Doncaster) were shooting near where a big cat sighting was 15 years or so ago. was on news at ten all the papers, but the mates were out all round that area at the time and saw nothing. Pure fiction created by bored people looking for sensationalisum.

 

Here is the story it made the headlines back then.

16th-22nd June 1999, reported in local + national press + Fortean Times

On 16 June, Raymond Cibor, 45, was driving a fork-lift truck down a country lane at Seven Yards Farm, Armthorpe, when a mud-spattered tiger leapt from undergrowth, reared up on its hind legs, snarled and lashed out with its claws at the vehicle. He reversed as the feline roared and attacked the truck again before disappearing into a nearby copse.

"I could see its mouth open wide and its claws looked like razors," said the ex-soldier. "It was definitely a tiger, there is no doubt in my mind. It was about 6ft in length and 3ft high. It was orange and yellow with black stripes."

After studying big cat pictures on his computer, he concluded it was a Bengal tiger. The police found "fairly large paw prints", later identified by an expert as a dog's. There were no travelling circuses booked in the area and no nearby theme parks with any tigers (present or missing), so a police helicopter was scrambled to comb the area and an armed response unit put on alert.

As nearly always with these ABC searches, nothing was found. "We do not believe this was a hoax," said a police spokesman, "because the man was genuinely terrified." A week later, James Sutcliffe, 13, was left in tears after apparently coming face to a face with a tiger while cycling home in Auckley, only three miles from Seven Yards Farm.

[Mochastorm]

I recall a documentary a few years ago where an American hunter/tracker visited the U.K. regarding the sightings of big cats. He spent some time with Britain's expert. Our expert had no scientific background but was a milk delivery man. He presented all of his evidence gathered from around the country, most of which was grainy photographs of dark shapes in the distance and more detailed pictures of dead sheep and cattle, allegedly killed by a big cat. There may have been casts of paw prints. The majority of the evidence showed that it was not big cats but dogs.

When a big cat kills, as part of feeding it licks the carcass. A swab of the 'kill' would provide a DNA sample that that would give all the detail required including type of animal and the sex.

I'm not convinced there are big cats roaming the countryside. In the dark your eyes have to make sense of objects you see. Size, distance and shape can seem different, and I believe this is how we have so many plausible sightings from ordinary people.

[Hendrix's rifle]

I recall a documentary a few years ago where an American hunter/tracker visited the U.K. regarding the sightings of big cats. He spent some time with Britain's expert. Our expert had no scientific background but was a milk delivery man. He presented all of his evidence gathered from around the country, most of which was grainy photographs of dark shapes in the distance and more detailed pictures of dead sheep and cattle, allegedly killed by a big cat. There may have been casts of paw prints. The majority of the evidence showed that it was not big cats but dogs.

When a big cat kills, as part of feeding it licks the carcass. A swab of the 'kill' would provide a DNA sample that that would give all the detail required including type of animal and the sex.

I'm not convinced there are big cats roaming the countryside. In the dark your eyes have to make sense of objects you see. Size, distance and shape can seem different, and I believe this is how we have so many plausible sightings from ordinary people.

As I respect peoples opinions I wont argue about it however, my 50kg gsd has real big paws and the paw print I have pictures of is massive. I know dogs well after having had many and trained many. The cat i saw had its jaws clamped around a sika's neck. On another occasion in a close by spot I watched it groom its self in some low brush. A farmer I know actually slept in the cow shed after he had seen it... There are only a select few I tell about it as if everyone knew no one would see it again but the couple of people who didn't believe me wont go there again. I am up there for around 4-6 hours a day with my dogs day in day out so I know what I've seen and how many times I've seen it

[TONY R]

I recall a documentary a few years ago where an American hunter/tracker visited the U.K. regarding the sightings of big cats. He spent some time with Britain's expert. Our expert had no scientific background but was a milk delivery man. He presented all of his evidence gathered from around the country, most of which was grainy photographs of dark shapes in the distance and more detailed pictures of dead sheep and cattle, allegedly killed by a big cat. There may have been casts of paw prints. The majority of the evidence showed that it was not big cats but dogs.

When a big cat kills, as part of feeding it licks the carcass. A swab of the 'kill' would provide a DNA sample that that would give all the detail required including type of animal and the sex.

I'm not convinced there are big cats roaming the countryside. In the dark your eyes have to make sense of objects you see. Size, distance and shape can seem different, and I believe this is how we have so many plausible sightings from ordinary people.

Yep i saw that very documentry myself.

[Jason_ox]

We have one that comes onto our farm, I last saw it about 10 years ago during dusk. Dogs were going beserk at the patio doors so I peered through and a large black cat with long tail crossed the lane about 75 yds away. Another time my grandfather came to visit and took his old golden retriever for a walk up the lane early one morning he came back 5 mins later and was visibly disturbed, asking if anyone owns a very large black cat as one had just walked out in front of him. It has been sighted numerous times but not for a few years now. Probably 15 years ago it was photographed in a tree and printed in the local newsletter which makes me believe it's a possible melonistic leapord.

[Hamster]

We have one that comes onto our farm, I last saw it about 10 years ago during dusk. Dogs were going beserk at the patio doors so I peered through and a large black cat with long tail crossed the lane about 75 yds away. Another time my grandfather came to visit and took his old golden retriever for a walk up the lane early one morning he came back 5 mins later and was visibly disturbed, asking if anyone owns a very large black cat as one had just walked out in front of him. It has been sighted numerous times but not for a few years now. Probably 15 years ago it was photographed in a tree and printed in the local newsletter which makes me believe it's a possible melonistic leapord.

 

Or a large black cat with no body and no verifiable photo that's the only logical conclusion.

[Danger-Mouse]

As I respect peoples opinions I wont argue about it however, my 50kg gsd has real big paws and the paw print I have pictures of is massive. I know dogs well after having had many and trained many. The cat i saw had its jaws clamped around a sika's neck. On another occasion in a close by spot I watched it groom its self in some low brush. A farmer I know actually slept in the cow shed after he had seen it... There are only a select few I tell about it as if everyone knew no one would see it again but the couple of people who didn't believe me wont go there again. I am up there for around 4-6 hours a day with my dogs day in day out so I know what I've seen and how many times I've seen it

 

Start taking a camera out with you then.

[Hendrix's rifle]

 

Start taking a camera out with you then.

My girlfriend is a photographer and usually takes a camera how ever its always been a bit far out to get a lamp on and visibly see it when she is with me. I really need to remember my phone :L

[old man]

 

 

F! hybrid Servals quite commonly for sale in UK, DEFRA accept this situation ok? Called Savannah cats?

Funnily enough I was discussing this whilst out lamping the other night. I remember a newspaper article from a while back where police had raided a property in West Yorkshire and found several caged Lynx in a barn. I think the intention had been to release them for hunting...

 

My personal opinion is that most, but not all, sightings are either misidentification or pure hoax. I've spent enough time squinting at things when I don't have my binoculars to know that not everything is immediately obvious. If you're of a certain mindset anything can look like a big cat (or a UFO, ghost, yeti). That said I do believe in some cases that large cats are genuinely being seen. My best guess as a source would be hybrids of "exotic" releases/escapees with one another or with domestic cats to produce oversized ferals. I know that feral domestic cats are quite common in some areas.

I don't believe in any conspiracy theory involving DEFRA cover ups or such like. I'd imagine most keepers or farmers wouldn't fancy the attention and if they are shooting cats they're keeping quiet.

 

Edit: by "exotics" I mean cervals and the like, not black Panthers and pumas. The descriptions given of the "Panthers" are almost always far too small for a true big cat. A Labrador isn't the size of a big cat.

Edited March 11, 2016 by old man

[Vince Green]

I don't think people today realise just how popular they were as pets back in the 70s. It wasn't just the odd few. Thousands were sold in the pet market and it was perfectly legal.Even Harrods sold them. almost every aspiring actress would be photographed walking her pet puma up the Kings Road on a lead. They were trendy (whatever that means today)

 

The keeping of them without a licence became illegal in 1976 simply because things were getting out of hand but you have to see that laws don't just happen. There had to be a lot of cats causing a lot of problems to shake the establishment into passing laws.

 

It didn't become illegal to release a big cat into the wild until 1981. Now read between the lines, why would the government go to the trouble in 1981 of making it illegal unless there was a problem that needed to be addressed?

 

People think, OK so there might have been a few that escaped or got turned out but the reality is there were maybe hundreds. because very few ended up in zoos, the zoos didn't want them

Edited March 12, 2016 by Vince Green

[flynny]

Speculation !!!!!

 

Get it on camera or!!!!!

 

A pic of dead one up close ??

 

Myth or "REALITY"

 

Flynny

Edited March 11, 2016 by flynny

[old man]

I have a friend who's land I shoot over, he was a ranger locally and not given to story telling.

He is adamant he saw a large black cat one morning 20 years ago cross a track in front of his land rover following heavy snow fall.

 

Make of it what you will?

[Hamster]

This one was spotted in Essex yesterday.

[Shotguneddy]

I had what I would describe as a big black cat type thing run out in front of me whilst at RAF Honington Suffolk. It was at night in a remote part of the airfield, just a few small buildings and junk. I was with my shark on the lead aka police dog. The cat was equal in height to the dog with a long tail. The dog went for it nearly dislocating my arm with the lead.

One thing though that surprises me about big cat theories , why do none get found dead, either of old age, hit by cars or even shot?

 

Good point, I suspect if they found one they'd probably try cover it up so people don't panic

[TONY R]

Well lets go along with the scenario they exist for one moment, how come no ones been eaten by these things, no attacks no kids killed.?

These fleeting sightings are totaly unfounded, they have to eat and drink they have to shi* too some where, leave tracks those track lead some where a den a sleeping area just something tangible need to be shown here.

As it is we have mystical black cat like creatures that apear and dissapear with out trace they dont eat they dont sleep they dont shi* and they dont leave tracks, or if they do they are- DOG tracks- .

Sorry black cat belliever types but what you got there is some ones Labrador or in the case of the tigger sighting it was a bull/ greyhound brindle lurcher all the evidence points to this.

tiggers Panthers various leopard strains these things are killers born killers and we are very much on the menu. for entertainment and factual insight read this book here. https://archive.org/details/maneatersofkumao029903mbp.

People probably do see something re these sightings but they are mistaken and all the evidence what little there ever has been of evidence that is, points very much to DOG not CAT. Now Dog sightings sure i will go along with that.

[Hendrix's rifle]

Well lets go along with the scenario they exist for one moment, how come no ones been eaten by these things, no attacks no kids killed.?

These fleeting sightings are totaly unfounded, they have to eat and drink they have to shi* too some where, leave tracks those track lead some where a den a sleeping area just something tangible need to be shown here.

As it is we have mystical black cat like creatures that apear and dissapear with out trace they dont eat they dont sleep they dont shi* and they dont leave tracks, or if they do they are- DOG tracks- .

Sorry black cat belliever types but what you got there is some ones Labrador or in the case of the tigger sighting it was a bull/ greyhound brindle lurcher all the evidence points to this.

tiggers Panthers various leopard strains these things are killers born killers and we are very much on the menu. for entertainment and factual insight read this book here. https://archive.org/details/maneatersofkumao029903mbp.

People probably do see something re these sightings but they are mistaken and all the evidence what little there ever has been of evidence that is, points very much to DOG not CAT. Now Dog sightings sure i will go along with that.

So are you trying to say I don't know what a cats paw print looks like? My gsd has massive paws and his didn't cover half of it. Again, if you don't believe it fair enough, but to those who actually have and have had family and friends scared from going to said 'site' again I think they do I can track and do it rather well, as can my old man and we both said cat and tracked it until we were no longer able to do so as it got too thick. Next time Il see it Il let you know so you can see for your self

[TONY R]

Look ---- This is pointless going round in circles like this, use your apparent tracking skills get one of these beast dead or captured then just get the true notoriety you will justly deserve.

I am sure you saw something and you genuinely believe it was a cat or cat prints you saw, but where is the thing now?

You cant just proclain to the world you saw a black cat or tracks from a cat bigger than an Alsatian and expect anyone to acept what you say.

Be realistic you need to go out and get one of these cats grassed pronto you owe this to society at large in ther uk big cats are dangerous they do eat people .

If there was a big cat where you say it is we would all know about it already, there is no hiding place for such a creature in these islands. The evidece of its existance would have been well documented by now and the animal located.

The idea of a super ellusive wrath like creature appearing and then dsissapearing never to be captured shot or killed is frankly out there with the fairys.

We have the remote habitat we probably have enough game for a cat, but for it to go on without leaving any trace of its acctivities and in so many different places and for so long. Trust me now you were very much mistaken, you preobably truthfully bellieve you saw a cat prints etc . but thats down to you getting your sums wrong thats all and it does not mean you got a degree in mathamatics just because you say you know.

[Hamster]

Get one grassed pronto . Lets not allow facts to get in the way of a good story.

[Danger-Mouse]

An old mate of mine swore he saw one in the Durham area. Mind you he did like a drink

 

For those who say they`ve seen one, take a photo, even if it`s just of a paw print. Take a cast of a print, show some tangible evidence. People are rightly sceptical because it is difficult to believe there are black panthers roaming our countryside. Don`t get upset when they doubt you, prove them wrong

[TONY R]

Get one grassed pronto . Lets not allow facts to get in the way of a good story.

Well ! ---I ask you its getting silly all this cat stuff, time for some facts to be shown rather than all this suposition.

[Mochastorm]

Why are they always large black cats, suggesting that they are melanistic leopards or jaguars. There never seem to be sightings of the more common golden versions of these animals. Just my own observation. I remain unconvinced.