eggregiousness Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 (edited) I was watching my new babies from the bathroom window (best view ) and saw a fox shaped creature peering round a wall corner at the chikkies. My first thought was that it was a fox. I saw it only for a split second and then it was gone, however, it reappeared and ran across the bottom of the garden into the overgrown shrubs there and I saw that although it was the size of a fox it had a cat-like face with tufty ears and a long, solid tail, not a big fluffy foxy one. The most striking thing about its appearance was the tail which had bands, about one inch wide, in black and white all down its length. I think its body was a mottled grey colour but it was running across a dappled area of light so I couldn't tell properly. IT WAS ENORMOUS!!!!!! I've never seen it before. It was much, much bigger than my two cats, or any other domestic cat I've ever seen. Edited August 22, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 OMG Weird!!! Keep your eyes open for a better look at it if you see it again. How are the girls this morning? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurmurf Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 OHHHHH that sounds very 'Springwatch' to me.... could it be a Scottish Wildcat? Or a Pine Martin? - both incredibly rare! (I'm absolutely ashamed to say this - on this forum particularly - but it wouldn't be as upsetting to lose one of my chooks to one of these beauties!!!!)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggregiousness Posted August 22, 2009 Author Share Posted August 22, 2009 The girlies are absolutely fine this morning I'm happy to say! Both eating and drinking happily The cat thing was definitely not a pine marten. I wondered about wild cat but this is supposed to be the wrong area for them and their tails have no white in them although they are banded. I have to say there are rumours here abouts of pumas (no - not one of those) and lynxs (right face but I think they have short tails?). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurmurf Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 oh my..... that big! how 'exciting' by the way - I've got lots of inlaws in Fife (Newburgh) - i don't think I'd ever convince them to keep chickens, but it's nice to know an omleteer is nearby! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 Ooh crikey! Pleased to hear that your girlies are okay but I hope you're hovering in your bathroom with your camera poised! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 good grief, its getting more stressful isnt is im glad the girls are happy in their new life though cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 OHHHHH that sounds very 'Springwatch' to me.... could it be a Scottish Wildcat? Or a Pine Martin? - both incredibly rare! Pine Martins don't have stripes, but the scottish wildcat does Is this it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 good grief, I wouldnt mess with him, he looks stern cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggregiousness Posted August 22, 2009 Author Share Posted August 22, 2009 Pine Martins don't have stripes, but the scottish wildcat does Is this it? Don't think so. The tail was pure white and black bands. No sign of it since. Chikkies LOVE mealworms! I'm hoping the BEAST was just passing through and it was pure coincidence that the girls have just arrived Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggregiousness Posted August 23, 2009 Author Share Posted August 23, 2009 Daughter's boyfriend suggested it could be an Ocelot (a kind of mini-leopard) and I have to grudgingly admit he could be right Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted August 23, 2009 Share Posted August 23, 2009 Are they wild in Scotland then?? Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simone Posted August 23, 2009 Share Posted August 23, 2009 Are they wild in Scotland then?? Tricia everythings wild in scotland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted August 23, 2009 Share Posted August 23, 2009 Just a thought - do we get raccoons over here? Those can be big. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ygerna Posted August 23, 2009 Share Posted August 23, 2009 Are they wild in Scotland then?? Tricia I dont think so but people have been known to try and keep these sort of creatures as pets and then release them when they realise how difficult they are to keep. Found this chap using google. Good band markings on his tail. http://www.leopardmag.co.uk/feats/202/the-wildcat-last-scottish-super-predator Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggregiousness Posted August 23, 2009 Author Share Posted August 23, 2009 It wasn't a Scottish Wildcat - they have no white on their tails and are smaller than the Beast I saw It was as tall as a labrador but longer - three to four feet plus tail, and the tail was black and white not brown and black. I hope it was just passing through and not making a home near here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fur 'n' Feathers Posted August 23, 2009 Share Posted August 23, 2009 Sounds very much like a lynx to us and there have been reports around Fife - see below: http://www.bigcatsinbritain.org/lynxarticle.htm Don't be surprised at this possibility. We have had lots of verified reports of black leopard around us and across Kent among other wild cats. When the law changed about keeping exotic pets in the late 1970's many were let go into the wild and some have acclimatised to it. We've even had a mother & cub sited near us. Of course the article above does also say the Fife area is haunted by werewolves Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggregiousness Posted August 23, 2009 Author Share Posted August 23, 2009 I was wondering about lynx - I thought I saw tufty ears which they do have, but I also think its tail was quite long and lynx have short tails - or are there some kins of lynx with longer tails? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fur 'n' Feathers Posted August 23, 2009 Share Posted August 23, 2009 I was wondering about lynx - I thought I saw tufty ears which they do have, but I also think its tail was quite long and lynx have short tails - or are there some kins of lynx with longer tails? It's not a werewolf then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggregiousness Posted August 23, 2009 Author Share Posted August 23, 2009 It's not a werewolf then Well yes it could have been a werewolf, but those only come out when it's dark and the pub's shut : Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted August 23, 2009 Share Posted August 23, 2009 I've sent a PM to a lady I know on another site that tracks big cats in the UK, she might know of any that are in your area. I'll report back! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggregiousness Posted August 23, 2009 Author Share Posted August 23, 2009 I've sent a PM to a lady I know on another site that tracks big cats in the UK, she might know of any that are in your area. I'll report back! Wow! Looking forward to hearing what she has to say! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted August 24, 2009 Share Posted August 24, 2009 Righty, she's no experience of that area but asks that you fill out a sighting form because others might know more. http://www.bigcatsinbritain.org/localreportform.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggregiousness Posted August 24, 2009 Author Share Posted August 24, 2009 OK have done! I'm surprised she hasn't come across any reports around here before though. Everyone I've spoken to here about it knows someone who has seen one in the last few years. I thought I saw something similar before once, trotting along by a road that runs through woodland. It was dark that time though. I only got an impression of cat-like movement and size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted August 24, 2009 Share Posted August 24, 2009 She said there are lots of big cats in Scotland. I think your report gets passed on to local co-ordinators, she's based in the Midlands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
