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Disclaimer:
The content, views and opinions expressed here belong entirely to Neil
Arnold, and do not necessarily reflect those of the site owner.
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For further information, and to report a sighting, visit also the Kent Big Cat Research pages at the Kent Messenger's Kent-Online site. |
Neil's Guide to Wild Cats in Britain
The Evolution & taxonomy of Big Cats
Those Shot With Cameras…And Those Shot With Guns
No Such Thing As Black Panthers!
The Future of 'Big Cats' in Kent
Kent Big Cat Research in a Flap over the Toy Leopard Snap!
Also on this page: Britain’s
Feline Profile
Was a Black Leopard shot and killed on Sheppey?
During October 2001 a Black Panther was allegedly blasted and killed during a morning pheasant shoot. The three-foot long animal was then taken away, never to be heard of again.
This may sound like a story more akin to werewolf tradition but the fact is, a melanistic leopard was indeed destroyed that crisp Autumn morning and the kill was observed by a builder. The incident took place at Leysdowne at around 11:30 am. ‘Beaters’ were combing the undergrowth in order to spook the pheasants and one particular bird seemed to not only attract the interest of the farmers dog but of a silky, slim feline which emerged from the rough ground. The speedy feline confronted the dog and was then blasted from twenty yards away. The ‘shooter’ then nudged the animal with his foot before picking it up at the root of the tail. According to the witness the animal was as long as the farmers leg.
The major concerns here are as follows:
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Pheasant shooters are not allowed to shoot at ground level in case ‘beaters’ and dogs are killed. |
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The report is credible and so Kent has lost one of its mysterious felines. |
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The Isle Of Sheppey cat had been dismissed for so long, mainly due to the fact that the island is relatively flat and sightings were few and far between. |
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The creature killed may well have been one of the Blue Bell Hill animals. |
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The person responsible for the killing should be prosecuted. The carcass is probably mere ash now. |
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If the farmer had merely wounded the animal, he could now be responsible for the existence of a cat willing to attack man – the slowest animal around! |
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Something like this was always going to happen in an area so bleak and populated by so many ‘shooters’. Let’s hope no others cats make their way to the island. |
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However,
there is also the possibility, as in the case of most alleged
captures/road kills and shootings etc, that nothing of this nature
took place at all. There are always the possibility of hoaxes,
especially when fuelled by newspaper coverage. There is not, of
course, any evidence to suggest that a large cat of any kind was shot
on the Isle Of Sheppey, and a contact of KENT BIG CAT RESEARCH has
since submitted the following information on the incident:
“Most pheasant
shooters would use 1 to 1+ 1/8 of an ounce of 6, 7 or even 8 sized
shot. 1 ounce trap shells in 7 + ½ is common. The idea is to bring
a bird down for the dogs to collect, not necessarily to kill it
instantly. Even
at just twenty yards one would not expect a shot that small to
penetrate far into a fit, muscular animal. Each pellet would have
around 2 foot pounds of energy – very little (a quick search on
the net found a picture of a guy shot at 10 yards with 6 shot, and
it barely penetrated the skin!). While it is not impossible that
vital areas were hit multiple times and the animal in question
succumbed, my gut feeling is that t would not have died instantly if
at all. I would reach for the salt shaker as far as this story
goes… The
alternative is that this particular guy carried a gun loaded with
something far more lethal – but why ?, and how unlucky for the cat
that the one time it went anywhere near a man with a shotgun, he was
using something massively in excess of what was needed for his
quarry. Could he have been waiting for the cat and be suitably
prepared ?” KBCR always remains dubious regarding reports of alleged cat kills, especially when there is no evidence. Of course, if one cat is unfortunate enough to meet its death by bullet then those that harm them will not parade the carcass around town. Conclusion:
It is unlikely that most shootings of exotic cats across the country
happened at all. If anyone even knocks down a cat of that
nature with a vehicle it is unlikely they would stop. Anyone who
harms such felines intentionally should face prosecution, especially
those who feel that these animal should be destroyed simply to fuel
their sad desires for something in their trophy cabinet. |
Kent Caracal?
A Caracal has also recently been observed in rural Kent and proves once again that lesser cats can exist for years in populated areas without detection. Three main species of feline inhabit Kent, the Puma, Black Leopard and Lynx, however, lack of knowledge from the public means that possible other species may well be wrongly perceived or misidentified. People know the Lynx by its tufted ears and so in turn may confuse a Caracal with this particular cat. There have also been reports of unidentified species of animal which often do not match known species of animal. Whilst cross-breeds occur in some instances and again, light and darkness may interfere with view, reports of such hybrids are often ignored unless there is consistency.
KENT BIG CAT RESEARCH is the county's only investigation into reports and evidence of exotic cats in the countryside. It aims to monitor behavioural patterns, diet, species and routes of these elusive animals. It does not question as to whether exotic felines exist within the county, instead it accepts them as a native species and hopes to bring the folklore into reality.
With a great number of so-called ‘big cat researchers’ patrolling the country, in their inadequacy they are creating not only hysteria but also a myth. Each ‘hunter’ wants his own quarry, not for the benefit of the animal, but for the benefit of themselves. Popularity, five minutes of fame and a bit of money lead the blind into a territory they know nothing about. Whilst these intrepid ‘researchers’ investigate their sightings, not knowing the difference between a cat or dog print, they attempt to warn the public that these animals must not be cornered or they will turn aggressive. The fact is, it is the so-called ‘big cat researcher’ who will harm the animal more than any country rambler or angler.
There are those out there who attempt to monitor an entire nation of feline sightings. Many ignoring the help of zoologists, trackers and trappers, to create their own clubs and circles. It is the current charge of the fright brigade.
KENT BIG CAT RESEARCH also aims to aid the public in identifying the animals they are seeing. Sightings of such felines are often over in seconds, and many witnesses realise they have seen a strange cat but are unable to identify it as a species. Shadows, shade, darkness and light can create markings and colour to confuse witnesses and whilst many witnesses know they have seen a four-foot long fawn-coloured cat, they are never aware of ear size, or tail length.
The main concern with regards to the existence of these cats is not the present population, although there seem to be over one-hundred nationwide. The future, or at least the next twenty years will see a significant population explosion as cubs of current exotic cats become fully grown and breed themselves. Zoologist and animal trapper Quentin Rose has, for a number of years, expressed this concern.
Although such animals are elusive, woodlands in Britain are shrinking and so occasional sightings of Panther and Puma in urban areas will rise. These cats will be top of the predatory food chain, eventually decimating rabbit and fox populations in certain areas and causing much alarm amongst local ramblers.
The aim of this website is not to bring attention to exotic cat habitats but to simply make people aware that they are there. Many people see such creatures and question their own sanity, are snubbed by police and ridiculed by their own families. There are those who feel that such animals belong to the realm of folklore alongside the spectres and UFOs. Blue Bell Hill, near Maidstone has become known across the world for its phantom hitchhikers and sinister hags of the road which terrorise motorists. The mysterious felines of the area have been known to walk the same rural lanes and tranquil, dark valleys as the apparitions and wraiths.
Chris Packham (left) with Neil Arnold
Sightings from the first half of the 1900s suggest that exotic cat populations were those that had escaped from local zoos. History reveals further evidence with another case of a shooting, this time of a young Black Leopard. Other reports from hereon also suggest that the 1976 Dangerous Wild Animals Act is not the only cause of the current population. Dilapidated theme parks, travelling circuses and boats docking at the coast are also responsible for some of the cat populations. Many exotics were taken aboard boats for ‘ratting’, small Safari sideshows were also unable to track down their missing animals and didn’t really care anyway and various dodgy menageries countywide have been spoken of. We must also remember that just because so many sightings are reported nowadays does not necessarily mean that the current population of ‘wild’ cats is any more active or in abundance than previous. The press pre-1960 rarely covered such stories of roaming cats and so when the Surrey Puma and friends came along, there was hysteria, a minority of genuine belief and also scepticism of an almost mythological perception which the Black Dogs and Bigfoot have never really escaped from. Worldwide ignorance has pushed the ‘big cat’ phenomenon into a supernatural realm where fuzzy photographs, dubious paw-print casts and slaughtered livestock are seeing the light of day instead of the thorough research being conducted by serious investigators. The evidence for the existence of exotic cats is overwhelming but all the time petty politics are involved the out of place felines roaming as far and wide as Scotland and Australia will forever share the novelty limelight currently inhabited by werewolves, Nessie, aliens and ghosts.
Rather worryingly there is a lack of understanding towards the nature of the British exotic cat population. Despite their being an abundance of zoologists and wildlife experts throughout the country, no-one has fully brought the ‘mystery’ to the attention of the public, and those that have still have obstacles to overcome. The sheer obstinacy and ignorance of the public will enable the current population of big and lesser cats to exist without harm to their habitat, but with the same old questions being asked, there is also a lack of progression with regards to identifying the animals and enabling them to exist away from the threat of man.
The most frequently asked questions by the public are repetitious throughout the country. Some folk simply want to understand and with sincerity want to know more. Others are blinkered, cynical and overly sceptical.
Q: Why aren’t these cats seen more often?
A: They are and various enthusiasts nationwide are compiling huge lists of sightings which can be taken seriously.
Q: Why aren’t dead cats ever found?
A: They have been, especially road kills of smaller felines. As with most animals though, natural death in a woodland will bring hordes of scavengers and if an animal senses death it will most probably crawl away to some remote area where nature will take its course.
Q: Why haven’t these animals been filmed?
A: On several occasions large, exotic cats have been caught on camera but sightings are usually so brief that many witnesses are simply fascinated by the animal and sudden movements to reach for the camera may result in the cat speeding off. There is reasonable evidence out there and I often believe that even close encounters which are recorded will not satisfy the sceptics.
Q: Can Britain sustain a population of exotic cats?
A: Yes, for it did in the past with the once native Lynx. Of course, with man obliterating the countryside there are far more roadways than ever, but there are also many remote woodlands too and unpopulated areas which these cats will seek out. Of course, such felines are becoming urban and with the abundance of sightings they are seen more often than not. There is certainly enough food for such animals.
Q: Are there new species of exotic cat roaming Britain?
A: Probably not although in some instances the Lesser, smaller cats may inter-breed. Sightings describing uncharacteristic markings may be put down to differences of light or the witness not getting a clear view.
Q: If these cats are there, what does the future hold?
A: These animals should become a protected species and not be driven out like the wolves before hand. Purists may not enjoy sharing ‘their’ countryside with such animals but this is a difficult animal to track and to control. Basically, these felines should be left alone. Their existence is a mystery no longer, the phenomenon has reached an equilibrium for serious debate and not to be holed away with the novelty enigmas of this planet.
Felines are native to every continent except Antarctica and Australia, although folks from the latter would argue this fact as many large black cats have been spotted there. There are 36 different species of cat and scientists classify the members of the feline family into related groups. The two main groups are the big cats (lion, tiger, leopard, snow leopard and jaguar), the cheetah and clouded leopard are grouped separately but they are still regarded as big cats. And there are the small cats, which include domestic and the many wild cats. Big cats are called so because they can roar. Small cats merely purr, they have a special hyoid bone at the base of their tongue which enables them to purr and breath at the same time. The large cats have elastic cartilage instead and can only purr when they exhale.
The Puma and Panther do not seem greatly different in size yet the Leopard is a big cat, the Puma is simply the largest Lesser cat. The Black Leopard is not a separate species, it is a variant due to an abnormal mutant gene form known as non-agouti. Such an animal, commonly sighted in Britain weighs between 90 and 150 pounds, stands around 18 inches at the shoulder, reaches 48 inches in length, with a 24 inch tail. The animal is agile and strong, able to jump twenty-feet in length and ten feet high whilst the Puma can leap thirty feet and eighteen feet into the air. Often confused with the ‘panther’, the Puma reaches up to 60 inches in length with a 28 inch tail and weighs between 100 and 200 pounds.
Both of these elusive predators are highly adaptable which is why even the inconsistent British weather poses no problem for them.
According to fossil evidence Lions and Cheetah were the first of the modern cats, appearing around six million years ago with the Leopards and Jaguars emerging around one million years ago. Most regions of the world are home to more than one cat species, however a majority are native to only one continent, with the oceans of the world acting as a natural barrier. The species are labelled Old World and New World species, whilst the Lynx is found in both. At present there are five regions of distribution:
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Sub-Saharan Africa |
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North Africa & Southwest Asia |
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Tropical Asia |
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Eurasia |
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The Americas |
It would seem though that Britain has just as much variety as areas such as Asia with all manner of exotic cats being reported.
Killing Machine Supreme
There are some 230 bones in the cat body (humans have 206). The short and rounded skull joins to the spine which supports the body. Vertebrae protect the spinal cord which is the main nerve cable.
The cats teeth are designed for chewing although not all cats teeth are as ferocious as one might think, but they can puncture with ease. The teeth and basic frame of the animal is designed on strength and agility, with powerful hind legs, strong front limbs to absorb impact of landing from great leaps and seven short neck vertebrae. Sharp curved claws grow from all of their digits – one of these is the dew claw, held off the ground to keep it sharp.
Felines are warm blooded animals which basically means that their body temperature stays consistent whatever the climate may be like. This is certainly an advantage when cats such as Leopard and Puma exist in countries they shouldn’t. And when they are too hot they are able to sweat through their paw pads and noses.
Cats always retract their claws but this does not always mean that paw-prints in the British countryside are easy to identify, however as dogs are the only real contender with regards to size there are certain differences. However, if terrain is extremely muddy and a cat cannot grip, there are times when claws are used. Cats prints will also show three-lobes at the heel whilst being more rounded in shape. Cats toes are more spaced, are asymmetrical and there seems to be more of a pointedness in the toe as compared to the more blunted shapes of the dog toe. However, identifying such detail is easier said than done in some cases. Fortunately in Kent, attacks on livestock are far easier to identify. Mainly due to the fact that there are hardly any wild dogs roaming the county, foxes are messier and will certainly have trouble bringing down a seventy-pound goat and apart from those two only a badger has the ability to claw. Of course, large exotic cats do not have to leave signs at all of their kills, for rabbits, rodents, birds and lambs can be completely devoured. Sheep and goats will show signs such as puncture marks, suffocation, claw marks and dislocation with the neck.
Senses and Territory
Many people believe that all cats have slit eyes which is incorrect. A leopard has binocular vision during the nocturnal hours and can see in black and white, as well as rely on its hearing which is far better than a human. During daylight hours felines can view colours but not as well as a human, however, during the day the pupils will become small, only to appear as small circles whilst during the night an animal like the Leopard will absorb extra light. A reflective layer behind the retina called the tapetum lucidum allows this and when the cats eyes are caught in headlights they glow. The lens focuses light rays to produce a sharp image on the retina. Impulses from the retina are carried to the brain by the optic nerve. Cats also have a membrane which can cover the eye to prevent dust.
All cats need to drink. Many sightings in Kent have taken place along the line of rivers, streams and ponds. Although they use such waterways to navigate their routes, they also need an area to quench their thirst. The Leopard will take several laps at a puddle or waterhole before gulping it down. The cats main sense though is its ability to smell and they have a unique area on the roof of their mouth to actually taste smells, especially if they are coming from another feline. This special area is known as the Jacobson’s organ and can be seen in action when a cat lifts its head to smell the air, in turn curling its lips and wrinkling its nose to allow the scent to hit the area.
The colour of a cats coat is meant to depend on where it lives, e.g. the Snow Leopards is thick, off-white and with darker marking to blend in with the rocky terrain, however, a Black Leopard in Britain is hardly camouflaged by day to the terrain although hunting at night makes it practically invisible. However, the domestic cat has a wider range of markings and colour than the various species of wild cat.
If enough cats exist in the wilds of Kent then they need to find each other. Bizarrely enough, a cat can communicate with another in order to tell a mate how old it is, where it lives, what sex it is and what mood they are in! Scratches, smells and sounds enable cats to find one another. By rubbing against a tree or rock a feline can live a scent. Felines have scent glands on their chins, heads, base of their tails and between their toes. Not much is known about the cat language but like a dog their ears and tails can react to certain things. Those in the British countryside will know if a cat is angry by the way it hisses and flattens its ears back against its neck.
Whilst lions live in prides, most large cats are solitary hunters, only meeting with others to mate. There isn’t usually enough prey in one area to sustain a group of big cats but some cats do have overlapping territories with other solitary hunters. Females generally have a smaller territory than the male, but either can have a territory ranging from a few kilometres to over one-thousand kilometres.
A female cat will have a den to give birth in. A female Puma can give birth to up to six kittens, these will be spotted and suckle her milk for up to four months and after six weeks will eat meat. The Leopard can give birth to non-identical twins, one with a spotted coat, the other much darker. Cubs will mature quickly and can crawl before they can open their eyes. By six months old cubs will have learned how to keep safe, how to catch food and what not to catch! For the next year or so they will practice how to kill, balance and live. When such cubs leave their mothers they establish a territory nearby whereas the male tends to move away.
In Britain the exotic cat population has no enemies. It is sufficiently equipped to be the top predator, the ultimate killing machine and not bothered by scavengers such as the jackal, wolf or hyena. Whilst foxes are scavengers, the last animal they want to get involved with is a hungry Puma.
Throughout the world humans have become the prey of big cats. In Britain attacks have been rare, often triggered by surprise or injury to the animal. The main concern is that hunters will take to the woodlands of Britain for the thrill of the chase, in turn they may injure a big cat, turning it into a dangerous animal which can no longer hunt smaller, quicker animals such as rabbits. And so it will go for the slowest animal of the lot. Man!
Rough estimations claim that over one-hundred Leopards inhabit Britain. It is difficult to say exactly how many are out there due to the fact that territories can be so large. Unfortunately many people seem to think that only one or two large cats are responsible for all the sightings nationwide. Four different species of cat have established themselves within the Kent countryside. None of these appear to be hybrids, or lions and tigers.
Sightings
The only way for researchers to receive a consistent amount of eye-witness reports is to work with the local media, whether in the form of radio, television or newspapers. However, the researcher in question must always maintain control over anything written otherwise they can, and have been made out to be a crackpot who the public will NOT trust. The press are really none the wiser yet will show an interest for a short while. Kent Big Cat Research constantly contributes papers to journals, writes articles and discusses research in order to appeal to the public frequently. Routes and territory CAN be monitored to some extent if the sightings which arrive are recent, although older reports are just as valuable. Some researchers are mere enthusiasts whilst others have the determination to become experts. Let’s face it, being a big cat keeper at a zoo does not make someone an expert in Alien Big Cat Sightings. However, those that set about becoming adequate researchers in the field are still vulnerable to criticism if they are not knowledgeable or in any way informed with regards to exotic cat behaviour and species. Anyone can log sightings, but it takes time to be thorough. Patience is one main quality needed but many researchers are able to get away with being crackpots, they simply appeal to the local press who may also not have a clue either, and so hand in hand they can create their own beastly projects or ‘cat watches’ etc, etc.
KENT BIG CAT RESEARCH is a local organisation with an interest in exotic cat sightings worldwide. It also records sightings of other exotic animals, and has a strong interest in cryptozoology and folklore.
The so-called British Big Cat Mystery is being adequately dealt with by numerous researchers throughout Britain. Areas across the country are being monitored, sightings and evidence recorded and this is the only way that such a situation can be spotlighted. Nobody owns the information but there are people out there doing a lot of work for the cause in their area. Unfortunately there are also those who have jumped on the bandwagon in order to become the centre of attention. Shame!
A majority of the feline’s reported by eye-witnesses, which roam Britain concern the Black Leopard and the Puma. Below is a list of other likely suspects to enable you to identify these cat’s which are now native to Britain.
Lynx
(felis lynx)
Length: up to 4 ½ feet.
Height at shoulder: up to 25 inches
Weight: up to 80 lbs for Eurasian Lynx
Tail: approx. 6 inches
Longevity: 18 years
Gestation period: approx. 65 days
Number of young: 1 – 5
A solitary animal which inhabits Europe, North America (Canada Lynx) and Asia. The Eurasian lynx has one of the widest ranges of any cat species, whilst the Iberian lynx is endangered.
Would be confused with the Caracal and Bobcat with regards to some reports in Britain.
The Eurasian lynx has three coat patterns, appearing rustic, yellowish, spotted and striped. The lynx is a medium-sized cat, heavily furred in colder climates and with long fur on the paws. Ears are tufted with black backs and both male and female lynx have cheek beards. This animal is adaptable to mountainous terrain, as well as scrublands, wetlands and forest. Territory varies upon where it lives, and each area is marked with urine spray and scratches upon trees. These cats have marvellous eyesight which enables them to stalk prey and then pounce.
Lynx usually breed around late Winter and the young suckle for almost half a year. By the next year, when the mother is ready to mate again, the young are gone, maturing at around thirty-three months old.
Caracal
(caracal caracal)
Length: up to 2 ½ -feet
Height at shoulder: up to 20 inches
Weight: up to 40 lbs
Tail: up to 11 inches
Longevity: 17 years approx.
Gestation period: approx. 70 days
Number of kittens: 1 – 6 weaned for 10 weeks.
A solitary predator which roams Africa and most of Asia. A tawny-reddish coloured cat ( melanism has been known ) which can spring almost ten-feet into the air and swat at birds. Known for its short, thick coat and long, darkly-lined tufted ears which are black on the back. The eyes are circled with white and a black pencil line runs from the eyes to the nose.
Once again, a highly adaptable animal which can inhabit desert dryness and the fringes of woodland. A Caracal may be confused with the Lynx or Bobcat in many reports from Britain, but the Caracal is smaller than the Lynx and omits a bird-like chirp. The Caracal will live on small animals such as rabbits, birds and rodents and obtains its liquids from its prey.
Caracal young remain with their mother for almost a year and the male plays no part in their upbringing.
Serval
(Leptailurus serval)
Length: up to 3 feet
Height at shoulder: up to 24 inches
Weight: up to 40 lbs
Tail: 18 inches
Longevity: approx 20 years
Gestation: approx. 75 days
Number of young: 1 – 5, weaned for five months
A lean and lanky medium-sized cat, the Serval inhabits most of Africa. It has yellowish fur with dark spots, with the underside almost white. The spots merge into stripes on the upper back and neck and the tail is spotted. The Serval has extremely large ears which twitch and almost rotate to sense prey. Melanism is also common.
In Britain the Serval would feed off rats, mice, birds and rabbits which it would pounce on after jumping almost fourteen-feet horizontally. The Serval is also very adaptable, is able to swim well and have a vast territory. The Serval is a solitary cat and is hunted for its coat in its country of origin. Across Britain there have been a number of reports of spotted cats which witnesses, at the time were unable to identify.
Jungle Cat (felis chaus)
Length: just over 2 feet
Height at shoulder: approx. 15 inches
Weight: average up to 30 lbs
Tail: 12 inches
Longevity: 15 years
Gestation: 65 days approx.
Young: 1 – 7
Also known as the Swamp or Reed Cat, the Jungle Cat is a strong yet slender cat which inhabits parts of Africa and Asia. It has small pencil tufts on the ears, and although marked the cat will at first appear one colour, either reddish or sandy-grey. Melanism has also been recorded with the Jungle Cat. Birds, fish, and rodents are ideal prey in Britain as it is known to frequent river banks and marshes. It is a daylight hunter of great aggression when confronted. The Jungle Cat is related to the Wild Cats. A number have been sighted across Britain, some killed ion the roads.
Bobcat
(felis rufus)
Length: up to 3 feet
Height at shoulder: almost 24 inches
Weight: up to 35 lbs
Tail: 6 inches
Longevity: 30 years
Gestation: 55 days approx.
Kittens: 1 – 6
The Bobcat is very much a cat of the United States of America, and is also found further south in Mexico and southern Canada. It is often confused with the lynx, appearing as a smaller, more compact version. It is tawny in colour, as well as reddish to grey with markings on the face and chest. Individuals come spotted as well as plain, and melanistic as well as albino varieties have been sighted.
Again, this is a highly adaptable feline although extremely elusive, preferring to hunt during darkness where it feeds off rabbits, deer and rodents. The territory of the Bobcat will be large, taking in trees, marshlands and scrublands. It pounces upon its prey, killing with a neck bite. Uneaten prey will be buried .
The Bobcat purrs, has a deep cough and also a snarling whine. The male and female raise the kittens, bringing food to a den. The kittens leave the den at around seven months and become independent at around nine months.
Ocelot
(Leopardus pardalis)
Length: up to 3 feet
Height: 19 inches
Weight: up to 35 lbs
Tail: 18 inches
Longevity: 20 years
Gestation: 75 days approx.
Young: 1– 3
Far larger than the Domestic Cat, the Ocelot has a rosette pattern on its coat which is linked like a chain effect. The tail is ringed and the ears are rounded. The underside of the body and leg insides are white. Extensively hunted in the 1960s and ‘70s for its coat, this animal is now a protected species. The Ocelot is a nocturnal cat which climbs trees and inhabits thick forest and marshland. Some of these cats have been known to exist in pairs, marking a vast territory and communicating with vocalisations. The Ocelot will feed on small birds, rabbits and rodents in Britain and across North and South America where it is native. The young appear as the adults and reach maturity around two and a half years.
Wild Cat (felis sylvestris)
Length: 2 ½ feet
Height at shoulder: 16 inches
Weight: up to 18 lbs
Tail: 14 inches
Longevity: 15 years
Gestation: 65 days approx.
Number of young: 1 – 8
The Scottish wild cat resembles a heavier, larger domestic cat. In the Winter its coat is thicker. It has a stocky head, wide-set ears and a bushy tail. It will interbreed with the domestic cat. The facial area has tabby markings and the throat is white. The coat varies between greyish-yellow, to darker brown, especially on the back. A black stripe runs down the back and stripes stem from this and run toward the belly. The Wild Cat has black bands on its legs as does the tail. Kittens are even more strongly marked. Whilst more recognised as the Scottish species, the Wild Cat also inhabits Africa, parts of Asia and European countries such as Germany, France, Spain and Poland.
It exists in forest areas as well as open, rocky ground, living off lizards, rabbits, birds. It is mostly a solitary animal that many people would not recognise as being wild if it ran in front of their car.
Vocally, the Wild Cat is similar to the domestic variety but they are far more vicious, although not as vicious as many would have you believe. Mating occurs late Winter to early Spring causing many loud howling noises.
Leopard
Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis)
Length: 2 feet
Height: 12 inches
Weight: approx. 10 lbs
Tail: 12 inches
Longevity: 13 years
Gestation: 65 days
Young: 1 – 4
Similar in size to a domestic cat, these cats are found from eastern Asia, across to parts of India, Siberia and China. The coat is greyish to pale brown and yellow with white under parts. The coat has black spots, in some cases rosettes, the tail is also spotted with rings at its tip. Black bands appear over the cranium and elongated spots appear on the neck.
The Leopard Cat is mostly solitary, hunting at night and it feeds on mice in long grass. Squirrels, rabbits, rats and birds are easy prey for the cat that is never far from water. In Kent there have been occasional reports of these cats, and some have been shot nationwide.
African Golden Cat (Profelis aurata)
Length: 3 feet
Height: 20 inches
Weight: up to 35 lbs
Tail: 14 inches
Longevity: 12 years approx.
Gestation period 75 days
Young: 1 – 2
Golden-brown coloured cat, bigger than a domestic cat. Some animals are spotted, the tail has a dark line on the upper side and there are dark markings apparent on the backs of the ears. The tail is of length and melanism does occur.
The African Golden Cat is an adaptable feline but found mostly in the tropics of Africa where it preys on smaller animals such as rodents and birds. These animals are able to rest and stalk prey in trees but little else is known.
Clouded
Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa)
Length: 3 ½ feet.
Height at shoulder: 21 inches
Weight: up to 50 lbs
Tail: 35 inches
Longevity: 17 years approx.
Gestation: 90 days approx
Young: 2 – 3
Although sightings in Britain of Clouded, Snow or even regular spotted Leopard’s are rare, a Clouded Leopard was shot back in the 1970s after a few months on the run and a healthy diet of livestock. These beautiful felines are vulnerable in their areas of origin, South-East Asia, covering Nepal, mainland China, the Himalayas, Borneo etc, they bridge the gap between the larger cats and the Lesser cats. Its coat is a yellowish-grey, smothered in a clouded pattern of black linings with greyish centres.
The Clouded Leopard is relatively long in the body, short-legged, long –tailed and has large teeth. Black blotches appear on the underside of the belly, legs and neck area.
These creatures feats on anything from monkey’s to deer and boar, yet in Britain would find a sufficient meal with lambs, foxes, deer, pheasants, rabbits etc.
This animal is a forest dweller, shy, elusive and not always solitary as pairs have been seen in their countries of origin. The Clouded Leopard, like its relatives, is an excellent climber and omits a groaning roar. The young do not kill their own prey until twenty-weeks old and they become their own bosses around nine to ten months.
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It is possible that an abundance of smaller cats are roaming Britain, from the almost aquatic Fishing Cat of South East Asia, to the Marbled Cat of southern Asia, as well as the Black-footed Cat, the agile Margay and also the Jaguarundi, an otter-like cat found in areas such as Arizona and Texas, and currently the animal blamed for some mystery ‘Black Leopard’ sightings across the U.S.A. The Jaguarundi is almost three-feet in length with a 22-inch tail, it can appear reddish but also almost black – it is a daytime hunter which feeds on birds, rodents, lizards etc and occupies dense forest. However, whilst many of these cats are vulnerable in their own environments, there are many people who keep them as exotic pets, throughout Britain. Such cats, naturally elusive as they are, could exist in Britain for many years, remaining undetected and never monitored due to the fact that those who see them cannot identify them.
As mentioned earlier, melanism is not entirely rare and so many of the dark-coloured cats roaming Britain may not be just Black Panthers. Melanistic Pumas have been seen in parts of America but they are rarer than many of the other melanistic forms.
The cats which roam Britain have only one enemy – man. In their countries of origin many of the smaller cats have to compete with wolves, coyote’s, hyenas and larger cats. There is enough food for these cats to live on, yet many will come into towns simply because the undergrowth they inhabit is not big when compared to their countries of origin. However, not many of the cats which currently, and potentially roam Britain will be alien species. Many will be born here and recognise only this climate as their own. Whilst the same old theories regurgitate tales of exotic pets released into the wild during the 1970s and before, we should now be dealing with the future, and more importantly the welfare of an animal that could well explode in its population and cause irritable man to become the beast once more, urging him to wipe out what he sees as competition, just like he did with the wolves. Whilst there may be no lions or tigers, or even cheetahs roaming Britain, one thing is for sure, there is a veritable feast of mystery felines confined to this island, some evolving into new species, and in twenty or so years they could be quite common.
