UK Big Cats
Are there big cats in the UK?
Black Panther
Black panthers are not actually a species of cat, rather an melanistic leopard, meaning they have very dark fur, still with black spots. They are characterised by their long, curved tail and streamlined body. There are also a handful of reports of Leopards with traditional colouring.
Puma
Pumas, or Cougars, a smaller than the leopard and identified by their sandy brown colouring and white colouring on the face.
Lynx
The Lynx is actually native to the UK, but went extinct over 1,000 years ago. They have stubby tails and pointed ears, they are smaller than the puma.
Although it may sound far fetched, there is a solid theory as to how big cats could be existing in the UK. Up until 1976, it was legal, and popular as a status symbol, to keep a big cat as a pet. Once the law came in making it illegal, it is reported that many people simply released their pets into the wild, thus starting a small population that has gone on to establish itself and grow, although there were sightings of wild animals for decades before this. There is a known case of a puma having been caught in Scotland in 1977 and assumed due to it’s condition that it was a recently released pet.
Government and wildlife officials have largely remained silent on the subject, citing a lack of evidence, leading to most of the research and collecting of evidence being carried out by enthusiasts. There is one case reported where a team of Royal Marine Snipers were sent to track down the ‘Beast of Exmoor’ after a farmer reported that he’s lost 100 sheep to the cat, though a conclusion was made that it was likely dogs that were the culprits.
Learn more
Big Cat Conversations is the number 1 podcast on the subject. It is hosted by Rick Minter, who has interview hundreds of witnesses and is considered one of the foremost experts. In each podcast episode, he speaks to a witness to discover both what they saw and how it impacted them.
‘Chasing Shadows’ is a great documentary that explores the possibility of big cats in the UK. In it, witnesses are interviewed and evidence examined, making it a enlightening introduction into the subject.
What to look for
Footprints
Big cat footprints can be differentiated from dog prints if you know what to look for. The rear of the heel pad has 3 lobes and the front has 2 lobes. In dogs the rear has 2 and the front 1. The prints tend to have a more circular shape to them, whereas a dogs has a more oval shape. Cats have retractable claws which they mainly use for hunting, this means when they are walking, their prints will generally not have any claw marks. Dogs are unable to retract their claws.
Tree marks
Cats scratch trees to sharpen their claws, as well as to clean them to keep them free from infection. They will also release a scent when they scratch the tree in order to leave a territorial marking. This scratching will leave tell-tail claw marks on the tree, a subtle but important sign
Audio
Big cats make a range of sounds, depending on the type of cat, time of year, and what message they are trying to communicate. These videos show some of the sounds that the most commonly sighted cats can make.
Prey
Big cats are most likely to be found in areas where there is a rich food source. In the UK, this will mainly be deer, rabbits and wild boar. Although attacks on livestock are reported, they are not common enough for them to be considered a main food source.Â
Habitat
Along with food, the main requirements for all animals are water and shelter. In the UK, there are not huge areas of forest or jungle, meaning the only shelter available is going to be patches of woodland. If a river or other water source is nearby, combined with a food source and lack of people, then this could be an area to look for signs. A history of sightings will also indicate a good area to search.
Be Careful!
There are a very small number of alleged attacks on humans, big cats are naturally timid of humans and tend to stay well clear. That being said, they are apex predators and could be aggressive if they have young or are defending food.