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Alien Big Cats ('ABCs')

In your opinion what are alien big cats most likely to be?

  • Escapees from collections, breeding in the UK countryside

    Votes: 57 48.3%
  • A species of endemic British big cat somehow overlooked by science

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Zooform Phenomena - animal-shaped manifestations of paranormal activity

    Votes: 6 5.1%
  • Misidentifications of big dogs, normal cats etc

    Votes: 28 23.7%
  • A big hoax

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Summat else

    Votes: 4 3.4%
  • All of the above

    Votes: 23 19.5%

  • Total voters
    118
Apropros of all those who say 'if there were big cats out there, we would have good photographs of them'. Today I was out running and a weasel ran out of the hedge opposite me, into the road in front of me. It stopped, looked at me, and then ran off into the hedge on the other side of the road.
I didn't have time to get my camera out (it was in my pocket), and there was nobody else around. I know weasels are small and elusive, but they definitely exist. But if it was down to me, you would never know they were real creatures, I only ever see them very fleetingly and without time to get a camera out and pointing the right way.
So I can fully understand how a rare, fast and not often appearing to people creature may remain unphotographed, even quite a big one.
Part of the reason I'm on team floof, is that there are in fact many pictures claimed to be monstrously large felines. and many of them are apparently just floofs.

Thing is, each claimed sighting needs it's own explanation. We don't start out knowing the case fits into the same category as any previous case until we check. One sighting might just be the neighbor's cat, one might be a dog, another might be a Catamount that escaped a cage. You need to check each case and judge on it's own merits..
 
Part of the reason I'm on team floof, is that there are in fact many pictures claimed to be monstrously large felines. and many of them are apparently just floofs.

Thing is, each claimed sighting needs it's own explanation. We don't start out knowing the case fits into the same category as any previous case until we check. One sighting might just be the neighbor's cat, one might be a dog, another might be a Catamount that escaped a cage. You need to check each case and judge on it's own merits..
This is true. My own sighting was of my own cat, where perspective led me to think it was something else. I think there is something out there, but 99% of the time it's people not seeing what they think they are seeing.

My experience above was just pointing out that it's not always as easy as 'why aren't there more conclusive pictures'. As you say, pictures can be far from conclusive, and, as in my case, sometimes there just isn't time.
 
I have trouble even taking a photo of a butterfly when it sits on a flower so I think that's a good point. Perhaps that is why most photos are of floofs. They are allegedly domesticated and used to humans so won't* gallop off if you start pointing something at them.

*depending on their mood
 
Manchester holidaymaker claims to have spotted 'PUMA' near North Wales beach.

The holidaymaker claims the Puma was spotted on a thermal monocular camera.

A holidaymaker on a trip to North Wales claims to have footage of a 'puma' close to a Llyn Peninsula beach. Having seen various different reports of big cat sightings near Gimblet Rock in Pwllheli, Nick Lachevre, originally from Manchester, who had visited the area in his motorhome, decided he wanted to catch the animal on film.

He had parked up near a lifeboat station across the road from Gimblet Rock and used a thermal monocular camera as he waited to see if he could spot the animal. Within minutes, he claims he caught the puma on camera. He also spotted large paw prints near Glan-y-Don beach, across the harbour from Gimblet Rock, earlier this year.

"It wasn't massive, probably three times the size of an adult cat," he told the Daily Post. "The other reports have said that the animal they've seen is a tawny, sandy colour but this one was more grey.
(C) MEN. '22
 
Spotted paw prints, didn't photo them. Nothing in the video to provide any kind of scale. Hm.
A little way down in the article there is a photo of a dog print complete with claw marks. I think that is supposed to be it.

The video is quite bad even for an ABC one but at least the animal in question isn't said to be black which is something.
 
"It wasn't massive, probably three times the size of an adult cat," he told the Daily Post. "The other reports have said that the animal they've seen is a tawny, sandy colour but this one was more grey.

Then, just perhaps, he wasn't looking at the same animal as 'the other reports'... And if he's looking through, what is basically a telescope, how the hell could he judge size? I'm not even sure I could tell you how big my own dog is compared to a cat (mostly because cats don't hang around in her vicinity for long enough for comparisons to be made).
 
"It wasn't massive, probably three times the size of an adult cat," he told the Daily Post. "The other reports have said that the animal they've seen is a tawny, sandy colour but this one was more grey.

Then, just perhaps, he wasn't looking at the same animal as 'the other reports'... And if he's looking through, what is basically a telescope, how the hell could he judge size? I'm not even sure I could tell you how big my own dog is compared to a cat (mostly because cats don't hang around in her vicinity for long enough for comparisons to be made).
He claims that it walked up to within 10ft of his van. His description is quite good but it doesn't describe a puma. I don't think most people know what a puma looks like. I certainly don't and had to look it up. He also said he thought it was smaller than a labrador. The smallest puma (60-90cm) is about the same size as the biggest labrador (54-62cm). He describes it as having pointy little ears whereas the puma has large and quite rounded ears. They are the fifth biggest cat in the world, and from the photos, have a massive muscular body and legs. I feel that if I saw one, this is what I would notice and I think I would be pretty scared if it got within 10ft of me even if I was in a van.

https://dinoanimals.com/animals/cougar-puma-the-largest-meowing-cat/

https://dogfoodsmart.com/labrador-growth-chart/
 
He claims that it walked up to within 10ft of his van. His description is quite good but it doesn't describe a puma. I don't think most people know what a puma looks like. I certainly don't and had to look it up. He also said he thought it was smaller than a labrador. The smallest puma (60-90cm) is about the same size as the biggest labrador (54-62cm). He describes it as having pointy little ears whereas the puma has large and quite rounded ears. They are the fifth biggest cat in the world, and from the photos, have a massive muscular body and legs. I feel that if I saw one, this is what I would notice and I think I would be pretty scared if it got within 10ft of me even if I was in a van.

https://dinoanimals.com/animals/cougar-puma-the-largest-meowing-cat/

https://dogfoodsmart.com/labrador-growth-chart/
I do believe people see out-of-place big cats in the UK, for example:

"Two big cats were caught on camera by rangers who were filming a deer survey, the Forestry Commission revealed today."

https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/reliable-big-cat-sightings-revealed-1229204.html

But the dutiful appearance of this oversized moggie "within minutes" has me raising an eyebrow.
 
I do believe people see out-of-place big cats in the UK, for example:

"Two big cats were caught on camera by rangers who were filming a deer survey, the Forestry Commission revealed today."

https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/reliable-big-cat-sightings-revealed-1229204.html

But the dutiful appearance of this oversized moggie "within minutes" has me raising an eyebrow.
I'm wondering if it's another of the serval type cats that are increasingly being kept as domestic pets. It didn't sound like a puma to me (and I do know what they look like), too small and being grey it would be just right for one of the exotic types of domestic cat.
 
He claims that it walked up to within 10ft of his van. His description is quite good but it doesn't describe a puma. I don't think most people know what a puma looks like. I certainly don't and had to look it up. He also said he thought it was smaller than a labrador. The smallest puma (60-90cm) is about the same size as the biggest labrador (54-62cm). He describes it as having pointy little ears whereas the puma has large and quite rounded ears. They are the fifth biggest cat in the world, and from the photos, have a massive muscular body and legs. I feel that if I saw one, this is what I would notice and I think I would be pretty scared if it got within 10ft of me even if I was in a van.

https://dinoanimals.com/animals/cougar-puma-the-largest-meowing-cat/

https://dogfoodsmart.com/labrador-growth-chart/
I had a close-up encounter with what I still believe to be a puma to this day (or an immitation of one!). Big and muscular is how I would describe it. Running in a crouch with its belly near the ground, it still came up to my knees. It's posted on this thread somewhere.
 
I had a close-up encounter with what I still believe to be a puma to this day (or an immitation of one!). Big and muscular is how I would describe it. Running in a crouch with its belly near the ground, it still came up to my knees. It's posted on this thread somewhere.
So you did. It is here.
https://forums.forteana.org/index.php?threads/alien-big-cats-abcs.69/page-13#post-219802
I think I would have found another route to work!

I'm wondering if it's another of the serval type cats that are increasingly being kept as domestic pets. It didn't sound like a puma to me (and I do know what they look like), too small and being grey it would be just right for one of the exotic types of domestic cat.
Yes, or perhaps the marsh gas of ABCs the Maine Coon.
 
I'm wondering if it's another of the serval type cats that are increasingly being kept as domestic pets. It didn't sound like a puma to me (and I do know what they look like), too small and being grey it would be just right for one of the exotic types of domestic cat.
yeah, bigger than housecats, but not big enough to maul an adult human to death.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caracal
Apparently they're also rather nice pets. also Caracals have pointy ears as such a distinctive feature that the old Persian name for the cat species translates into English as "Black eared cat"
 
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I actually know this moron in day to day life, Warren 'covid is all a conspiracy' Podadom. I had no idea he was also illegally keeping big cats for a laugh but it doesn't surprise me .. ffs ..

https://www.northnorfolknews.co.uk/...s0I0eUH35Z33wvcvZ1SBp1jdiGLdHfH4VYwpvInf38Gb0

awoztwat.jpg
 
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I agree with Kevin Murphy. Looks like a housecat. Also, you CAN infer scale here. It's a hay meadow that was recently mown. The stubble is probably about 2 inches or less. That's not a large animal at all. Then it stands next to a square bale and those are typically sized to be small enough for one person to lift with bare hands.
 
I agree with Kevin Murphy. Looks like a housecat. Also, you CAN infer scale here. It's a hay meadow that was recently mown. The stubble is probably about 2 inches or less. That's not a large animal at all. Then it stands next to a square bale and those are typically sized to be small enough for one person to lift with bare hands.
Exactly my thought. I was also wondering why, if observer is right at the side of the partly mown field, why not include a shot of himself standing beside the stubble? Or, I'm sure there is not only 1 bale, so why not have one of himself standing by another for reference of scale?

Knowing how high on his legs the stubble or bale come to would definitely show the more accurate size of cat.
 
North Wales Puma Watch have been hitting the headlines:

"The man, called Max, said: “About five minutes later I saw a set of golden eyes reflected in my head torch, about 50m above me and 50 meters ahead of me. The eyes looked a bit high off the ground for it to be a fox.

“It stared at me for a while. When I shouted at it, it looked away, then back at me, and then disappeared. I wasn’t convinced until I saw other sightings near here online.”
"

Apparently an adult fox in the UK has an orange (golden) eye-shine:

https://www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk/threads/describing-your-fox-lamping.32322/

So, on the balance of probability a large dog fox...?

Next:

"She wrote: “I saw a large black animal – I thought it was a dog – and it watched me walking by. I tried to go near it, but it disappeared into the woods, so quiet. I was out walking my dog on my own, but I called my husband straight away as I was shocked.”"

So, again, most probably a dog (as she thought)

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/shocked-snowdonia-walkers-report-cluster-24694830

Here is their website, it is worth a browse:

https://pumawatch.co.uk

I am a believer in the alien big cat (ABC) phenomenon here in the UK, but have to say they get a bit, well, carried away....
 
Exactly my thought. I was also wondering why, if observer is right at the side of the partly mown field, why not include a shot of himself standing beside the stubble? Or, I'm sure there is not only 1 bale, so why not have one of himself standing by another for reference of scale?

Knowing how high on his legs the stubble or bale come to would definitely show the more accurate size of cat.
well, when you see the full zoom out shot... the photographer is on the other side of a road. And the field is fenced off. Maybe the photographer just couldn't get closer.
 
North Wales Puma Watch have been hitting the headlines:

"The man, called Max, said: “About five minutes later I saw a set of golden eyes reflected in my head torch, about 50m above me and 50 meters ahead of me. The eyes looked a bit high off the ground for it to be a fox.

“It stared at me for a while. When I shouted at it, it looked away, then back at me, and then disappeared. I wasn’t convinced until I saw other sightings near here online.”
"

Apparently an adult fox in the UK has an orange (golden) eye-shine:

https://www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk/threads/describing-your-fox-lamping.32322/

So, on the balance of probability a large dog fox...?

Next:

"She wrote: “I saw a large black animal – I thought it was a dog – and it watched me walking by. I tried to go near it, but it disappeared into the woods, so quiet. I was out walking my dog on my own, but I called my husband straight away as I was shocked.”"

So, again, most probably a dog (as she thought)

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/shocked-snowdonia-walkers-report-cluster-24694830

Here is their website, it is worth a browse:

https://pumawatch.co.uk

I am a believer in the alien big cat (ABC) phenomenon here in the UK, but have to say they get a bit, well, carried away....
I I am not very convinced by the "footprint" either. It looks more like a set of deer or sheep slots. A larger one at the front and 3 or 4 fawn/lamb sized around it.
 
Sporadic wolf reports pop up from the wilder parts of the UK from time to time. The CFZ recently received witness reports of a wolf or wolves in the Forest of Dean:


Some more detail here:

https://www.timberwolfinformation.org/uk-wolf-spotted-in-the-forest-of-dean-near-coleford/

I‘ve posted on here before about how back in 2014-ish someone I had got to know told me that when the6 were 16 (1999?) he found himself walking alone in a remote part of woodland that fringes north-west Dartmoor, the reason being they live on an isolated smallholding nearby and he had gone out for a couple of illicit cigarettes. He stated that he had suddenly found himself confronted by a lone wolf that stood its ground and gave him, well, a classic wolf enquiring gaze right into his eyes. He stood rooted to the spot and was only afraid after the wolf had turned and sauntered off.

I had to ask him if he had mistaken a husky or other dog but he was adamant it was a wolf and had previously seen wolves in captivity on a visit to the US. What‘s more, he told me this before he knew I had an interest in all things Fortean. What to make of it I don’t know, but it is interesting that Jon Downes refers to Devon folklorist Theo Brown who became convinced from witness accounts that some sort of relic wolf population within the isolated north of Dartmoor had survived into the 20th Century. However, that is of course speculation….
 
Sporadic wolf reports pop up from the wilder parts of the UK from time to time. The CFZ recently received witness reports of a wolf or wolves in the Forest of Dean:


Some more detail here:

https://www.timberwolfinformation.org/uk-wolf-spotted-in-the-forest-of-dean-near-coleford/

I‘ve posted on here before about how back in 2014-ish someone I had got to know told me that when the6 were 16 (1999?) he found himself walking alone in a remote part of woodland that fringes north-west Dartmoor, the reason being they live on an isolated smallholding nearby and he had gone out for a couple of illicit cigarettes. He stated that he had suddenly found himself confronted by a lone wolf that stood its ground and gave him, well, a classic wolf enquiring gaze right into his eyes. He stood rooted to the spot and was only afraid after the wolf had turned and sauntered off.

I had to ask him if he had mistaken a husky or other dog but he was adamant it was a wolf and had previously seen wolves in captivity on a visit to the US. What‘s more, he told me this before he knew I had an interest in all things Fortean. What to make of it I don’t know, but it is interesting that Jon Downes refers to Devon folklorist Theo Brown who became convinced from witness accounts that some sort of relic wolf population within the isolated north of Dartmoor had survived into the 20th Century. However, that is of course speculation….
This animal (whatever it is) might also be a good contender too. . .
https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/uk...oola&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=exchange
This animal suggests to me that it's a Wolverine!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolverine
 
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Bush dog, perhaps?
It would seem so, suggestion online that the photo was taken at Chester zoo. John Brad (photographer) is an unusual name and was also the name of the now deceased drummer of The Specials. No 'John Brad' listed for that area on 192.com, so possibly a pseudonym.
 
It would seem so, suggestion online that the photo was taken at Chester zoo. John Brad (photographer) is an unusual name and was also the name of the now deceased drummer of The Specials. No 'John Brad' listed for that area on 192.com, so possibly a pseudonym.
Could be, if this picture on their website is an accurate depiction of their bush dog enclosure.

Chester Zoo Bush Dog
 
Notice in this video how there are small logs or sticks that have been left lying on the ground for their habitat, you can also see some cut tree limbs in the photo:

Aye. There doesn't look much grass cover in the video, but in the article the picture shows grass on only one side of the trail. I think it's a good call, whoever suggested Chester Zoo.
 
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