Big Cats in the UK?

[Pyrrhic]

Yep your right it was a panther just googled and found some interesting site called pantherweb2 where it tells you about big cat sightings in your area.

This is what they say about scotland: Scotland has got various sighting hot spots from Aberdeen to the borders, the most publicised area being Falkirk between Glasgow and Edinburgh. And up in the highlands around Inverness and even Loch Ness!!. Also in Dumfies and Galloway areas.

Just to add this is the offical site to report any sightings to https://www.britishbigcats.org/sightings.php

I think I've seen one. It was quite a distance away though, but a black cat-like animal moving up a hill. Too far for me to be 100% sure though.

Years ago I was riding one of my horses, alone, through the hills and I found a deer with it's throat ripped out. My horse refused to go near it and was spooking, so I dismounted to have a look. It shook me up quite a bit, but the logical explanation is that the deer died and then something like a badger or fox started eating it. I did get out of there pretty sharpish though!

 

[Pyrrhic]

i believe there are big cats in the scottish highlands, i mean there is sooo much land and people struggle to keep track of the sheep / livestock any way so it could be likely, anyway there are lots stranger things in the scottish highlands than big cats haha

Yep, this is where I live and where my two kind of experiences have been. There is a huge amount of land and food available for a predator, and they would hardly ever be spotted.

 

[smokey]

Yep your right it was a panther just googled and found some interesting site called pantherweb2 where it tells you about big cat sightings in your area.

This is what they say about scotland: Scotland has got various sighting hot spots from Aberdeen to the borders, the most publicised area being Falkirk between Glasgow and Edinburgh. And up in the highlands around Inverness and even Loch Ness!!. Also in Dumfies and Galloway areas.

Just to add this is the offical site to report any sightings to https://www.britishbigcats.org/sightings.php

I think I've seen one. It was quite a distance away though, but a black cat-like animal moving up a hill. Too far for me to be 100% sure though.

Years ago I was riding one of my horses, alone, through the hills and I found a deer with it's throat ripped out. My horse refused to go near it and was spooking, so I dismounted to have a look. It shook me up quite a bit, but the logical explanation is that the deer died and then something like a badger or fox started eating it. I did get out of there pretty sharpish though!

But if the deer was already dead wouldnt it make more sense for a wild animal to go straight for the stomach area? having the throat riped out is normaly only done on live prey to bring it down and and snap its neck.
I by no means know much at all about animal hunting habits but it just seems to make more sense.
A scavenging animal wouldnt need to bother with the neck

 

[sequeena]

I honestly swear I think I've seen a big black cat on the mountain where I live. I was far up on top though where no-one lives. God I hope my eyes were playing tricks on me

 

[Farie]

I grew up on Dartmoor and it was a local given that there were a few big cats roaming about - mostly explained by rich enthusiasts who counldnt afford licences when they became a legal requirement and turned them loose rather than hand them over.

I had a few occasions where I saw something 'strange' as a kid and teenager but I'd never say 100% it was a big cat sighting - my sights pretty bad and I do have a overactive imagination!

 

[Charlotteee]

 

[Blah11]

And also, they'd be naturally scared of humans if they or their mother/father were kept in less than desirable conditions