I swear i've just seen a wild cat!

[Melonfish]

okay so i picked up my dan-cam smock from the post office depo this morning, i decided to take the scenic route back along the local moss and brook.
i stopped at the head of the brook to take some pictures of the water, i got quite a shock though.
At first i thought it was a fox darting up the embankment as it was quite large, then i saw the black stripes and the face. "oh, its a cat" except it was bushy and brown with black stripes, it had large black stripes on the tail which promptly ended with a big black end which again was bushy NOT tapered like a domestic cat.
i brought my phone up to take a pic and it had disappeared, foolishly i lowered my phone to look and it made its last dart out of the brush it was hiding in and then off into some denser wood.
thats really when i caught my best glimpse of it.
i've been over it in my mind several times and was muttering to myself all the way to the train station this morning with excitement.

If it wasn't for autumnwatch i reckon i'd have dismissed it as "just a cat" except the patterns and colouration especially that tail set off massive AWOOOGA like alarms in my head.

I live on the border of cheshire and Lancs so right now i'm wondering how a scottish wild cat got so far south, but i'm now on a mission, decent camera will be ready shortly and i know that area well, there's houses to one side and farmers land and a moss to the other, there's a fair bit of woods to hide in but i reckon i can get another snap if i'm patient, or possibly hang around there 24/7...

i know this sounds crazy and believe me i have thought i was just imagining it but those alarm bells just went off. i've looked up pics on the net and i'm positive of the ident.

i'm going to wait till i have pics to report it to whomever i need to report it to because tbh "hi i've spotted a scottish wild cat" is prolly quite a common thing to hear.

A very stunned - Pete

 

[Geoff Dann]

In Warrington? I bet it was Maine Coone...

 

[locum76]

Good luck with getting a photo, It'd be dead cool if you were right.

 

[gregorach]

There are a number of half-breeds out there... A friend of a friend used to have a domestic / wildcat halfbreed as pet in London. Or it could just be a large moggy with a stumpy tail.

 

[Bushwhacker]

In Warrington? I bet it was Maine Coone...

I think you're probably right or maybe a Skog Cat - both have the bushy tails and markings.

 

[Melonfish]

In Warrington? I bet it was Maine Coone...

Interesting cat but the patterns and colour were defo of wild cat. like i say after the autumnwatch show i'm very very sure about the features, then after spotting and getting into work and checking pics on the net i'm pretty much positive.
with luck i'll get a pick, still kicking myself for lowering my camera mind.

 

[Shambling Shaman]

Good luck with getting a photo, It'd be dead cool if you were right.

Indeed it would, and now you have a place/time you might be able too do it?

 

[Toddy]

It would be excellent if it were, and it was thriving

Good luck getting another look at it

cheers,
M

 

[SCOMAN]

I thought of a Maine Coone too with the markings

 

[MartiniDave]

How about tracks where you spotted it?

 

[Melonfish]

Not sure on tracks as i was only wearing trainers and the embankment is somewhat steep i'm going to have a mooch around the area though and see what i can see, any clues on tracks/scat/habits of wild cats?

 

[woodspirits]

fascinating sighting there pete, and so far south too! it would be a rare find if it were proven, heres a really good site with lots of info, http://www.scottishwildcats.co.uk/wildcat.html they have a great dvd on the wildcat by 'coffee productions' part of the fee goes back into looking after them, mine came recently and its full of info. i plan to go to glen affric in the new year for a week, and who knows what i'll see...?

steve

 

[Shambling Shaman]

i plan to go to glen affric in the new year for a week, and who knows what i'll see...?

steve

Well they did film "Dog Soldiers" there so watch out for werwolf's

 

[Bushwhacker]

Obviously I can't knock you for what you saw but there are a whole host of factors to consider before getting a positive ID.

Maine Coon with markings as described. Lots for sale in that area too.

If it is a Scottish wildcat he did well to cross the M65, M61, M6 & M62 to get there and all that way without being sighted once and ignoring other, more suitable habitats on the way.

 

[iamasmith]

Large Teeth? Big Grin? Cheshire Cat

 

[Toddy]

I have to admit, I've never bought a cat, one always seems to find me when I have a cat shaped space in life; but I fancy a Maine Coon around my home and gardens

cheers,
M

 

[Melonfish]

Obviously I can't knock you for what you saw but there are a whole host of factors to consider before getting a positive ID.

Maine Coon with markings as described. Lots for sale in that area too.

If it is a Scottish wildcat he did well to cross the M65, M61, M6 & M62 to get there and all that way without being sighted once and ignoring other, more suitable habitats on the way.

I must admit that does look similar but the tail although black at the end is all wrong, it definitely had clear rings and the way it moved didn't say domestic cat, i've owned a few cats and this moved different. i completely agree that its insane for it to be so far south, also it was alot browner then your picture. i got two good looks at it at a distance of around 15-20 feet. as i say i thought at first it was a fox!

 

[Toddy]

'technically' the Scottish wildcat shouldn't be restricted to Scotland. There were populations throughout the British Isles. Might do it's species the world of good to have diverse populations in suitable habitats. I suspect that the cats ability to cross breed with the domestic British moggie might be a bit of an issue though.
Imagine calling for Tom or Tabitha and in comes a wildcat :yikes: Wonder how much Whiskas that'd get through ?

Actually, there's another point. How different are the beasts when they can suceessfully breed fertile offspring?

cheers,
M

 

[gregorach]

Actually, there's another point. How different are the beasts when they can suceessfully breed fertile offspring?

Well, all breeds of dog can interbreed with each other and with grey wolves (provided any, err... "mechanical issues" are dealt with), and they're pretty different. Same goes for lions and tigers.

 

[Toddy]

I thought there was a problem with the liger/ tigon cubs; something about them not maturing into adults ?

cheers,
M