Big Cat Sightings in 1979 |
Date |
Location |
Description |
Activity |
Report |
30 th January |
Bishop Kinkell, Conon Bridge, Ross and Cromarty |
Big cat, "similar to small lioness or puma". |
Carying smaller cat in mouth. Seen by witness who lived in central Africa. |
  |
Early February |
Bishop Kinkell, Conon Bridge, Ross and Cromarty |
3 - 4 in prints with claw marks seen |
Sighting one mile away a week earlier. |
 |
11 th February |
Kilry, by Forest of Alyth, Angus |
Large black cat-like creature, bigger than domestic cat or dog, about 2 ft high. |
Seen twice, at 8 am and 1 pm, in a snow covered field opposite village store. |
 |
April |
Tomich, Inverness-shire |
Cat-like, tawny, bushy tail, 3 - 4 ft long.. |
Seen by resident, crouching low to ground. |
 |
Summer |
Between Roslin and Rosewell, Midlothian |
Puma beyond any doubt. Colour of a golden Labrador with white showing through and it had a black bar crossing its face. |
Seen at 6 feet. It was not in the least aggressive. Ran off but stopped again after a few yards. Pregnant! |
 |
19 th July |
Inverness, Inverness-shire. |
Size of large dog, grey and brown striped body, white spot on rear, pointed cat-like ears, back legs like a hare, no visible tail. |
Seen by two witnesses, huddled in middle of road in housing scheme. Spat like a cat and ran away very fast |
 |
late July |
Holmston, Ayr, South Ayrshire. |
Large black, body length about four feet |
Several sightings including one by SSPCA officer. |
 |
1 st August |
Glencairn Road, Ayr, South Ayrshire. |
Large black,cat |
Several sightings by woman and her neighbours. Identified from photos as a domestic cat by Glasgow Zoo director |
 |
Early August |
Glencairn Road, Ayr, South Ayrshire. |
Large black,cat |
Girl on a pony was frightened by creature. Casts of four inch paw prints match those from Dundonald in 1978. |
 |
27 th October |
Cannich, Inverness-shire |
Tawny coloured, "lioness-like" |
Stalking ponies. Failed police search. |
 |
After 27 th October |
Cannich, Inverness-shire |
Three further sightings tawny-coloured large cat. |
Seen by two witnesses over few months |
 |
After 27 th October |
Cannich, Inverness-shire |
Large cat-like animal. |
Dropped lamb carcass while leaping fence. |
  |
29 th October |
Inchory, Inverness-shire. |
Large cat-like animal, size of Alsation 'puma or lioness'. |
Seen by holidaymaker. Chasing rabbits in field. Moved with a loping action. |
 |
November |
A839 near Muie, Sutherland |
Black, size of labrador, distinctly feline face |
Seen by road. Several other sightings in area. Several photos, one of which was identified as a domestic cat. |
  |
3 rd November |
nr Garve Station, Ross and Cromarty |
Animal like a lioness. |
Seen by train driver. |
 |
4 th November |
Rogart, Ross and Cromarty |
Large cat like animal. |
|
 |
6 th November |
Maryburgh, nr Dingwall, Ross and Cromarty |
Lioness-like animal. |
Seen by four men in a car. Sheep carcass found nearby. |
 |
8 th November |
Dingwall, Ross and Cromarty |
Lioness-like animal. |
Seen by driver in headlights. |
 |
12 th November |
near Garve, Ross and Cromarty |
"lioness". |
Seen by railway signalman. |
 |
12 th November |
Milnafua, Alness, Ross and Cromarty |
Large cat-like animal |
16 miles from sighting 5 hours earlier |
 |
13 th November |
Dingwall, Ross and Cromarty |
Fawn-coloured "young lioness". |
Seen at same place as sighting of 8 th November. |
 |
15 th November |
Culbokie, Ross and Cromarty |
Large cat-like animal |
Seen by schoolboy, leaping across road. |
 |
15 th November |
Tore roundabout on A9 nr Dingwall, Ross and Cromarty |
Dark-coloured, lion-like but without a mane, long thin tail, small ears, 4 ft long, 2 ft 6 in high |
Seen by driver. Loped across road. |
 |
15 th November |
Muir of Ord to North Kessock road, Ross and Cromarty |
Tawny cat-like animal, 2 ft high, 2 ft 6 in long, short stocky legs, smooth coat |
|
 |
21 st November |
Daviot, Inverness-shire |
Large, cat-like animal, cat-like head, short coat, bushy tail, 6 ft long, 2 1/2 ft high. |
|
 |
22 nd November |
Dingwall, Ross and Cromarty |
Light brown, round head, large eyes 2 ft 6 in high |
Seen by housewife in garden. |
 |
23 rd November |
Strathpeffer, Ross and Cromarty |
Large fawn cat, size of sheep, long springy tail, not a lioness |
Seen by motorist. Crossed road. |
 |
27 th November |
nr Kiltarlity, Inverness-shire |
Cat-like, short golden-yellow coat, large head, long tail, larger than Labrador, lioness-like |
Seen by two motorists at 100 yards. |
 |
28 th November |
nr Kiltarlity, Inverness-shire |
Large fawn cat, cat-type face, large paws, slim build, long thin tail, 4 ft in length, 2 ft high |
Seen by taxi-driver in headlights. |
 |
7 th December |
Findon, nr Tore, Inverness-shire |
Large, dark-coloured cat-like animal crossed road |
Seen by male witness, crossing road. |
 |