Big Cat Sightings in Scotland in 1996

Sightings without an associated report are from the annual roundup in the Fortean Times number 101

In that year's round up, Paul Seiveking wrote: 'While the Beast of Bodmin didn't feature much (perhaps journalists had tired of the blanket coverage after the 1995 Government report), four other alliterative beasts made their appearance: the Beast of Bennachie in Scotland, the Beast of Ballymeana in Northern Ireland, the Beast of Broomhill in Yorkshire and the Beast of Bont in Wales. The latter is taken very seriously by the farmers around Aberystwyth, who continue to lose a lot of sheep. On 3 April 1997, Cynog Dafis, the local MP, said: "There is a fair consensus that a puma or black leopard is at large and that there might be more than one."'

Other Alien Big Cat surveys: FT52:26, 53:8, 54:30, 55:44, 59:18, 63:20, 64:44, 73:42-44, 80:37-43, 83:44-47, 88:28-31, 101:23-26.

Big Cat Sightings in 1996
Date	Location	Description	Activity	Report
1996	Glenkindie, nr Kildrummy, Aberdeenshire	Large black cat	Initially mistaken for a small long labrador
1996	Tullich straight nr Ballater, Aberdeenshire	Very large shining black cat, long tail and tufted end the small pointed ears, piercing red eyes, open mouth displaying a full set of snarling teeth	Stationary with face turned towards motorists
1996	Alves, Moray	Large black cat		Mick Orsi
1996	Kemnay, Aberdeenshire	Large cat		Mick Orsi
1996	Tarland, Aberdeenshire	Large cat		Mick Orsi
1996	Colpy, Aberdeenshire	Large cat		Mick Orsi
1996	Craigston, Turriff, Aberdeenshire	Large black cat		Mick Orsi
1996	Craigston, Turriff, Aberdeenshire	Large black cat	Second sighting	Mick Orsi
1996	Mount House, Ayrshire	Large black cat
January	Midmar and Bennachie Forest, Garioch and Gordon districts, North of Banchory	Big animal, black but with brindle marks, and a large bushy tail	Numerous sightings. Casts said to that of dog. Beast could be a feral rotweiller
January	Monifieth, Angus	Large black cat		Mick Orsi
18 th January	Broughty Ferry Esplanande, Dundee	Size of a big dog, more of a cat's body. Huge bushy grey tail that trailed along the ground. Animal appeared furry with pointed ears. Lynx?	Crossed road towards railway line. Chased by motorist and disappeared into undergrowth.
c.23 rd January	Pitcaple, Aberdeenshire	'Beast of Bennachie' sighted		Fortean Times
March	Greeness, Turriff, Aberdeenshire	Large black cat		Mick Orsi
18 th March	Blebo Craigs, nr Cupar, Fife		Three lambs found with large puncture marks in neck	Mick Orsi
20 th March	Strathkinnes, nr St Andrews, Fife		11 lambs and a ewe found dead
c. 28 th March	Lamington, Kildary, Easter Ross		Sheep found stripped to the bones	Mick Orsi
Springtime	Galloway Forest, Dumfries end	Large black cat, size of a "large Labrador" with a wide gaping mouth with a very glossy black coat.	Sat at the side of the road eating, having pinned its prey with its two front legs onto the road
Early April?	Nr Sorbie, Galloway	Like a puma, about as big as a collie dog	Hunting for something to eat
29 th April	Springfield, nr Cupar, Fife	Large black cat	Fifth sighting in the Cupar area in April	Mick Orsi
May	Lord's Throat, near Monymusk, Aberdeenshire	Large dark cat, Labrador sized, low profile	Seen by driver. Crossed raod late at night.
May	Culloden Moor, Highland		Car damaged in collision with ABC	Fortean Times
May	Near Drumnadrochit, Highland. Additional sighting a few days later.	Large golden cat	Seen by a gamekeeper near the village.
May	A82, 1 mile north of Drumnadrochit, Highland. Additional sighting by a gamekeeper a few days before.	Colour and size of a Golden Labrador. The head and face was that of a big cat. Long tail with a bobble of hair at its end. Movements most definitely feline.	Spotted from a car at 8 am. Cat crossed road, and disappeared into undergrowth.
6 th May	Elgin, Moray	Two tan-coloured cats seen	One cat seen at 6 ft	Mick Orsi
c. 6 th May	Pitcaple, Aberdeenshire		Sheep remains found by River Urie	Mick Orsi
c. 11 th May	Sorbie, Galloway	Large black cat		Mick Orsi
June	Huntly, Aberdeenshire	Large cat seen		Mick Orsi
June	farm nr Currie, Edinburgh	Two Merino sheep killed and eaten	Similar to big cat kills according to Blair Drummond Safari Park
late June	Galston road heading into Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire	Size of an alsation dog. Golden- fawny coloured, definitely cat-like. Long tail.	Seen by two witnesses. Ran across road. Movements were graceful.
July	Between Ceres and Craigrothie, Fife	Too big to be a fox or a domestic cat, it was roughly the size of a spaniel, probably black in colour	Spotted from a car in early hours of morning.
First week of July	On London Road, Hurlford, between Kilmarnock and Crookedholm, East Ayrshire	Dark, cat-like animal, very long tail. Definitely not a dog.	Jumped from the bushes and hit the front of a car, denting the number plate. Creature carried on and ran into fields
10 th July	Fraser's Garden Centre, Dundonald, South Ayrshire	Fawny coloured cat-like animal, size of Great Dane	Scattered cows in a field. Moved very quickly and gracefully and seemed very powerful.
15 th July	Near Beecham plant close to Irvine, North Ayrshire	Dark felid, 6 - 7 ft in length	Ran onto the road, then into fields and out of sight. Several dead sheep and lambs reported in the area.
c 27 th July	Back road from Dalry to Ardrossan, North Ayrshire	Mauled lamb found. Disappeared next day.	Four claw marks or slashes down one side about one and a half inches in length. Police informed.
3 rd August, second sighting late August	Dundonald Crossroads, South Ayrshire	Large cat-like animal. Like greyhound but fuller in body and golden fawn in colour	Walking along the road, then ran off into fields
7 th August	Nr Moorfield roundabout, Irvine to Kilmarnock road, East Ayrshire	Golden light brown cat-like animal, bigger than a dog	Seen by two witnesses. Jumped on to the middle of the road, barely touching the ground and then on to the verge and away over the fields.
8 th August	Greshop, Moray	Large black cat	Seen at midday sitting outside the Moray Coast Growers vegetable factory	Mick Orsi
12 th August	Ben Venue, Aberfoyle, Stirlingshire	Large cat		Mick Orsi
Mid August	East Kilbride - Busby road, South Lanarkshire	Darkish cat-like animal	Seen running away by lorry driver
Last week in August.	Dundonald Crossroads, South Ayrshire	Large cat-like animal. Like greyhound but fuller in body and dark fawn in colour	On side of road, then ran off into fields. Earlier sighting on 3 rd by same witness.
late August	Dundonald to Drybridge Road, South Ayrshire	Fawn coloured large cat-like creature	Seen by motorist
September	Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire	Very large cat-like animal, shiny black in colour with a long tail	Staring at woman and dog for several seconds then slowly backed off
September	Blairgowrie, Perthshire and Kinross	Piglets taken, sows aggressive.	Traps set.
early September	Blairgowrie, Perthshire and Kinross	"Puma or similar animal" Huge pair of orange eyes.	Seen by retired Professor and Glasgow Zoo consultant walking his dogs. Gave a low, snarling growl then escaped into the fields. Total of five sightings
early September	Blairgowrie, Perthshire and Kinross	Panther-like creature	Seen in headlights. Total of five sightings.
early September	Alyth area, Perthshire and Kinross	Two sightings of a big cat	Total of five sightings
September	Blairgowrie, Perthshire and Kinross	Huge pair of orange eyes. Panther-like creature	Gave a low, snarling growl then escaped into the fields. Total of five sightings
6 th September	Darvel, East Ayrshire	Large black cat-like creature	Walking along disused railway line
7 th September	Banchory, Aberdeenshire	Sleek, black and had pointed ears	Sightings two years ago before at Balmoral and at Birkhall	<
8 th September	River Irvine between Hurlford and Crookedholm, East Ayrshire	Like a large jungle cat, as big as a fully grown Labrador. Fawn coloured with brown markings around the top of its head and ears	Spotted by a couple walking their dog
9 th September	nr Fiveways, Ayr to Galston road, East Ayrshire	Large black cat	Collided with car
11 th September	Back road from, Galston to Ayr, East Ayrshire	Large cat-like animal, roughly the size of a Golden Retriever, light tan in colour with a long tail. Definitely not a dog with cat-like facial features.	Pounced/lunged at the driver's side car window, smashing the wing mirror
14 th September	Frasers Graden Centre, Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire	Completely black, height of an adult Labrador, but longer. Face like a puma or panther	Seen by two witness stalking across field. Donkey paid no attention to cat.
23 rd September	nr Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire	Very large black cat-like animal, long legs, long tail, size of Labrador, eyes marina green with orange pupils	Seen by dog walker in woolds
late September	near Bridge of Earn, Perthshire and Kinross	5 ft long, jet black in colour	Seen from train. Stalking something. Suddenly darted forward then doubled back in pursuit of it's prey
October	On road from Dundonald to Fiveways, South Ayrshire	Agile, moved like a cat	Attacked car. Three other sightings by same two witness
October	Farm outside Newburgh, Fife	Hourse found with claw marks. Frightened on three occassions.	Lion-like sounds hear on two occasions
October	Farm outside Newburgh, Fife	Large black cat-like animal, massive long tail. Two sightings	Seen by several workmen. Entered reeds on both occasions.
First week of October	West Cluden Mill nr Dumfries	Very large animal, the colour of a Golden Labrador, but at least as half as big again	Emerged from tree at the top of a hill 20- 30 yards away. Remained stationary for two to three minutes then loped away over open space and disappeared into a clump of bushes and trees.
20 th October	Glen O Shee Hospital, nr Banchory?	Huge all black animal	Seen at 100 yards by dog walker. Police alerted.
28 th October	Port Glasgow, Inverclyde	"large black wildcat", "Puma"	Seen by two witnesses. Police alerted.
November	Netherburn, South Lanarkshire	Big jet-black cat , size of Labrador, tail almost as long as body. Moved gracefully. Second sighting later.	Seen at 30 - 40 ft by hunter. Emerged from a wood and ran off.
November	Netherburn, South Lanarkshire	Jet-black, long tail and about the size of a Labrador	Cat dived out of tree and made off. Earlier sighting in area.	>
December	River Urie, Aberdeenshire	"Lynx" About 2 to 3ft long, dark brown, very hort, snub tail. Cat's head, large, pointed ears.	Seen by water bailiff
Early December	Between Aviemore and Ballater	Large black cat		Mick Orsi
c.16 th December	Huntly, on the A96 between Elgin and Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire	Large black cat		Mick Orsi
c.16 th December	A9 near Inverness	Black and white creature about the size of a Great Dane	Creature bounded across road. Driver swerved to avoid it and cause a three car pile-up

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