Report from George Markie
Tourist turns tail after early morning big cat encounter
From the Dundee Courier, 4 th June 1999
An early morning encounter which marks the latest in series of big cat sightings in North East Fife led to an alarmed American visitor beating a hasty retreat.
Jan Mieszkowski (30) of New Jersey described how he saw a creature similar to a "bobcat or puma" on a track near Kilrenny.
Mr Mieszkowski, in the East Neuk visiting relatives, was out for an early morning run when the incident occurred.
"It was around 5.30am when I turned off the main road on to a track and saw the cat about 100 yards ahead of me," he said.
"Although it looked to be the size of a large dog, it was low to the ground, darkish grey in colour, and definitely a large cat.
"It quickly sort of froze and turned and looked at me.
"I wasn't confident that if I kept going it would disappear, so I turned around and ran the other way."
The animal, he said, had been long and sleek, and fairly sturdy, and that the description of 'panther-like' used by other people who had made sightings was accurate.
The incident occurred close to the spot where a group of workmen all saw a similar animal.
Over the past three years there have been reported sightings over a wide area, including Ladybank, Letham, Cupar, Blebo Craigs and the East Neuk
Dundee Courier, 4th June 1999
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