Report from Phil Crosby
Note from Chris Smith. To the best of my knowledge this is the only non-native cat sighting from a Scottish island. (Two more sightings now from Mull, reported in September 2002)
Colonsay Cat
July 1999
Clear sunny day, broad daylight.
It would be easy to give you the map ref if you were interested.
We did report it at the time, to the nearest shop / post office,but the girl obviously thought we were a bit odd, and no such sighting had been reported before, she said.
Ruth
Addtional information:
Distance: we were about 50 yards from it, on a rise looking down.
Size: much bigger than a Scottish wild cat, body length and height about the size of a collie, but with a really long bushy tail. Slim body.
Colour: Dark brown, no discernible markings.
Sound: a very loud yowling noise, catlike.
My husband saw it, called me over and it was fully visible for about 20seconds after that. It was standing in front of a stone dyke, which it jumped over and then disappeared into ferns. It was not aware of our presence, but we were alarmed enough to change the direction of our walk! We have no doubt that it was a big cat.
Ruth
July 1999
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