Report from Chris Smith

Black cat seen on A76 Kilmarnock to Cumnock road

From the Kilmarnock Standard, 19 th October 2001

Cat watcher Mark Fraser of Kilmarnock has released more details about recent sightings. These are:

At about 11 pm on September 7 th, a female motorist on the Kilmarnock to Irvine road saw what she described as a "very large black cat" walking towards her on the opposite side of the road. When it was caught in the car headlights, the cat stopped for a moment then carried on its way.

Another large cat was seen near a secluded cottage between Kirkoswald and Culzean Castle at the end of March. The occupant of the cottage went out to put rubbish in the bin. She screamed when she saw a large cat standing about ten feet away from the door. The cat turned and bounded away over a fence into the fields. The next day casts were taken of footprints in the mud.

Following a recent item in the Standard, a few older sightings were reported to Mark.

Late in December, 1995 on the back road between Muirkirk and Cumnock, near the electricity sub-station, a new security system was installed at a remote cottage. Sensors trigger off floodlights and activate a video recorder. On the first night of installation the sensors were activated in the early hours of the morning. The video showed sheep in the adjoining field in a "kind of panic" and a large "brown cat" sauntering by the fence. It was as big as a fully grown Labrador. But the tape was recorded over on the same day by the witness' daughter!

If you have any sightings of big cats contact Mark Fraser on (01292) 280119.

(The paper actually put in my wrong telephone number.)

Kilmarnock Standard, 19 th October 2001

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