Non-native Cat Sightings in Scotland in 2001

Non-native Cat Sightings in 2001
Date	Location	Description	Activity	Report
throughout 2001	South Queensferry, City of Edinburgh	Markings like a much larger, leaner version of a tabby cat, but no household pet, long, bushy tail, prominent pointed ears. Wildcat or lynx?	Seen on may occasions near Inchgarvie House.
Exact date unknown	Dallas - Pluscarden road, Moray	"Huge" pure black cat, long tail	Fleeting glance by couple in car.
Exact date unknown	Auldearn, Highland	"Panther" Labrador sized, pure black. No pronounced muzzle.	Seen by couple in car. Bounded across road and leapt hedge.
Exact date unknown	Kilchrenan, Argyll	Black, large cat face and ears, tail like a cat's tail, walked in the slinky way that cats do, jumped like a puma into the undergrowth.	Seen at a few feet at it passed car. Second sighting by witness.
Exact date unknown	Kilchrenan, Argyll	Big black cat-like creature	Seen at a few feet at it passed witness's car. Second sighting
Exact date unknown	Kilchrenan, Argyll	Large black cat-like creature	Seen by farmer's wife.
Exact date unknown	Kilchrenan, Argyll	Large brown cat-like creature	Three sightings by same witness. Reported by BBC Scotland.
Early January	Inveraray, Argyll	Cat twice the size of Labrador	Seen by driver from Oban
Early January	Taynuilt, Argyll	Big cat	Seen against background of snow
Early January	Kilchrenan, Argyll	Big cat	Seen against background of snow
Early January	Barcaldine, Argyll	Big cat	Seen against background of snow
Early January	Kilmelford, Argyll	Big cat	Seen against background of snow
January	Rogie Falls, nr Strathpeffar, Highland	'Panther'	Seen by Inverness man
January	Peterhead, Aberdeenshire	Escaped leopard	Trail of slaughtered sheep.
1 st January	Wellbank, Angus	Paw prints in snow	Paw prints videoed in Professor's garden. Prints larger than his pet alsation's.
1 st January	A92 by Inverkeilor, Angus	Big cat, eyes lit up by headlights	Seen from car bounding across main road.
7 th January	Huntly, Aberdeenshire	Lamb killed	Skin neatly peeled back. Killing reminiscent of that five years ago, suspected to be big cat by Scottish Agricultural College.
9 th January	Braemar, Aberdeenshire	Same size as a medium-weight dog, dark skin, strong legs, no tail	Spotted by woman walking dog in hills. Cat chased away by dog.
approx 10 th January	Wellbank, Angus	Dark skin, strong legs, no tail, size of medium dog	Seen by two dog walkers.
14 th January	Guthrie Castle, near Friockheim, Angus	Large black cat, bigger than Neapolitan mastiff. Long, low to the ground with yellow-orange eyes.	Seen at 6 ft by woman walking three dogs. Cat stalking two deer.
17 th January	Lunanhead, nr Forfar, Angus	Mutilated swan found	Possible big cat kill.
February	Nr Queensferry, City of Edinburgh	Large black, cat-like animal, larger than an alsatian	Seen at 100 yards by family of six. Large pawprints observed
3 rd February	The Lein, near Kingston, Moray	A large panther, 3-4 ft in height and very large. Big cat pug marks on the road, 4 inches in diameter.	Sprinted across road. Cat stalking two deer.
1 st March	Dalgairn, Cupar, Fife	Bigger than labrador, about waist high with long black tail and high hips. Held itself close to the ground.	Seen in garden. Loped off.
before 3 rd March	Glen Loy, nr Fort William, Highland	Tracks seen about four and a half inches wide, and where the hill became slippery, claws had dug into the ice	Reports of big cats two years before.
before 7 th March	Peterculter, Aberdeen	Photos of cat taken	Said to be of a puma
27 th March	Building site, City of Dundee	Huge black cat with long tail. Body probably 3 ft long	Sunning itself on pile of tree trunks
late March	Back road between Kirkoswald and Culzean Castle, South Ayrshire	Large cat standing 10 ft from door of secluded cottage.	Fled over the fence and into fields when woman screamed.
Spring	Locheilside, nr Fort William, Highland	Black, labrador-sized, very long tail	Sitting down. Walked off when car approached across field towards sheep which split let it through.
April	nr Campbeltown, Argyll	"Reindeer" coloured cat	Seen in field. Sighting of similar animal in December 2000.
1 st April	nr Kinloss, Moray	Large cat. Difficult to see in dark	Seen by taxi driver. In a single bound, jumped from the verge to the middle of the road, saw the cars, and leapt back.
before 3 rd April	Invergordon, Highland	Black panther	Seen by gamekeeper.
10 th April	South of Montrose, Angus	Black cat, bigger than Springer Spaniel	Seen by bus driver walking on grass verge
13 th April	The Mound, south of Golspie, Highland Ten sightings in past 18 months	African caracal? Far bigger than a dog, light brown in colour. Very powerful and quite fat, with massive legs and pricked-up ears.	Bounded out from between two parked lorries just north of the Mound
before 14 th April	nr Cupar, Fife	Several 'Kellas Cat' sightings. Kellas cat also trapped at deer centre	Large tracks seen in woods and remains of sheep found.
18 th April	Claonig Water, Kintyre, Argyll	Large all black cat with no markings, size of German Shepherd, moved in a cat-like manner.	Ran across the road 30 -40 yards in front of two cyclists
May	Ardersier, Highland	Puma-like animal seen	Also attacks on livestock in Kiltarlity
6 th May	Culter, Aberdeen	Huge and black	In wooded area behind Aberdeen street
6 th May	Elrick, Aberdeenshire	Cat-like and big, at least four or five times bigger than a normal cat	Seen from car heading into bushes
10 th May	nr Cookney, Aberdeenshire	A large dark (black/brown) cat, 7 -8 ft length including long tail and 2 - 3 feet high, believed to be either a puma or leopard.	Seen by mmber of Scottish Big Cats crossing the road at 5.30 pm. Moved and walked like a big cat. Witness has observed big cats in Africa
11 th May	nr Tornaveen, Aberdeenshire	Cougar-like, light-grey/brown, with a long tail, one and a half metres long Described as 'wildcat' by a second witness with binnoculars	Observed before sprinting off
15 th May	By Glenrothes, Fife	Very large dark grey cat, 30 inches high, shortish swept back tail	Seen by dog walker. Dogs terrified.
16 th May	Nr Largoward, Fife	Two large black cats	Seen by motorist, crossing road then climbing over high wall
before 18 th May	Mabie Farm Park, Dumfries & Galloway	Unidentified black "cat-like creature"	Seen at 150 yards and captured on video
21 st May	Bathgate, West Lothian	Ginger coloured big cat, larger than labrador. Tufts of white or lighter coloured hair on its face.	Watched for 20 minutes stalking rabbits in a field.
23 rd May	Sidlaw Hills, Angus	Larger than a cat but not quite as big as a full grown labrador, black with a short head "very like the one on the caption on your website". Its legs seemed long for its size and there was a long thick rope-like tail straight out behind it	Shot through some gates and across a field. Dead lambs found on 21 st May, 23 rd May and 24 th May.
before 27 th May	Gauldry/Kilmany area, Fife	Large black cat	Seen by runner. Cat came out from hedge then ran back in.
before 27 th May	back road from Wormit to Gauldry, Fife	Colour difficult tto see, possibly black. Lynx like. Too large for domestic cat, bigger than fox	Pounced like a cat onto one side of the road - ran across - and then pounced off the other side
June	Between Windygates & Auchtermuchty, Fife	Black. Height of our whippet, but much heavier, long thick tail, slinky feline walk. Certainly not lamb or dog or domestic cat.	Clear view by three witnesses who stopped car
before 1 st June	East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire	Large, cat with amber coloured eyes	Standing in metre high grass with head visible. Seen for 15 minutes by two witnesses
1 st June	Lanark, South Lanarkshire	4 feet long, black, prominant facial features	Fast and muscular. Seen for 10 seconds at 60 ft.
2 nd June	Fife	Big-cat like animal, long tail	Reported on local radio
16 th June	Rathillet-Cupar road, Fife	Large, dark-coloured animal	Spotted by journalist and member of Scottish Big Cats near carcass of a deer, made off over the fields when disturbed. Photos taken of deer carcass and prints.
approx 17 th June	Rathillet, Fife	Big Cat	Spotted by blacksmith's forge
18 th June	Ormiston, East Lothian	Jet black, size of Alsatian, but catlike with very long tail	Sat down within a few feet of dog walker
few days after 18 th June	Ormiston, East Lothian	Jet black, size of Alsatian, but catlike with very long tail	Second sighting in field by same witness
29 th June	East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire	Leopard type cat	Eating something
Summer	Near Bathgate, West Lothian	Black, labrador-sized cat, head footbal-sized.	Washed itself before making off into long grass. Squaking heard later. Droppings found and photographed.
Summer	Near Whitekirk, East Lothian	Large cat-like animal, similar in appearance to a puma or black panther	Sunning itself on a bale of hay
Summer	Blairadam Forest, Fife	Large cat	Seen by farmer
July	Invergordon, Highland	Large black cat, 2 ft high, 3 ft long body, massive head, shiney fur	Seen at 12 ft in graveyard. Ran off when car passed
July	Boblainy, nr Inverness, Highland	Several sheep killed	'Beast of Boblainy' blamed
before 5 th July	Kilchrenan, Argyll	Large black cat and kitten	Seen by holiday maker.
Before 8 th July	nr Lindores, Fife	Big cat	Crossing road. Seen by motorist at 11.30 pm
9 th July	Black Isle, Ross, Highland	Black cat-like creature , 2 and a half feet high, 3 feet long body. Much larger than domestic cat with much thicker fur - almost bear like in texture	Seen by horsewoman. Rushed into woods.
12 th July	Leucars, Fife	Large, silent, black animal with foaming jaws	Attacked red setter in garden
17 th July	nr near Lochend, Loch Ness, Highland	Jet black and the size of an alsatian dog	Seen by cyclist.
18 th July	nr Monifieth, Angus	Jet black, two feet high, with a long, slim body and large, piercing eyes	Seen by motorist, prowling dense woodland. Graceful.
20 th July	Beanston Mains, nr Haddington, East Lothian	Large, Puma-like creature	Seen from car, animal fled from headlights
26 th July	Field nr Dunbar, East Lothian	Black leopard or jaguar	Seen by male witness. Jumped over 8 ft wall and dissapeared into woodland
29 th July	Aberlady Bay Nature Reserve, East Lothian	Large black cat "size of alsation"	Seen by witnesses in field. Second sighting minutes later by another witness
29 th July	Aberlady Bay Nature Reserve, East Lothian	Black with tinge of brown, two to three times size of domestic cat, thicker tail.	Seen at 50 metres. Ran off into thick woodland. Sighting by other witnesses a few minutes earlier.
July/August	Nr Insch, Aberdeenshire	Scruffy looking black cat, long curved tail	Crossed road and into field
August	Blackcraig Forest, nr Ballintuim, Perthshire & Kinross	Black animal, 18" high at the shoulder, 3 foot long (excluding long, down slung tail), sagging stomach	Crossed track 120 yards away
August	Ardestie Toll by Monifeith, Angus	Large cat	Seen by feamle witness in headlights on verge by road.
before 8 th August	Oban, Argyll and Bute	Large cat.	Seen by two nurses.
10 th August	Nr Lundin Links, Fife	Jet black cat, body 4 ft long, long tail, body close to ground.	Seen by two witnesses crossing road.
14 th August	nr Linlithgow, West Lothian	Head much smaller and rounder than black labrador, small round ears, really long tail, body more refined legs not as heavy. 2 feet high, 2.5-3ft in length, twice size of nearby domestic cat. Not as heavy as a puma, proportions looked different.	Ran across road at 11.30 pm
18 th August	Nr St Andrews, Fife	Dark coloured cat, possibly light patches on face. Body length of 30", height 18", long tail curled at end.	Seen by four witnesses. Ran in front of car.
24 th August	The Fairway, nr B962, Angus	Big black cat	Moving around in a field
27 th August	nr Darvel, East Ayrshire	Large, black with no markings, tail quite long, slightly lower than a German shepherd, but longer, about four feet, maybe three and half.	Ran in front of car. Leaping movement, not dog-like
29 th August	Nr Glenrothes, Fife	Big black cat	Knocked down woman and tried to attack her labrador. Dog chased through woods an into traffic. Cat remained in woods, taking no interest in fallen woman.
before 31 th August	Nr Oban, Argyll and Bute	Big black cat	Stopped train.
Autumn	Glen Feshie, Highlands	Roe deer car carcass found in tree	Had been partially eaten. Possible leopard cache.
Autumn	by Elgin, Moray	Large black cat, labrador sized, long black tail	Seen by female motorist who stopped. Cat sitting watching traffic on A96 before standing up and walking off (feline gait) into forest.
Autumn	Dochgarroch, Highland	Growl/bark heard in forest	Witness has also seen large prints around his house
3 rd September	Kirkcudbright to Gelston road, Dumfries & Galloway	Very large black cat, panther like by the way it held tail, colour, size	Crossed road 30 to 40 yards in front of witness. Paid no attention car's approach
7 th September	Kilmarnock - Irvine by-pass, East Ayrshire	Very large black cat.	Seen by motorist walking along side of road
about September	Iverrurie/Kemnay area	Large blackish/dark cat, labrador sized, long tail	Two sightings by related witnesses.
about 15 th September	Nr Millhouse, Argyll and Bute	Pure black, labrador sized feline, very powerful hind legs, long tail.	Seen at 150 yards. Disappeared by burn.
18 th September	Texaco garage, Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire	Large black cat	First of three sightings in three days
19 th September	Black Isle, 7 miles north of Inverness, Highland	Gingery/tawny, definitely a light colour, not black. Cat shape a bit smaller than a labrador dog	Leapt in front of car. Tracks found next day
19 th September	Texaco garage, Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire	Large black cat	Secord sighting in two days. Seen by different witnesses	<
20 th September	Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire	Third sighting of a large black cat in the town.	Police searched using a helicopter
late September	Nr Inverarity, Angus	Cat-like, black. Larger than domestic cat, smaller than German Shepherd. Roughly "fox sized"	Seen at 50 ft by two witnesses running across road
about October	Tighnabruaich, Argyll & Bute	Large black cat. Second sighting in January 2002	Crossed road in front of car
October	Near Wormit, Fife	Back half of big black cat, taller than German Shepherd, long upturned tail	Seen by three witnesses. Disappeared into bushes.
October	Blairgowrie, Perthshire & Kinross	Large black 'puma-like' cat	Sheep also killed in area.
6 th October	between Linlithgow and Bo'ness, West Lothian	'puma' Light brown, coloured like lion. Size of Alsation but cat-like with very long tail and samll head	Seen by motorist. Ran across road and leapt over fence into field.
10 th October	Rheindown Forest, Beauly , Highland	Large fawn/brown cat, 'puma'	Seen by dog walker. Police informed
12 th October	nr Aberfeldy, on the cycle route to Strathtay, Perthshire & Kinross	Big black cat, 'not just a domestic' size of retriever, very long tail	Seen by female cyclist.
14 th October	nr Cookney, Aberdeenshire	Cat, not fox or dog, dark - appeared black but lighter from behind, 2.5 feet high, ears short and round.	Seen by member of Scottish Big Cats crossing woodland at 100 m. Moved and walked like a big cat. Second sighting by witness who has observed big cats in Africa
before 27 th October	Nr Millhouse, Argyll and Bute	Pure black feline creature, bigger than a Border collie, like a puma	Seen by two boys in broad daylight. Crossing dirt track road in front of them.
before 31 st October	Branxholm, nr Hawick, Scottish Borders	Large black cat, too large and powerful to be domestic.	Seen by several witnesses at 20 ft
31 st October	Mansfield, Hawick, Scottish Borders	Large black cat size of doberman or boxer, long thick tail and a huge bulky black body.	Seen by seven witnesses including two policemen who photographed it.
31 st October	A76 Kilmarnock to Cumnock road, East Ayrshire	large black feline animal, size of labrador, feline in movement	dashed across the road missing car by inches
November	Crook of Devon, Perthshire & Kinross	Black cat, size of labrador, tail 2 - 3 ft long	Extremely fast. Seen running by witness at filling station
Winter	Culbokie, nr Dingwall, Highland	Dark brown, lighter on sides and flanks, long tail with distinctive tuft on end. Head roundish and small in ratio to body. Dark tuft on end of tail. Long body plus tail, shortish legs and not as big as labrador.	Rubbing against a fence. Seen at 50 yards. Earlier sighting by same witness that winter
1 st November	nr Turriff, Aberdeenshire	big black cat, tail two and a half feet long, bright green eyes	Seen by male out shooting foxes at night
7 th November	Haddington, East Lothian	Light brown colour with a long black mane, same size as a large alsatian.	Seen in fields outside house
Approx 9 th November	Strathglass, nr Beauly, Highland	Prints of big cat found	Measured 12 cm by 8 cm
11 th November	nr Pluscarden Abbey, Moray	Shiny jet black coat, small head, bushy tail which flopped about, two and a half to three feet long, stood about 18 inches high,.	Seen from car by two witnesses. Made off into the undergrowth
16 th November	nr Hawick, Scottish Borders	The hindquarters of a large animal with a short coat - coloured black with a red tinge	Seen at 10 ft
17 th November	nr Edzell, Angus	'Panther' - jet black, four foot long, head like football	Sitting on dry-stane dyke. Previous sighting by same witness four years before
December	Culbokie, nr Dingwall, Highland	Dark brown, lighter on sides and flanks, long tail with distinctive tuft on end.	Seen by two witnesses. Another sighting in January 2002
December	Hawick, Scottish Borders	'Large black cat, Not a normal cat'. Several other sightings in November	Spotted by two witnesses
December	Nr Largoward, Fife	Two black, collie/labrador sized cats	Seen on road, "scrambled" over wall
5 th December	Nr Colinsburgh, Fife	Black cat with a body length of 3 feet	Seen by two witnesses. Jumped 7 ft wall.
before 8 th December	By Cardenden/Lochgelly, Fife	Puma-like animal	Seen clearly by dog walker by old railway line. Parts of dead sheep seem nearby.
11 th December	Nr Meigle, Perthshire & Kinross	Black cat 'bigger than a fox'	Seen by two witnesses. Crossed road in front of car.
14 th December	Kilconquhar to Elie road, Fife	Rufus/Tawny brown, labrador-sized.	Shot across road in front of woman driver
14 th December	Dysart, Fife	Black, bigger than a labrador, low to ground with a prominant long tail and rounded head. Later sighting by same witness on 17 th January 2002	5 minute sighting. Cat appeared to be stalking
approx 20 th December	Polmont, Falkirk	Larger than average cat, thick furred, tawny long thick black tail ('Brindled maybe, like bobcat pictures but with a black tail) Cat by the way it walked.	Spotted in back garden
Week before Christmas, December	Nr Fochabers, Moray	Darkish, labrador sized, very long tail curved at end	Ran across mid at midnight. looked at car and kept going.
Just before Christmas	Near Blairdaff, Aberdeenshire	Jet black, beautiful, labrador-sized, long tail.	Seen from stationary bus. Walked across road then into woodland 40 yards away
Christmas holidays	Nr Huntly, Aberdeenshire	"A lady lion" - no big mane. "It was either a leopard or a lion - it was white!" "Bigger than a big dog"	Seen by 9 year old in car. In corner of field crouched down watching something
25 th December	Dochgarroch, nr Inverness, Highland	Nocturnal activity around house. Anecdotal evidence of big cat over 18 months.	Next morning trail of tracks found outside house
Two weeks before 11 th January 2003	Insch, Aberdeenshire	Large black cat	Seen at side of road by two witneses.

---

Return to index	Return to Scottish Big Cats	Return to Sightings by year

---