Report from Chris Smith
Dark, possibly striped collie-sized cat seen at Aquhorthies
End of January 2003
Date and Time: About 2 months ago (reported 25 th March 2003). Sorry I can't be more definite, I only just discovered your site.
Location: Can't be sure of the grid reference. Sheet NJ72 on the
1:25000 First Series map it is the 21/72 block. The animal jumped
from our field across the road and into the woods.
Description: I saw a dark (possibly dark stripes) animal just bigger
than our small collie (10-12 kg) it had a long tail and was clearly a
cat, but definitely not panther size. It jumped from the brush at
the top of our field and took two strides to clear the road and
disappear into the old quarry. We have otters in the burn but the
legs were too long to be a dog otter, but the body was long in
proportion to the head.
Movement: The movement was quick and fluid. It was silent and my
dogs didn't even notice it.
Noise: Very silent
Duration: Only a matter of seconds. I just caught a glimpse of it
out of the corner of my eye.
Distance: It was about 50 feet away from me and I saw it side on at
the same level.
Weather: It was dry. I went back to the track after a heavy snowfall
thinking that I might see some tracks if the animal was using the old
quarry, but saw nothing.
Reference: I read an article in the Sunday Times giving your web address.
Additional: There have been two other sightings in our immediate area
by friends, but at least one of them was of a much larger animal, the
size of an adult labrador dog. The animal I saw was not at all they
big.
End of January 2003
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