Report from John Murray
More Buddies Spot The Mystery Big Cat
By Gail Cameron in the Paisley Daily Express 29 th May, 2003
EAGLE-EYED Buddies have been prowling around Paisley on the tail of our mystery 'big cat'.
And lots of you are confident you've spotted the same strange creature around the town and beyond.
Several more sightings have been reported to the Paisley Daily Express since we told you about the mystery animal.
Local resident Andy Carlin claimed to have spotted the large creature as he walked his dog close to the Poulson Damn at Glenfield Road in Paisley.
And after our story, readers have been calling our offices to tell of their close encounters with the unidentified creature.
And 'big cat' experts want to investigate the sightings.
One Paisley dad reported seeing the mystery 'feline' as he walked his dog up the Gleniffer Braes.
"It was about 30 yards in front of me," he explained.
"It was grey with a black tail which curled up and was bushy at the end, and it stood lightly bigger than a fox.
"I thought it might be a Scottish wildcat, but I really wasn't sure."
And he added: "When I told my wife and family, they all laughed at me. Hopefully, they'll believe what I'm telling them now."
Hugh Brown of Arthurlie Street in Barrhead, also believes he spotted the mystery big cat.
"I've seen it ten or 15 times within the last six months," he explained.
"My neighbour has spotted it too. I would say it is more of a steely blue colour than grey, and it has a three foot long tail that curls like a cheetah's. It is also very very fast.
"My dog actually tried to chase but had no chance of keeping up, it set off at some speed, bounding like an animal jungle. It was amazing."
However one doubting Buddie told the Express: "I've also seen an animal that fits this description but I think it is dog.
"It looks to me like a breed of collie and I think it is kept as a pet somewhere in the area."
Yesterday Paisley woman Laura Matthews said she believed the big cat sighting was genuine.
She explained: "About 16 years ago I saw a big cat in Paisley and no-one believed me. I think this sighting should be taken seriously, it's too easy to dismiss things like this as a myth."
Dr John Murray, the scientific officer of the group Scottish Big Cats said they were probing the sightings and added: "Genuine sightings by credible witnesses are reported to us on a daily basis, as well as other incidents such as cats being hit by cars.
"The important thing is to investigate the incidents and sightings thoroughly to establish the facts."
Paisley Daily Express, 29 th May 2003
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