- gait pattern unmistakably feline in nature.
- NO claw marks at all, in spite of dense wet sand, and sinking to depth 18mm, no signs of claws. (blunt, thick, thin or otherwise)
- FLAT not curved frontal edge to palmar/plantar central pad of foot
- Evidence of `leading toe' in spoor-prints.
- Forward pointing toes, little splay of toes, (No "X-mark")
- ASYMMETRICAL toe sizes very evident, typically felid, but not always
- NB:- same animal with same spoor print - cast from same sand bar 2 days later (1 smudged print), but on 12-04-03, unmistakably the SAME animal left spoor on sand bar again. These spoor, from which casts were taken, show tri-lobed caudal edges to central pads, with a slight concavity noticeable at the frontal aspect of central pad (This alone is very suspicious of feline feet, esp so with Puma)
- Size, just short of 3" accross, gait, dimensions, complete lack claw
marks, - indicative of cat the size of Lynx or small-medium Puma.
- Note the same sand bar revealed wildcat spoor approaching waters edge to drink, and later in year have seen and collected wild-cat scat deposited very prominently in the same area.
- Complete abscence of claw marks
- asymmetry of toe sizes
- Tapering of the toe-pad impronts
- Flattened, slightly concaved, frontal aspect of central pad
- 3 lobed caudal aspect of central pad, all lobes equal in size
- Evidence of leading toes
- gait, pattern of hind feet overprinting forefeet on left and right sides, typified with felids.
Statement by Aron Bowers,
Pluscarden prints
By Aron Bowers, 23 rd September 2003
Date: Sunday 23-03-03, time 8-8:30 am
Location: Small burn nr Heldon Hill, by village of Pluscarden By Elgin, Moray
Description: I'm very much the hunter-gatherer type of person, out for forays to collect wildfoods for consumption, herbs for medicinal uses, etc. Out collecting Spring-time herbs/plants. Noticed set of prints by small sandbar, adjacent to small bed of pebbles, aside small burn. Tracks very clearly showing animal approaching sand-bar, turning in figure of 8 movement, then later leaving. No tail marks. The figure of 8 pattern comprised 30-40 spoor marks max'm, showing agitated animal movement. Just off centre was a 2" long sausage shaped mass of regurgitated algal matter, reminiscent of the green sausages housecats regurgitate periodically much to the dismay of their owners.
On searching for the best spoor marks, returned to home in Elgin, for plaster of Paris, took 2 of the best spoor marks (individual foot marks), the bulk of the approaching spoor overlain, ie rear and forefoot spoor overlapped, in true felid fashion (Have photographs of subsequent tracks showing just such an arrangement)
The 2 best single tracks differ somewhat - I believe 1 to be forefoot, the other rear paw. Maximum dimensions 71mm (just over 2 3/4") diameter. Depth of 18mm maximally.
Reasons for cat vs dog identification???
23 rd September 2003
Additional information
In relation to criteria used to differentiate cat spoor from dog spoor prints, the following points point to felid identity....
Have casts of fore and hind feet, also casts of over stepping of feet, and also 5 toed prints.
1 st October 2003
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