Mysterious Creatures : A Guide to Cryptozoology

11 pounds. Primarily nocturnal, the wildcat
feeds mostly on rodents, as well as rabbits
and birds. It inhabits woodlands (especially
deciduous or mixed), scrubland, seacoasts,
and rocky areas with low human density.
Some mystery cats could be surviving populations
of this wildcat in pockets of England
and Wales.
(2) Feral Domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus)
undoubtedly account for many sightings;
among them are the smaller gray cats of
Tonmawr, Wales. Feral cats do not grow appreciably
larger in the wild than in domesticity.
The largest recorded weight is 42
pounds. An odor of brussels sprouts characteristic
of feral cats has been noted in some
sightings.
(3) Hybrid feral domestic cats x Scottish or
European wildcats (Felis silvestris silvestris).
Mating is common between these closely related
species. Colin Matheson has suggested
that a wildcat strain exists among feral cats
in parts of Wales. Between 1873 and 1904,
the Scottish wildcat was experimentally
crossed with several domestic breeds, but the
hybrids proved too wild for domestication.
Color or size variations are not necessarily
evidence of a hybrid, which tend to be
smaller, with tapered tails, fused black banding,
and white markings. See Kellas Cat.
(4) Hybrid feral domestic cats x escaped
Jungle cats (Felis chaus), suggested by Karl
Shuker. Such hybrids are bred in the United
States and have been foundation registered
since 1995. Called a chausie, this breed is
known for its nearly 6-foot vertical leap,
large size (14–18 inches at the shoulder),
tufted ears, speed, and a weight of 20
pounds or more.
(5) At least four introduced specimens of the
Leopard cat (Felis bengalensis) were shot or
found dead in England between 1984 and
1994. This Asian cat can also mate with domestic
cats to produce spotted hybrids,
which have been bred in the United States
since 1963 as the Bengal variety.
(6) Four types of escaped or released exotic
pets that are now naturalized and breeding
in the wild could be responsible for mystery
cat sightings: a tawny or gray Puma (Puma
concolor), 5 feet long with a 2-foot tail,
weight 200 pounds, small head, neck relatively
long, short ears, large paws—even a
hypothetical melanistic (black) variety; a
Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), 3 feet 4 inches
long with a 4.5–11-inch tail, long limbs,
black-tufted ears, golden eyes, yellowish-gray
to reddish-brown color; a Leopard (Panthera
pardus), 6 feet 6 inches long with a 3-foot
tail, spots or melanistic coat, elongate and
muscular body; and a female Lion (Panthera
leo), identifiable by a black tuft at the end of
the tail. This could especially be true after
the 1976 Dangerous Wild Animals Act required
special licenses for exotic pets. (The
1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act offered
stricter penalties.) Irresponsible owners may
have released the animals rather than pay for
a license. The Clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa)
and Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) are
other exotic possibilities.
(7) Big cats (pumas and panthers) kill by
sinking their claws into the victim’s head or
hindquarters (usually deer), while breaking
of the neck is used for stronger adversaries;
consumption of the victim’s abdomen, lack
of skeletal damage, and location of the carcass
in a secluded spot are also characteristic.
Small cats (lynxes and wildcats) subsist primarily
on rabbits and rodents, rarely attacking
larger prey.
(8) Feral Domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) or
Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes). When seen from a
distance, many dog breeds can appear catlike—especially
those with small heads,
rounded ears, and short legs. Packs of stray
dogs can quickly leave a sheep devoid of
flesh. Large droppings found at a deer kill in
Scotland in 1998 contained fox DNA. Massive
pawprints (5 inches or more) are more
likely indicative of a dog (unless the cat’s feet
are vastly out of proportion to its body
length).
(9) Skulls that have been found turned out
to be from a leopard-skin rug (discovered behind
a hedge on Dartmoor in January 1988)
and from a wall-mounted tiger trophy
(found on Exmoor in 1993).
BRITISH BIG CAT 71