Wild Cat??

[DarrenJeffrey]

Hi,

Was heading up to Glen Doll on Wednesday of last week about 9pm so pitch black. Caught the shine of the eyes of what looked like a cat with my car lights. Slowed to an almost stop and was only a few feet from this cat.

It didn't look like your ordinary domestic cat. Had a very fluffy tail and its ears where a little larger. It also has quite a squat body and small legs.

Is it possible I've seen a wild cat in that area or just a stupid domestic miles from home

DJ

[Coyote]

Fluffy tail and short legs sounds more like a pine marten.


Sure it was a cat?

[54kgx2]

I saw a pine martin around the Glen Doll/Clova area earlier this year (early October) so would hazard a guess you saw it too.

[Gythral]

Have a look here http://scottishwildcats.co.uk/wildcat.html

Wildcats are a bit bigger than your average tabby!

The only time I've been lucky enough to see one was in Newtonmore, while waiting for a bus...

[DarrenJeffrey]

Have a look here http://scottishwildcats.co.uk/wildcat.html

Wildcats are a bit bigger than your average tabby!

The only time I've been lucky enough to see one was in Newtonmore, while waiting for a bus...

The picture on the front page of that website is very similar to the creature I saw

Feel quite lucky actually as I had been up in Glen doll earlier in the day and as I was heading back to the ranger station the darkness was coming in quick. the ranger was pacing about waiting on two lady's and a gent coming down (last of the day). They had left a card saying they'd be back at 4 and it was creeping on half 4. Think he was trying to weigh up what decision to be made with regards to rescue.

Only reason I headed back up later was to see if their car was still there to satisfy my own curiosity and seen the cat

[DarrenJeffrey]

Fluffy tail and short legs sounds more like a pine marten.


Sure it was a cat?

It's coat was definitely more fuller than that

[walk aboot]

Brilliant, lucky you

I think the Scottish Widlcats Association has a map of sightings on their web site, and you can report your sighting too

[DarrenJeffrey]

Brilliant, lucky you

I think the Scottish Widlcats Association has a map of sightings on their web site, and you can report your sighting too

Done

[morag1]

I have some videos of wild cats which I took at Aviemore at the Highland Wildlife Park. I'll need to have look for them but when I find them I'll post them here

[morag1]

Sorry it's taken me so long to reply, I cant find the videos but here are a couple of photos of the wildcat, is this what you saw at Glen Doll?

[DJAM]

Hi

A friend of mine did a Phd in Wild Cats and was based in Glen Prosen for a while. So good chance that you did see one in Glen Doll.