OutdoorMissouri.com

Last weekend, after shoveling the driveway, I was out in front of the house talking to my neighbor - an older retired guy. He asked me if I had seen the big black cat-looking aninal in the field out behind our houses. I had not, and just dismissed it as a big house cat or something. He described it as looking like a regular cat, only jet black, and much larger. He also said it was walking with a limp.

Tuesday at dinner, my wife and 9 year old described seeing the same thing. I dug for more details. They pretty much described it the same way my neighbor had - a big black cat walking with a limp. I asked if it was as big as our lab - they said it was about the same size - she is about 75 - 80 pounds.

Well, this morning I was letting the dog out, and I saw it. It was at least 100 yards away, and I only saw it for about 15 seconds before it walked into some brush up on top of the hill. So I didn't get a real good look at it, and it was walking away. But it was jet black from head to toe, with a long tail. I doubt it was as big as my lab - maybe just because it appeared to be much leaner. It was probably similar in height.

So what do you think this thing is? It ain't a freakin house cat - I'll tell you that. I thought about a mountain lion - but black like that? I am wondering if maybe it is some other species of exotic cat that someone raised and either escaped or they let it go.

If that is the case - would this animal be considered feral? can I shoot it? sure would be cool to have it mounted - or to get the hide tanned.

Call Smitty over the next time you see it. He can wound it, for sure.

Toss a road-killed deer out where you can see it from the house. Keep a rifle handy, and post up some pics when you kill it.

Put up a couple game cameras. I ain't buying any of this bullchit.

Jim, I would suggest contacting the local MDC office and telling them what you have seen and then asking them if you can shoot it... just a CYA thing.

Prolly a big bobcat with lots of dark coloration??!

WTF? The dark-colored bobcats are moving out into the suburbs where the light-colored bobcats live? There goes the property values.

Definitely not a bobcat. Tail was too long.

I don't have a trail cam, but I have a web cam, and a whole bunch of spare computers down in my basement. I think this may be my weekend project - a live web feed of the field behind the house. Maybe I could bait the area to try and encourage him in a bit closer. I've got a shed out by the back fence - I could set it up out there. This could be interesting...

JimDog said:
Definitely not a bobcat. Tail was too long.

I don't have a trail cam, but I have a web cam, and a whole bunch of spare computers down in my basement. I think this may be my weekend project - a live web feed of the field behind the house. Maybe I could bait the area to try and encourage him in a bit closer. I've got a shed out by the back fence - I could set it up out there. This could be interesting...

Or it could be as boring as one of Big John`s posts.

Yeah... I missed the part about the long tail.

I know the general area of which you live. I may try to check this one out myself.

PoisonSnake said:
I know the general area of which you live. I may try to check this one out myself.

You'll end up getting yourself hurt, or eaten.

You asked for it!

I don't buy it. I've heard a lot of stories about big black leopard type cats in the wild in the US, but I have never heard of one of them being a confirmed sighting, or any other supporting evidence.

heck two of the guys I've been hunting with for 9yrs said they saw one in his headlights one night, and I don't believe those guys either, and one of them I would call a good outdoorsman. I might believe a mt lion, as they are sighted from time to time. But of all the times big black cats have been sighted, you'd think one of the times there would be somesort of supporting evidence cofirmed by the authorities.

Was it dusk? Was there any way the lighting was making the thing just look black? Because there has never been a black cat native to the US. I suppose a released exotic would be the only way it could be possible. There was a case I belive in IN where two african lions had escaped from an enclosure, and that type of situation is the only way I could belive it.

Also, mt lions are no longer protected in MO, so if you do see a 30+lb black or any colored cat, shoot the dam thing, post a pic, and proove me wrong. I would honestly love to see it be true for once.

What you guys fail to understand is this is also in a residential area of Columbia. I do know of an albino deer very near there that I have seen more than once, but panthers? In fact, I have seen 2 albino deer within the city limits of Columbia. No fornicating way!