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Large Cat Like Animal
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billham


Posts: 115
Joined: Nov 2007
Post: #1
02-11-2009 06:33 PM

Let me first say that I am always the first to dismiss stories of aliens, or sightings of strange animals.

However early this morning I clearly saw a large cat like animal prowling behind our flats, off Netherby Road. I was brushing my teeth about 1 am when I heard a strange cry. It was unusual enough to make me open the bathroom window. At first I thought it was my neighbours cat which was sitting on the fence opposite. However I then became aware of a much larger animal prowling almost immediately under the window which is at second floor level.

This area is lit by fairly strong floodlights so other than the fact that I was looking almost straight down at it, rather than from the side, I got quite a good lock. It was very black and about the size of a small labrador!! Oddly, I am convinved it was wearing a collar though I might be wrong about that. It disappeared briefly into the stairwell entrance to my flat, then wandered off down the garden when I lost sight of it.

I stress I had not touched a drop all weekend!! I really don't want to start 'Beast of Forest Hill' type stories but I have to wonder if this was an escaped pet. I will certainly be looking over my shoulder late at night!!

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roz


Posts: 1,796
Joined: Mar 2005
Post: #2
02-11-2009 08:38 PM

I think there's been a sighting like this before but I can't find the thread....

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Toffeejim


Posts: 84
Joined: Nov 2004
Post: #3
02-11-2009 10:39 PM
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robin orton


Posts: 716
Joined: Feb 2009
Post: #4
02-11-2009 10:43 PM

Perhaps a relative of the Beast of Sydenham - see http://forum.sydenham.org.uk/viewtopic.p...dbec46f1db

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michael


Posts: 3,255
Joined: Mar 2005
Post: #5
02-11-2009 10:59 PM

We had a similar problem where I live on Saturday night when our doorstep was surrounded by zombies, skeletons, witches, and giant pumpkins.

Rather unusually I found that feeding them stopped them coming back again.
This seems to happen at this time of year, every year.

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billham


Posts: 115
Joined: Nov 2007
Post: #6
02-11-2009 11:20 PM

I notice it doesn't say that they caught that one in 2005! The picture looks familiar......

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roz


Posts: 1,796
Joined: Mar 2005
Post: #7
03-11-2009 02:08 PM

Given the coverage I don't think this is a joke. Its worth reporting again or have someone look into it, like the guy on the Sydenham website. Thankfully no one seems to have been killed or seriously injured by these animals but I do wonder now whether they are the prime reason for so many helicopters of late searching the FH-Sydenham railway line in the middle of the night.

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roz


Posts: 1,796
Joined: Mar 2005
Post: #8
03-11-2009 02:20 PM

Just thinking a bit more, some of our neighbours cats have been attacked recently and left with strange bites and abcesses. Ours was similarly bitten badly just over 2 years ago and we took her to the vet for treatment; we thought given the size of the bite it must have been a fox but the vet said not. It was definitely not the jaw size of a standard cat nor did it look like a fox bite. He couldn't identify it as a dog bite either so the potential cause was left open ended and we thought nothing of it but now it may be possible it was one of these animals. Our cat wouldn't venture far at night and we know the dogs locally are usually locked up and probably would be too scared to go for a cat anyway so that sort of ruled them out. Foxes dont tend to bother with cats unless they are weak or they go near their cubs but it was out of cub season. Anyone else have similar experiences with their pets?

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hoppy


Posts: 43
Joined: Dec 2005
Post: #9
03-11-2009 07:09 PM

Roz. I'm pretty sure the helicopters are not for animals. They are put up there just to wake me up. After all, I do pay my taxes.

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Elizabeth25


Posts: 212
Joined: Mar 2005
Post: #10
04-11-2009 01:05 PM

Last year, my cat (now sadly passed away, from kidney failure) came home with a large gash on his head. It healed after a week. I assumed he had got into a fight with a fox. Confused

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roz


Posts: 1,796
Joined: Mar 2005
Post: #11
05-11-2009 05:51 PM

I was being a little tongue in cheek about the helicopters!

I also saw a man walking a large black dog today in Forest Hill- I took a second look at the dog as its face did look strangely like the ' cat' picture earlier on in the thread, a sort of squashed up boxer dog face. I wish I'd taken a photo. If I see this guy/dog again, I will ask if I can. He didn't seem as if he would be difficult to approach. ( The man, not the dog). Perhaps a lead? ( ho ho).

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Johnc


Posts: 138
Joined: Jan 2007
Post: #12
06-11-2009 01:47 PM

I think you need to paws for thought here Roz

Have you considered that you may be barking up the wrong tree?

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vipes


Posts: 145
Joined: Oct 2006
Post: #13
16-12-2009 03:07 PM
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Londondrz


Posts: 1,538
Joined: Apr 2006
Post: #14
17-12-2009 10:06 AM

I think if it was a panther, and it was running after him he wouldnt be being quoted in a newspaper, he would be being slowly digested.

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roz


Posts: 1,796
Joined: Mar 2005
Post: #15
17-12-2009 01:01 PM

Indeed. Not much cop as a panther, is it?

And what a silly name (King) for a puppy but I suppose it makes a change from Tyson.

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