Black Cats in Kentucky.

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by Nancy Thompson
(Paintsville,Ky. U.S.A.)

I live in Eastern Kentucky (Lawrence County) and all my life I have heard members of my family talk about sightings of the Black Panther.

My grandmother talked of seeing them while walking home after dark. My grandfather has seen them while out working the farm or while in the woods hunting. My father spoke often of seeing them in the woods after dark when he went fox or coon hunting.

About 10 years ago a neighbor and his wife stopped by my home, asking to see my daughter’s black house cat. After seeing him they promptly told me what they saw the night before in the road above my house was much larger than him.

About the same time, both of my children (ages 10 and 15 yrs. old) heard our dog barking outside in the yard. After seeing the dog still tied they both told me they saw a huge black cat sitting near the creek in front of the house.

My mother had repeatedly seen them while driving home from church. I have never heard of anyone seeing a Puma, Mt. Lion etc. We do have Bobcats, but there is no way to mistake a Black Panther for a Bobcat. Wrong color scheme there.

I actually saw a Bobcat early this spring in broad daylight walking the fence line, across the creek. My mother called the local game warden at that time and told him about all the new sightings and he quickly brushed it all aside. He told her there are no “Black Cats” in Kentucky….haven’t been any since Daniel Boone.

She was irritated that he didn’t take her seriously and quickly informed him that her name was now “Daniel Boone” and he needs to get out of the office and into the woods a little more often. We had the same problem when people first started seeing Black Bear and Coyotes in the area, but those were quickly accepted are being here.

Nancy

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Black Cats in Kentucky.

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Aug 07, 2011 black cats in kentucky
by: Nancy

I don’t know the official name of the black cats here,but I do know they are big and black. We have bears here too and as far as I know there quite a few. I have seen the tracks myself and was quite happy I was with my brother when we saw them.It had stepped in some sand at the edge of the creek bank. Every hair on my neck stood up and I thought my brother was going to bolt and leave me standing in my tracks. We also have coyotes (unfortunately),following the deer and elk I presume. They don’t make themselves as scarce as the cats or bear,they actually seem a little too bold if you ask me.It scares me to think my grandchildren may be in danger in their own yards. I seriously doubt the cats will attack one at least I hope not.However,since they came into my yard years ago and the dog less than 20 feet from it I’m not so sure. I had horses then and the mare had just given birth to a foal so I am assuming that was what attracted it then. My daughter has two dogs outside so hopefully they will deter any wildlife,be it cat,bear or coyote. Obviously,the deer aren’t deterred since they are in the yard every day. Maybe she needs better dogs.

Jul 19, 2011 Black Panther
by: Elisa

I visited a distant relative in Oconee County, SC. He had build an entire western town that was even featured in a few movies. In one room he had a stuffed black panther he had killed in the mountains of upstate sc/lower nc.

Jul 18, 2011 I believe you
by: Ruth (Monty’s Mom)

Nancy, I believe you. We had a bear in Milwaukee about 15 years ago, I think. It was a little black bear and he climbed up a tree. They used a tranquilizer gun to get him down and then he was relocated back up north. If you told someone a bear could come and climb up a tree near a fairly busy street on the north side of Milwaukee, they would say you were nuts– but it happened. It was on the news, so everyone saw it.

Just because you are one of the few to see these large black cats does not mean they aren’t there. It is foolish for animal control officers to dismiss your testimony. What if the police in Milwaukee had decided not to believe the person calling to report a bear? At least they did the right thing with the bear and didn’t hurt him. I worry sometimes that with a big cat they might think the only solution is to shoot it. Some places allow shooting of small feral cats. I don’t know what it is about cats that causes so many people to think the best solution is to shoot or kill them. Fear, I suppose. In truth I’d be more afraid of the bear.

Jul 16, 2011 Hi Nancy
by: Michael

Hi Nancy. Thanks for your interesting post. What you are saying is that there are black (melanistic) cougars in Kentucky.

You are not the only American who has seen large black cats. You may have seen some other posts and here.

Officially the cougar range no longer extends to Kentucky. The range has gradually been eroded further and further west.

But if there are cougars in Kentucky it is possible that there could be black ones as cougars can be melanistic. They are called black panthers as are black jaguars and black leopards.

[Michael]

50 thoughts on “Black Cats in Kentucky.”

  1. Thanks Sandra. Why is the photo of such poor quality when it was taken up close and the animal is apparently dead? It was an opportunity to capture a decent quality image on smart phone. This makes be sceptical about the image. It does not look like any wild cat species that I know. You say the cat is 200 pounds. It all looks very odd to me. But thanks anyway. Can you add some detail to the sighting?

  2. Similar sightings in Pulaski county ky. Very large solid black cat long tail and legs. My sister are you since says there are new big black cats and ky I’ve seen them with my own eyes several times by buck creek boat dock

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