by Jennifer
(Amherst, Ny)
While hiking in a swampland nature preserve 2 years ago with a friend, we happened upon a cat-like animal (appearing approx. 45lbs.) that was slowly moving through some tall grass.
We were approximately 30 ft. away, and could only see the body, shoulders, and tail, as it moved through the grass.
It’s head/face was hidden (to the ground) as it moved. I started to move closer out of curiosity, while my friend yelled for me to move back. Curiously enough, it was a solid dark brown color, not variegated as one might expect of the rare, wild felines occasionally spotted in this area.
The tail was long, thin and short-haired. It hung straight down. I could tell by the movement of the shoulders and by the tail that it was definitely feline in nature. Although unsure of it’s identity, I am certain that it was not a coyote, which is common in this area.
I have talked to numerous individuals familiar with wildlife in Amherst NY (Erie Co.), but have not to find someone who could give any info. that would appear to fit the description of this particular animal. Any thoughts or info. would be appreciated! Thanks.
Jennifer
Western New York Sighting of Unidentified Feline Animal to Wild Cat Species
Saw long, thin, fairly large animal in my sister’s yard, threatening a cat in a tree, out on a limb. I went out to see why the cat was screaming, when my sister started yelling for me to get in the house, and to look at this animal- what is it? It definitely walked like feline. We could only see the outline, but it was definitely a large cat, bigger than a bobcat.
I forgot to say, this was in East Aurora.
Thanks for sharing Patricia.
I saw 2 large animals. They were about the size of a German Shepard. Not dogs. These moved like cats. They were black in color. I live in Lewiston NY. There is a large lawn in the back yard and beyond that there are woods. These animals were moving through the woods parallel to the lawn. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. They had to be about 50 to 60 lbs each. Definitely looked like large cats.
They sound like melanistic (black) subadult cougars. There are other reports of melanistic cougars. They exist. Thanks for sharing Bonnie.
We are getting way to many sights of different types of wild cats in the Eden,New York Area. The DEC will not respond to the fears of the people. I have a horse and am worried about letting him out in the pasture. Some of these cats are being sighted in the Town of Eden.
Thanks for commenting.
a knowledgeable friend was out dear hunting in my back woods. that was 10 or 11 2019.he told me he saw a FISHER CAT there. this guy knows his stuff and reading avove felt i should relay this. thanks
I recently saw only fleetingly a large dark colored cat like animal twice and not at the same place , the last time being at the Genesee county park a couple of weeks ago. I would guess it’s height to be around two feet .
Thanks for the sighting Richard. Not sure what the cat is. There are only four possibilities: large domestic cat, bobcat, subadult puma or jaguarundi.
Just had an animal light brownish long body long tail long legs not quite the size of a great dain it was a cat short face ran across the road on Cold Brook rd Homer NY
Sounds like a juvenile puma at that size. Thanks for sharing.
Probably a fisher, we’ve seen several in the area in the last decade and our encounters have become more frequent the last few years (most of our sightings have been in the area of the upper east branch of the Tioughnioga River) The first time we spotted one was at Little Baltimore, it actually appeared to be relaxing stretched out on East Homer – Little Baltimore Rd., while it’s nose was at the center of the road the tip of it’s tail was at the wheel track near the edge of the road!
Thanks Evan.
Have been searching for an answer to what my husband and I saw cross the state highway in Cairo, Greene county, NY. It was about 3 in the afternoon, summer 2 years ago. The animal was about 3 feet tall, and about 3 feet long from nose to end of tail. The head was feline, pointed ears, no tufts, pointed nose, high cheek bones, long neck. I can not remember if the tail was sleek or had any bushiness to it, but it was not stubby. The animal moved smoothly as it ran across the road and into the brush. We have seen fox, coyotes,cougars, bobcats, have NEVER seen anything like this. It was light brown in color.
My guess: jaguarundi. Perhaps an escaped ‘pet’. They are not meant to live in this part of America or anywhere in America (officially).
https://pictures-of-cats.org/Jaguarundi.html
Could it have been an animal called a fisher? My brother spotted a strange animal on his trail camera a few years ago. It was eventually identified as a fisher. It looks similar to a wolverine
Good point Amy. Some people do mistake the Fisher Cat as a feline when this species of animal is not a cat.
North of cooperstown, ny. Just an hour ago saw very very clearly a feline animal like ive never seen before. Short hair, brownish, long skinny tail. What also caught my attention.was how it ran across the road. There was no up and down motion to its running. It moved fast and smooth. Smooth is the only word that comes to mind. Did not run like any animal that ive seen.
Good sighting, Jerry. There are only three possibilities if the cat is one of the wild cat species: bobcat, puma or jaguarundi (released from a captive environment?). It might have been a wild cat hybrid bred by someone.
Today I took my boys to the bus stop and I thought I was nuts been trying to find this animal we saw on the internet all morning, then i came across this web page and it made me realize I’m not nuts lol. What we saw was the size of a medium sized dog, very skinny, long skinny tail, light brown color, head down never looked up while running across the road so didn’t see face to well, but it didn’t run like a dog it was more graceful, can’t explain. I’ve seen many wild animals and this was nothing like i’ve ever seen before. I’m in Wappingers Falls, NY area
Thanks Jen. Your sighting is not that unusual and there some wild cats out there which should not be there. Sometimes I think people who keep wild cats as pets end up with the cat escaping. Your sighting does not fit in with any adult wild cat species but an underfed young mountain lion would fit the description.
My husband and I saw the most crazy looking wild animal this morning in Hanover, Pa. First glance was very tall, skinny cat. Very little, short hair. Super long tail (not bushy at all, almost bald looking). It looked like a cross between baby deer, dog, and a cat!! It ran into my neighbors back yard.. about an hour later it was back. My 15 yr old son said it was a chupacabra. I googled this and those are more dog like..similar looking but this thing was more agile like a cat. But tall like a baby deer. Crazy pointed face too. Please tell me we aren’t nuts.. what is this thing??
🙂 – your comment made me smile. It sounds like you saw a purebred cat (if it is a cat!). If the cat had a tabby coat it might be a Savannah cat – say an F3 (third filial). They are long limbed and what I call “rangy” meaning slender with long limbs. But they do look like cats and you are describing an animal that does not completely look like a cat! The Abyssinian is a possibility and the Ashera. The Cornish Rex is rangy too but the coat is permed!
The best thing is to look at the pictures of cat breeds page and see if it matches a cat. If not the animal may just be a large slender random bred cat. Some cats are exceptional in their body conformation.
Failing that you did not see a cat 🙂 – try and get a photo!
My daughter and I were driving on Amsdell road towards rte 20 when a cat-like animal crossed quickly in front of us. It was not a house cat. Too tall, too agile, and too wild looking. Pointed ears grayish-brown in color I’m thinking a Bobcat.and pretty sure it was
Thanks Dan for sharing. Good sighting. It is almost certainly a bobcat.
I saw same animal In back of walmart parking lot tonight
Thank you Lenore.
Ticonderoga sighting sounds like a bobcat. I’m from that area.
However, saw something interesting in Pittsford NY today. I have 2 pictures. Not great ones, but the second shows the tail pretty well, one of its more interesting features. VERY bushy. It was at least 20 lbs and had a disproportionately large head, with extra tufts on its neck. It came into our yard around noon, I believe in response to hearing my own cat meowing to get out (screen door). Thought it could be rabid but now I’m pretty sure it was just hungry. It went away when we came out.
I’m thinking a wild-domestic hybrid. I would’ve said Bobcat bc of the size and head, but not with that tail. I’ll try to get somewhere to upload the pics.