OMG my fears were confirmed - horse attacked by 'big cat'

This area..of east kent is a real hotspot for black leopards.Some twenty years ago four sheep were killed in a night a couple of fields away from me,we did pic them,all had their throats and necks and part of the shoulder eaten away.A big cat kills with a strangle throat hold,so I guess it just ate away from that point.There was no scattering of wool tufts as in a dog attack.

In the last couple of years I have seen a big cat twice around my home,and other locals almost commonly see them .

The keepers at Howlets zoo came here once to collect a dead pig,and one of them was the black leopard keeper.They both had seen cats ..and not in the Zoo either. In fact we did think of some leopard bedding from an in season female plus a night.time "movement sensitive" camera would be fun to do one day.

They appear fearless,almost insolent..but so beautiful! I hope they are left alone to add some glamour to our wildlife,certainly they are well established. By the way,they like dog meat yum yum. So don`t send Rover off to chase it away!
 
EAST KENT said:
This area..of east kent is a real hotspot for black leopards.Some twenty years ago four sheep were killed in a night a couple of fields away from me,we did pic them,all had their throats and necks and part of the shoulder eaten away.A big cat kills with a strangle throat hold,so I guess it just ate away from that point.There was no scattering of wool tufts as in a dog attack.

In the last couple of years I have seen a big cat twice around my home,and other locals almost commonly see them .

The keepers at Howlets zoo came here once to collect a dead pig,and one of them was the black leopard keeper.They both had seen cats ..and not in the Zoo either. In fact we did think of some leopard bedding from an in season female plus a night.time "movement sensitive" camera would be fun to do one day.

They appear fearless,almost insolent..but so beautiful! I hope they are left alone to add some glamour to our wildlife,certainly they are well established. By the way,they like dog meat yum yum. So don`t send Rover off to chase it away!
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I know what you mean! This areas certainly a hot spot :eek:

I used to walk to my yard through the woods and twice i saw a black leopard, once through a wire fence (probably couldnt hold it but still felt ok to stand and watch it for a while!) it seemed to be looking for a hole in the fence then saw me and legged it!
And another time it was stalking me and my little pony (11hh) through the wire fence. It was at quite a distance but pony bolted for home, and i just turned to face it and walked backwards away (had looked up what to do after the first time! :p) and it wandered off.

So so scary to come across them, but they are so gorgeous!
 
Hope that the horse recovers, pretty scary, but having predators around becomes a fact of life. I think that the best defence is probably knowledge.

I think it was PF who once put up photos of the 'Guard Mule' they had at her yard who would go for pumas. Donkeys and mules are used here as deterrents against coyotes and wolves because they have an attack rather than flee mentality (as shown by that famous clip of the mule and the puma)
Mules and donkeys that are not 'dog friendly' are well prized in sheep country. Guardian dogs like the Akbash and the Maremma are popular for sheep and goat operations.

I leave my horses out at night but the goats come in as I have watched the coyotes watching me from 50' away on the edge of our forest. I wouldn't be at all surprised if we had cats here, to be honest though meeting a bear would worry me a great deal more.
 
Hope the horse has recovered. A horse that was at the same livey yard as my friend was attacked. It was foun sweatng profusely, and gashes all over it and people thought that maybe a big cat had attacked it Also interestingly the yard is near a canal
 
Hope your horse gets better soon, those scratches certainly don't look like another horse could have caused them!!
I live by cannock chase and theres loads of stories and a big cat being in there, I've heard of horses in the area being attacked too, apparently one horse was attacked in its stable and they found the whole stable trashed with the back wall smashed up...so maybe they've got a better chance of fighting anything off out in the field?? Rather than being trapped? Dunno how true this story was though cause theres load of them!
 
Certainly have not been done by a horse but none of the scratches look like claw marks either - they are not parallel to each other.

Do you have any trees/bushes that could have done it.
 
Did the horse have dripping blood on it? Just wondered as surely they would have ripped through the skin?

Poor horse must be terrified.
 
We saw a big cat just up the road from here .... this was a few years ago and I was with my mum on a Sunday morning going up one of the lanes. We've had both a black cat AND a black dog (Labrador), so know how both sorts move and the differences between them, sizes etc!

This was definately a CAT. It moved like a cat, had the powerful shoulders/padding movement of a big cat, and the tail of a cat. It was definitely bigger than a labrador, more like a Great Dane size, but longer and more sleek and graceful in its movement.

I saw one of the local farmers at this time and he said he'd seen it too.

We live in East Devon.

Also .... hate to scare anyone, BUT apparently there is another danger "out there" and that is exotic snakes being released into the wild coz people can't cope with them. Although last winter as it was so cold should have killed them off. The person that told me this is an experienced snake-keeper and there is concern that this is happening - so pray for another cold winter if you hate snakes!!!!
 
There's one that seems to travell between kidderminster/Evesham/Henley area it had at least two cubs though one disappeared.
 
one of our show ponies had a hind fetlock almost totally bitten through, this is going back 6 years. vet and big cat expert confirmed it as a cat bite. pony did make a total recovery, and for a few years all was quiet. then approx 3 years ago we noticed large footprints in appearing in the wash box overnight and again the big cat expert confirmed a young panther. for nearly 4 montsh it did the same circuit of the wash box every night(could see prints clearly as had obv walked though the muddy field to get to yard). horses in the yard never seemed unsettled or upset and there were no more attacks, cat man said it was just walking the boundary of its territory and not hunting.then it went quiet again.

just recently we have noticed large poo piles in the field, far too big to be even the biggest of dogs. have sent it off to be analysed but i suspect the big cat is back. fortunately mine are never out at night after what happened to the pony.

atm im not *too* worried, iv never come close to one, and have never felt threatened, sometimes when emptying the wheelbarrow late at nigh, in the pitch black i do get that *hair standing up ohmygod im being watched* feeling, but deep breath and keep walking, as far as im aware there are no reported attacks on humans so again, not hugely worried.

this is leics, east mids btw.
 
Also .... hate to scare anyone, BUT apparently there is another danger "out there" and that is exotic snakes being released into the wild coz people can't cope with them. Although last winter as it was so cold should have killed them off. The person that told me this is an experienced snake-keeper and there is concern that this is happening - so pray for another cold winter if you hate snakes!!!![/QUOTE]

Yup, someone dumped a fully grown python in a canal in Stroud, Glos a couple of months back. Imagine finding that in your garage or garden shed. Eeek!
 
cmarychapman said:
Also .... hate to scare anyone, BUT apparently there is another danger "out there" and that is exotic snakes being released into the wild coz people can't cope with them. Although last winter as it was so cold should have killed them off. The person that told me this is an experienced snake-keeper and there is concern that this is happening - so pray for another cold winter if you hate snakes!!!!
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Yup, someone dumped a fully grown python in a canal in Stroud, Glos a couple of months back. Imagine finding that in your garage or garden shed. Eeek![/QUOTE]

Snakes will survive winter, mostly they find somewhere under cover (back end of haybarns, muck heaps etc) and hibernate there. Fortunately we only have one poisonous snake here, but I have a compost heap that is home to dozens of garter snakes, they curl up in a big ball and hibernate. Snakes are harmless enough if you leave them be, if you find one that isn't a native then a quick call to the RSPCA will sort it out, they'll come running!

I'd be more cautious about finding released turtles, if a snapping turtle turns on you then you know about it! Those devils are nasty. Cold weather won't kill them either, they simply dig in and sit the winter out.
 
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enfys said:
I think it was PF who once put up photos of the 'Guard Mule' they had at her yard who would go for pumas. Donkeys and mules are used here as deterrents against coyotes and wolves because they have an attack rather than flee mentality (as shown by that famous clip of the mule and the puma)
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Yep, twas me. The mares and foals are turned out with a mule as a mule can easily see a big cat off, if not kill it! We have pumas near the yard. I saw it once as I was leaving; it bounced across the road in front of me. Luckily it never attacked any of the horses but our neighbours did lose a foal and also several sheep and goats. I recently heard from a friend in Argentina that the yard mule was bitten by a snake apparently defending a yearling that also got bitten. Sadly the yearling (not mine thank GOD!) died :(
 
Uuugh. Those pics look exactly like what a mountain lion/puma attack looks like on a horse.

I live in an area thats infested with mtn. lions. About 10 years ago, there was a plague of them in the small town up the mountainside. Children weren't allowed to walk home from the bus stop because of it. NINE were killed in town that winter. Where I live, there are large herds of feral horses/mustangs. I've seen dozens and dozens of mustangs in one area with attack marks like your horse has. Sorry, you have a cat problem.

They will attack a horse on their own, they will attack one in a paddock. They will kill people, dogs, guard donkeys. For the most part, they don't like dogs but it depends on how hungry they are. Many are old, sick or toothless and their standards of risk lower with desperation.

It's unfortunate that your govt. won't admit there's a problem... the UK seems like ideal habitat for a big cat population to thrive. Even though its illegal there, I'd have no problem shooting one I found coming after my animals. In the US thats called the 3S policy - "Shoot, Shovel and Shut Up". It's applied when you have a threat that you KNOW the govt. won't deal with.

I don't have a vendetta against big cats, but have some experience with them. I've been stalked by mtn. lions while in the field for work and seen several bobcats (like lynxs... they're cute!) My family hunts big game quite a bit, and I have a cousin that used to raise lion and bear dogs. Mtn. lion hunting is very common around here and they are in no danger of being eliminated, in fact, I think they're thriving. I shudder to think how many people and animals will have to suffer in the UK before the govt. allows them to be dealt with. :(
 
Sorry but I,for one,do not want any trigger happy twits taking shots at our big cats,nothing is more dangerous than a wounded big cat.Learn to live with them,admire them ..and consider it a privilege to actually see one. Leopards only get seen if they mean to be,and quite often will just "tree" rather than risk any trouble.

Leave them alone I say!:mad:
 
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Ouch, poor horse!

Coming out of the woods one day, I saw a huge black cat-no idea what it was. Panther, maybe?
 
EAST KENT said:
Sorry but I,for one,do not want any trigger happy twits taking shots at our big cats,nothing is more dangerous than a wounded big cat.Learn to live with them,admire them ..and consider it a privilege to actually see one. Leopards only get seen if they mean to be,and quite often will just "tree" rather than risk any trouble.

Leave them alone I say!:mad:
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I've lived with a puma in close proximity. YO takes sensible precautions (mule and dogs) and we've had no trouble from her. Pumas are usually very shy and will avoid humans. HOWEVER, if I saw her go after my horse, I'd do what I had to do to protect my horse. Wouldn't you??
 
Scary stuff, hope horse is recovering well, must have been terrified poor thing.
I live on the outskirts of Dartmoor and over the years there have been numerous reports of big cat sightings dotted around and some attacks on sheep, luckily none on horses, but I suppose given the choice any predator would go for the more vulnerable prey.
I do remember one ocassion a couple of years back when a big cat escaped from the local wildlife park. Everyone around was alerted to take care in the surrounding lanes and wooded areas where it was likely to try and hide. Remeber everyone thinking that as it was a captive animal used to humans being quite near it may not be as wary or quick to flee if disturbed by humans. Luckily it was caught quite quickly though!
 
EAST KENT said:
Sorry but I,for one,do not want any trigger happy twits taking shots at our big cats,nothing is more dangerous than a wounded big cat.Learn to live with them,admire them ..and consider it a privilege to actually see one. Leopards only get seen if they mean to be,and quite often will just "tree" rather than risk any trouble.

Leave them alone I say!:mad:
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Pretty little harmless pussy cat!And of coarse foxes don't kill chickens.Isn't it funny how the towns folk all think foxes etc are great until they start causing problems in the town after all its only chickens and a poulty keepers livelyhood...big cats kill a lot more than chickens and when its your cattle,sheep goats,but then domestic livestock don't matter!
Maybe we should wait till they start moving into the towns before we start doing anything
 
Scary stuff. I've never seen one, but my horse is stabled at the back of a safari park and sometimes in the mornings when I can hear the lions roaring or the wolves howling, I wonder what would happen if one escaped and a shiver runs down my spine. I hope the poor horse recovers quickly.
 
Crumbs hope the pony recovers soon.
I always thought the sightings were just people imagining things, but after all the posts on here about them, i totaly believe that many big cats are living and breeding well in the UK countryside
 
enfys said:
Fortunately we only have one poisonous snake here,
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Venomous snake...

In regards to Stroud, the python is the least of your worries... I saw a man with a mullet there once!

I think thought the real mystery is... 'why on earth every camera pointed at a 'big cat' looses the ability to zoom and focus'?!
 
Definately not a horse or dog, as dogs go for the belly/stifle area and throat, whereas a cat will instinctively go for the withers and hindquarters! Those scratches look so eerily like injuries inflicted by a big cat, could you not contact the police/RSPCA and see if they can do anything?
 
Dizzle said:
In regards to Stroud, the python is the least of your worries... I saw a man with a mullet there once!
QUOTE]

^^^ That really made me smile Dizzle!

On another note, really horrified to hear everyone's stories and fingers crossed that the poor pony that the OP is talking about makes a full recovery soon x
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EAST KENT said:
Sorry but I,for one,do not want any trigger happy twits taking shots at our big cats,nothing is more dangerous than a wounded big cat.Learn to live with them,admire them ..and consider it a privilege to actually see one. Leopards only get seen if they mean to be,and quite often will just "tree" rather than risk any trouble.

Leave them alone I say!:mad:
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It's all well and good till you walk out the front door and find on stalking your grandchild playing in the yard as one of my friends did. The same cat (an older, large tom in decline - which would account for the risks he took) came back later and got the family dog that was chained up outside. How much is acceptable? How much money are you willing to donate in dead livestock? While you haven't had real problems in the UK with cats attacking people, it DOES happen in the US. If they are trying to shred horses alive, why wouldn't one take a person if they had a good opportunity?

I've been stalked. I have friends that have as well over here. It give you a different perspective when you have to walk backward - facing one so it doesn't snap your neck - half a mile back to the truck.

Some documentation. They WILL eat people. (graphic pictures on link) http://www.cougarinfo.org/attacks3.htm


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6F3qXo9G40

Closed circuit of a mtn lion stealing a lamb from a pen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUPqkc8Jjk4
 
sallywhoa said:
It's all well and good till you walk out the front door and find on stalking your grandchild playing in the yard as one of my friends did. The same cat (an older, large tom in decline - which would account for the risks he took) came back later and got the family dog that was chained up outside. How much is acceptable? How much money are you willing to donate in dead livestock? While you haven't had real problems in the UK with cats attacking people, it DOES happen in the US. If they are trying to shred horses alive, why wouldn't one take a person if they had a good opportunity?

I've been stalked. I have friends that have as well over here. It give you a different perspective when you have to walk backward - facing one so it doesn't snap your neck - half a mile back to the truck.

Some documentation. They WILL eat people. (graphic pictures on link) http://www.cougarinfo.org/attacks3.htm


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6F3qXo9G40

Closed circuit of a mtn lion stealing a lamb from a pen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUPqkc8Jjk4
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Well it does`nt happen here,we,as a nation are not quite so quick to shoot anything that moves,owning rifles capable of downing a leopard EFFICIENTLY are def not licensed except in exceptional circumstances. Providing it is only the occasional sheep we mostly welcome these fabulous animals,and trigger happy twits would be sorted by our police long before any big cats.

They have been very local `round here for some forty years,and even a friend rolling home from the pub in the early hours on meeting Felix ,just stopped..so did the cat..and then both of them turned heel and kept walking.

I take the same attitude as with my resident country foxes,leave my hens alone..and I`ll leave you alone too.However ,any hens that snuff it are left out in the field for Charlie`s supper.As for Felix,it is exactly the same ,but then very few are even likely to have the privilege of seeing him,let alone taking a pot shot ..thank God!

As for the other poster calling me,of all people ,a bunny hugging townee is a huge huge joke..I am in fact a rampent field sport addict and have been on EVERY one of the Marches against the Hunting Act.And ,by the way,never have lived even with close neighbours....middle of nowhere is just fine.It does not mean you want to kill everything though,in fact hunting /shooting are forms of conservation.
 
jinglejoys said:
There's one that seems to travell between kidderminster/Evesham/Henley area it had at least two cubs though one disappeared.
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Oh god, jinglejoys you've terrified me now :eek: My boy is out at night, with a field that backs onto a bog/wood. Im about a mile away from kidderminster, and was reading this thinking thank god, they're no-where near me!

I hope the poor horse recovers, isn't it scary to think these powerful preadators are out there :eek:
 
I think that Big Cats are a bit like Ghosts, in that I have very serious doubts, and I've given it a great deal of thought. I am prepared to keep an open mind, however.

Consider the facts, the pros and cons of which I've rather jumbled up, though unintentionally;

There have been reported sightings since the late 1800s and they have even been seen on the Isle of Wight.

I know of a woman who keeps goats, here in Norfolk, and one Sunday morning, she called her husband as a black cat, of about 8' in length was sitting on the roof of her goat house, peering in. They both stood, at their back door, for a couple of minutes, watching as it was trying to find a way in to the goats. Eventually, the creature saw them and slipped away. This would have been in the early 1990s.

It has been a legal requirement to have a licence to keep a dangerous animal, since I believe, the late 1980s. Very few people have the facilities to keep a puma, without others being aware of it's existence. The idea that big cats have been turned loose, by bored owners, is silly. It did happen once, and it was done by a man who was about to spend a while at Her Majesties pleasure. The cat was released in Scotland, and subsequently shot.

There has been the odd escapee, from zoos, but these have been accounted for, mostly by shooting. There was also the case of the Beast of the Moors, down in the West Country, during, I think, the 1980s. The army were called in, but as far as I know, the question of its existence was never resolved.

The reports of BCs, appear on a regular basis. The problem which I have is that for the last 100+ years, there has been no reliable evidence. If these beasts are still living wild, in England, then presumably they are breeding. There seems to be no evidence, which I've seen to support the fact that a female big cat, with her cubs has ever been seen, and there seems to be no evidence, of the undoubtable damage which she would do in the feeding of her offspring. They can't be in "pride" proportions, so just how do the male and female find each other, when they must live hundreds of miles apart?

I've never heard of BCs being moved, or seen on either a shoot day, or by hounds. I've spent my life, within a sporting environment, and I've yet to speak with a game keeper who's seen footprints, or any evidence.

Entirely sane and normal people who I've spoken to have reported sightings, and I'm not accusing others of fabricating silly tales, but what I don't understand is why so many who live, in part and often nocturnal lives, never see them. If there are so many, then why don't we see more evidence of them feeding? Why do there appear to be so many, when after 25 years of local authority licensing requirements, the bulk of those BCs alive in the late 1980s would by now have died of old age.

I'm going to take some convincing!!

Alec.

Ets, whether these cats, if seen should be shot, or not, is a different debate. What I would say is that to do so would call for CF rifle, and an experienced shot. Wounding would be a very real risk, and should be unthinkable. a.
 
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