For generations, there have been tales of big black cats stalking the Scottish glens, animals as big as dogs that would snatch sheep or attack cattle.
In Scottish folklore, stories are told of the Cat Sìth, a mysterious black cat with a distinctive white spot on its chest that could walk on its hind legs and even talk.
In the 1980s, a curious connection appeared. A black cat was trapped near the Moray village of Kellas, and while not ‘dog-size’, it was considerably larger than a domestic cat. Studies showed it to be a hybrid of a feral cat and Scottish wildcat.
Further specimens were collected and all shared similar characteristics, including a distinct white patch on the chest, reminiscent of the Cat Sìth, though none were considered of a size capable of threatening large livestock.
In recent years, reports made to Paul MacDonald of the Scottish Big Cat Research Team, suggest these feral cats (Felis sp) are getting bigger and more widespread. A couple of cats “big enough to trouble a sheep” have been the victims of road traffic collisions, while the skeletal remains of a specimen found near Bannockburn suggested a body length of 120cm and a skull the size of an Easter egg.
Unfortunately, the presence of any feral cats will further hinder the survival of the native Scottish wildcat, through competition and interbreeding. Attempts to save the wildcat are at a critical point, with the species’ survival deemed no longer viable without human intervention.
