quote:

Originally posted by Bassamatic:
If that is indeed a feral cat, then that would be the largest cat in history.

As a lad in Africa we had African wildcats that were semi-feral and dumber than a bag of hammers.

The smallest, Couscous, was a female and weighed about 25 pounds; her brothers Gillian and Edipus weighed closer to 35 pounds.

And they were middle of the road for size.

That looks like a big ass cat to me.

Feral freaking lazy feline, imho

quote:

Originally posted by Bassamatic:
If that is indeed a feral cat, then that would be the largest cat in history. Compare his size to the tire ruts and clumps of grass surrounding him.

It's unusual but bobcats can indeed have longer than normal tails. Take a look at what these guys have to say: HERE

This is what I was thinking this thing is approaching 2 feet tall.
This is one of the poorest areas of rural Kentucky in the middle of the Daniel Boone National Forest.
I don’t think a Main Coon with that much muscle is running around down there but could very well be.

I don't know if it's a bobcat, but I don't think it's a Maine Coon.

Main Coon are usually quite fluffy, have a distinct mane similar to that of a lion, and have upright, tufted ears (see 1s1k's photo). And I'm not sure, from that angle, but the head shape looks wrong for a Maine Coon?

BOBCAT!

The neck on that thing makes me thing bobcat. Even fat cats have a neck smaller than the head and shoulders. That guy looks built like a tank

quote:

Originally posted by Tooky13:
BOBCAT!

That looks more like a lynx to me, but I am no expert.

When I met my wife she had a "cat" that according to her vet was a cross between a bobcat and a domestic cat. So that may be a possibility...

It was huge with a short tail and upper canine teeth that extended below its lower jaw. That cat was a killer too.

Thats my guess, too. Bob/Cat hybrid.

quote:

Originally posted by chbibc:
That looks more like a lynx to me, but I am no expert.

I think you may be right, the black tufts on the tip of the ears is unique to Lynx.

The OP's cat does not look like any bobcats that we have here in So. Az. I have had female bobcats raise 4 different litters in my backyard over the years. The male gets quite large on some of them.

The OP's photo looks like a large feral cat. Bobcats, which are members of the lynx family, usually stand about 18 to 20" or a little more at the shoulder; the tail in the photo is at least 2/3rds of the cat's height (and maybe more) so that would make the tail at least 12", which is significantly longer than a typical bobcat.

Tooky13's photo is a Canadian Lynx (based on the thick fur, prominent upstanding ear tufts, and the muttonchops below its chin). According to Google, the photo was originally identified as a Canadian Lynx and was attributed to wildlife photographer Kevin Pepper. While I'm not an expert on the lynx family, I had to do a lot of research on it for a story some years ago and recognized the features.

My estimate is just a big cat, based on the long tail.

I don't think bobcats have long tails, so that seems wrong. Guessing large feral cat.

I have a decent size purebred Maine Coon male, Simba's a bit over 22 lb and way larger than the OP's picture. He's easily twice the size of the stuffed bobcats I've seen - he can stand on the kitchen floor and put his front paws on the counter and watch what I'm getting ready to feed him.

That said he's a fuzzball as most Maine Coons are, very long hair and very long tail. So I don't think it's a purebred Maine Coon although it could easily be a Maine Coon x some other variety.

It’s been confirmed to be a Juvenile Mountain Lion! Guess the juveniles hang on to their spots/pattern for a bit.
My cousin lives on the other side of the property and has seen it multiple times now.
Most recent was a couple evenings ago about dusk. He heard some high pitched shrieking outside and the young lion was dragging a fawn across his property with mama doe kicking the lion.

I think it’s pretty cool. This is the property my grandfather grew up on and talks about numerous lion encounters in the late 30s and early 40s. One to include going into a cave while coon hunting because a thunder storm popped up. Gramps wasn’t the first in the cave. His dog took a pretty good licking but kept the lion away and finally chased it off.

Bears are a plenty and glad to see that the lions have come back. Elk are all over Eastern Ky so we should hope to see them here soon.

In another thread we were discussing wild hogs and someone mentioned they were likely in the area and I disagreed as I had not heard about any in the area.
Well, I was wrong I got one on camera the other evening.
Not happy about that at all!

Did not get a chance to pull the card from my camera in the woods today but will on Sunday.
Hoping it gets some better shots of the lion.
He’s been on my camera in the open at least once a week since the initial shot.

Need to get another camera and put it down on the pond.

Looking forward to seeing these pics !

quote:

Originally posted by stickman428:
My wife’s boss has a Maine coon. Her cat is freaking huge!!!

I had a Maine Coon for 16 years. Visitors always thought he was a dog at first glance... a gentle giant!

quote:

Originally posted by Tooky13:
BOBCAT!
<<snip>>

The formal name is "Robert Feline"!

A youngish cougar, you say…