Night visitors

[journey11]

Maybe you can show it to the DNR and see what they think it might be?

 

[Nyboy]

http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/2186520/mountain-lions-in-ny?n=154 50 say yes 50 say no

 

[Carol Dee]

@jackb I think @journey11 may be onto something. It sure looks like a VERY big house cat to me!

 

[so lucky]

My son had a house cat that weighed 35 pounds. That's about what my fat dog weighs.
The cat in the pics looks pretty plump to be a wild animal. I would think something wild would be leaner.

 

[bobm]

Last night my game camera took an image of a very large cat type critter in the yard. For reference, the rock in the photo is very large and difficult to lift, also for reference I included a feral domestic cat that hangs around all night.
View attachment 10572 View attachment 10573 View attachment 10574

Judging by those manufactured cement blocks, I would say that it is a large ( maybe @20 +/- lb. male house cat out and about looking for a mouse or two or love for the night.

 

[HomesteaderWife]

I have two guesses on this from personal experience with cats. I could be very wrong but I just wanted to pitch these as a possibility. The first being it is a very large, unaltered (not fixed) male cat. They can get very big and always have large jowls.
http://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2013/12/05/mooneys-groves-feral-cats-danger-eliminated/
Scroll down that page a little and you can see a really big, solid black male cat like the one in your photo.

Also, it could be the offspring of two cats where one was a very large breed already. The Maine Coon breed is HUGE, and they can get up to 18 pounds when healthy and lean. If a Maine Coon and some other short-haired cat mixed, this could be the result.
http://www.maine-coon-cat-nation.com/big-maine-coon-cat.html
Look at this link to see just how big these cats get! Now add on if this is someone's pet and it's fed a little TOO well...you might have a really big cat roaming around!

Hope this helps a little!

 

[Beekissed]

I've had cats that big...and that bulk could be partially attributed to a thick winter pelt also. I saw a 30 lb house cat at the vet's the other day. I'd say a big ol' tom cat on the prowl.

 

[Nyboy]

For people with deep pockets there are several exotic wild cats kept as pets. A client once had a ocelot. They don't make good pets, people dump in the country, no longer their problem.

 

[Nyboy]

Years ago I ended up on a exotic animal forum, I couldn't believe some of the animals listed for sale. What blew me away was I got almost double the price for a cavalier puppy then a Mt. Lion kitten. I believe a tiger Kitten was same price as my puppies.

 

[thistlebloom]

I vote big fat house cat. Cats in the 30lb range are not unusual.