‘Puma-like' big cat sighting reignites mystery of legendary beast roaming UK

A recent surge in sightings of a large black feline resembling a puma has reignited discussions surrounding the existence of a mysterious big cat in the Scottish countryside. Reports of this creature, often referred to as the Kellas cat, have persisted for over four decades, suggesting a hybrid between the Scottish wildcat and domestic breeds.

One of the latest sightings comes from John Kirk, a farmer and board member of the Cairngorms National Park. Kirk recounted his experience, stating, "It was on Friday night. My wife and I had just come into town at 9.45pm and a very large black cat crossed the road." This marks the second time Kirk claims to have encountered such an animal in the area, with a previous sighting occurring at Boat of Garten.

Kirk and his wife, who own Rothiemoon Farm at Nethy Bridge, were en route to pick up their grandchildren when they witnessed the creature. "When we came up to the cemetery and old fuel station a big cat crossed the road in front of us. Both Anne and I saw it," he shared. Following the sighting, Kirk took to social media, where he was surprised to find numerous others had reported similar encounters around the outskirts of the town.

This recent sighting has stirred memories of a notable incident from approximately 30 years ago, when several locals claimed to have seen a large black feline in a field at Kinveachy during daylight hours. Kirk recalled, "It was bigger than a domestic cat and my late friend Bill Lawson was with me and he also saw it. Many people did."

The Inverness Museum and Art Gallery has long been a repository for unusual feline specimens, including those attributed to the Kellas cat. Notably, a puma named Felicity was captured in the Highlands in 1980 and is currently on display at the museum. Additionally, several Kellas cat specimens were documented in the 1980s and early 90s across Inverness-shire, Moray, and Ross-shire.

Despite the intriguing nature of these reports, Paranormal Country has not confirmed the existence of the Kellas cat or any related sightings. The ongoing fascination with these legendary creatures continues to draw interest from both locals and cryptozoology enthusiasts alike.