Big cat sighting: Is this a panther that was spotted in Forres?
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A WOMAN has claimed to have spotted a big cat on a recent visit to Forres.
Siblings Lottie (26) and Ed Hodson (25), from Wiltshire in England, were driving to the Crown and Anchor in Findhorn with friend Bella Firth (25) when Ed spotted the animal.
Ed originally saw it at around 8.30pm on Sunday, May 7, while the trio were driving on the A96, near the entrance to Transition Town Forres. When they returned minutes later it was about 100 yards down the road, Lottie said.
The two girls originally thought Ed was joking – but decided to see what he was talking about.
"When drove up to the roundabout and turned back," Lottie said. "We didn't believe him, but then all three of us saw it.
"It was a huge black cat, a big cat, much bigger than a labrador, with a really long tail.
"Sometimes when a wild cat is bred with a domestic cat they are bigger. But this was so big that I really think it was a panther."
Lottie sent in a photo of the spotting, which she admitted was grainy due to taking the photo at distance on an iPhone.
"But there was no denying what we saw," she added.
What do you think? Is this a panther? Have you ever spotted something similar in the Forres or Moray area?
