Topic: The cat from th Bush

[piersdad]

    A recent sighting of a large cat like creature in remote New Zealand bush reminded me of some thing similar years ago

   We were at a holiday camp in a remote farming area. Lots of bush, streams  and the occasional farm.
As young brothers with our dad at a survey camp it was heaven for little boys. Bush to explore, rivers to cross, or swim in.
Every day was an adventure.
   The farm over the ravine nearby  was the only building in miles.

   So when this huge  black cat appeared from out of the dense undergrowth we were just a bit  scared as it was huge, much bigger than any cat we had ever seen.
   It appeared friendly and just strolled up to us with the meow that seemed to be friendly.
   Soon we realized as it started to  purr and rub itself up against our knees this was  not just some ordinary moggy.
   It  had not an ounce of flab on it  yet it was too heavy to pick up.
Its muscles rippled  through its black fur and we were really glad it was friendly.
   After a few minutes it, in a friendly way, put its paws on my shoulders and  in a friendly way asked me to pat it a lot more.
   I was about 11 years old  then and can you imagine the size of a cat that  when stretched out  could place its paws on the shoulders of a young boy of 11.
   Well this cat apparently belonged to the farm next door and it was a bit of a legend in the area as it regularly caught the odd possum from the bush and any other game in the area such as rabbits and rats.

   We did not know what its name was so we all called it ‘black panther’ as that is what it looked like to us and we were so glad it was friendly.

  So when I saw  some one swearing they saw a black panther in the bush I reckon they did see some thing  that had descended from the cat I played with 57 years ago

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