Columbia, SC Big cat on the loose?

(Columbia) – A Columbia woman says she saw a very large cat while walking her dog Wednesday morning. Animal control says it could be something normally found in the wild.

Louise Calamara says she and her dog, TJ, were out for a walk around 7:40 in the morning, when TJ began to growl.

"I turned around to see what he was growling at, and I see a great big cat over there coming toward me and the dog."

Louise says the cat was the size of lab, and estimates it could have weighed as much as 75 pounds.

"The cat started hissing and spitting at me and I see its big white teeth and it was time to run."

She ran inside and called 911. Animal Control came out, but didn’t find anything. An officer told her it could have been one of several animals, but her description most closely matched that of a margay or an ocelot. The two are small "tiger-cats" usually found in the wild, but the animal could have been someone’s exotic pet.

"I hope it’s either caught, disappears, or goes back to where it came from."

If you see anything strange in the Harbison area of Northwest Columbia, call Animal Control, at 929-6000.

For the cats,

Carole Baskin, CEO of Big Cat Rescue

an Educational Sanctuary home

to more than 100 big cats

12802 Easy Street Tampa, FL  33625

813.493.4564 fax 885.4457

http://www.BigCatRescue.org MakeADifference@BigCatRescue.org

Sign our petition here:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/344896451?ltl=1140270431