“it looks to be a mountain lion type cat. Dunno how similar that is to panthers and cougars”
Three names. Same animal - except for where it lives.
Aren’t Panthers usually black, and the others brown/ beige?
Could be a puma. ;>)
Let me guess: mountain lions live on mountains, panthers live in jungles, and cougars hang out in bars?
Where I live, it’s a Catamount.
Looks melanistic, as well.
I would like to interject Pumas into
the conversation....
Mountain lion, cougar or puma are brown to yellow and generally a southwestern cat.
Panthers are black and generally southeastern cats.
Jaguars in the southwest can be so dark that you cannot see their spots, thus they look like panthers.
I have seen all in the wild (continental US). The panthers I have seen are huge compared to the mountain lions. However, male cats are larger than female.
I was too shocked to note the genders.