Reported 'black panther' was a regular cat

upi ^ | Dec. 2, 2011

[JoeProBono]

COVINGTON, La.- A Louisiana wildlife official said a "black panther" reported near an office building outside of Covington was actually a domesticated cat.

Maria Davidson, who manages the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries large carnivore program, said the feline, which was photographed Wednesday and reported to the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office as a panther, was nothing more than an ordinary house cat, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported Friday.

"A case of mistaken identity is not uncommon," Davidson said. "Size [of cats)] can be somewhat difficult to determine ... at a distance or with a picture."

Experts said the only animals known as black panthers are the black jaguars found of South America and black leopards of Asia and Africa.

However, Vicky Gehbauer, the facility manager at the office building where the animal was spotted, said she is not convinced.

"I don't care what the experts say. I can't be convinced otherwise. I know what I saw ... That was not a cat. It didn't belong there," she said.

[Georgia Girl 2]

About 2 months ago we had 2 juvenile Black Panthers walking down the middle of our street at 1:00 AM. I heard a noise that sounded like a child crying out or something so I went out on the back deck to listen. Our dog was barking at something in the front so my fiancee’ looked out the window there were 2 panthers just strolling down the street. I did not get to see them but there have been other sightings in the Metro Atlanta area. They are around.

[PLMerite]

The cat is scarier. And I mean the housecat, not just the jaguar.

[Slings and Arrows]

[Slings and Arrows]

Judging by the way they’re handling those revolvers, I’m holding out hope for an amusing firearms safety fail.

[TheOldLady]

Little Shadow has a panther face. She looks like a miniature black leopard. The illusion is ruined by her inadequate little tail, which is thin and not very long, but her face is perfect.  

[Slings and Arrows]

All cats are panthers. Just ask them.

[Slings and Arrows]

[LucyT]

[Daffynition]

[Daffynition]

'ning Lucy!

[JoeProBono]

[JoeProBono]

[Daffynition]

[SLB]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfr3AkSQsA0

Be afraid, be very afraid.

[JoeProBono]

[TheOldLady]

All cats are liars, too. Hubby comes home after work, and they all gather 'round and tell him how I never pet or play with them, never feed them (in spite of the fact that they're practically too fat to walk), and frequently spend afternoons kicking them around the floor to clean up the cat hair.

You wouldn't believe the [if you'll forgive me] caterwauling that goes on until he finally puts a token teaspoon into each of their already-overflowing food bowls.

I love them anyway, of course.

[TheOldLady]

Don’t call her a dope.

[Fire_on_High]

“Ohai!”

[TheOldLady]

Very nice version.

[Daffynition]