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Claws out over Big Cat Claims
By Averyll Loft
A cat casually walking around with its claws out? I don’t think so, says Maryborough veterinarian Holly Brims.
Dr Brims says she has doubts about a giant paw print plaster cast with distinctive claw marks supposedly from a large, panther-like cat stalking Glenwood.
“Unless they’re in hunting mode, cats don’t move around with their claws out,” she said. Dog claws, however, were non-retractable.
The plaster cast was made by Glenwood resident Colin Rossow who found the prints in mud on his property last week. He measured one print to be 14.5cm long and 13cm wide.
He believes it was some form of giant, panther-size cat that stalks through the community, south of Maryborough, and hunts wildlife.
Dr Brims said she had seen some “pretty big breeds” of cats to grow around 10kg heavy but never a cat big enough to fit the monster paw prints.
“I wouldn’t say it’s impossible but it’s more possible that the prints were made by a dog,” she said.
Lillian McKay, a science graduate and member of the Australian Sceptics Association was also wary of the giant cat theory yesterday, saying there needed to be more authentic proof.
“There needs to clear photographs or dropping specimens,” she said.
“A plaster cast is no way near enough proof for me. People worldwide want to believe in these extraordinary things but we require evidence – hard factual evidence.”
As for Glenwood resident David Nelms, who claims to have recently found paw prints across his veranda, he says people can be as sceptical as they like about the cats – he has all the proof he needs.
“There is no doubt in my mind. I took pictures of the prints and took them to a vet in Gympie. He said there was no way there was a dog that size.”
Fraser Coast Chronicle: 16th January 2009