What kind of large "cat" did I see in my urban backyard?

Question

Tonite I saw a large "cat" in my Anahiem California backyard. It was bigger then a typical domesticated cat or even a large tom cat. I live in a very urban area of town right next to a main freeway. "Wildness" is about 15-20 miles away. It had been drinking from my pool and left paw prints that were 4 to 6 inches wide. As I was studying the prints I saw it run against the back wall. It was about 2-2 1/2ft tall, long powerful tail that was the same width from end to end, it had some markings on the tail but I didn't see it's face. Any ideas of what it was?

The tail was longer then the bobcat pic. It was nearly as long, if not longer then its the body.

Answer 1

Does sound like a mountain lion with the long tail. Bobcats would be fairly common in urban areas, have seen them drinking out of pools before...but would be unusual for a mountain lion to be in such an urban area. Also, the mountain lion would not have marks on it's tail. A bobcats prints would be quite small...the last one I measured were 6.5 cm wide and 6.5 cm in length. 4 to 6 inches sounds about right for a mountain lion however!! It is the season that young mountain lions would be dispersing, so it could be that this mountain lion is on route to find a territory of his/her own. Try to get some photos if you see it again. Website below to help ID mountain lion tracks:

http://homepages.dordt.edu/~mahaffy/mtlion/print_id/cougar_print_id.html

Answer 2

There are many reasons why a cougar/puma/mountain lion could enter an urban backyard - as per what little desciption you gave, your visitor could likely be - from a disturbance in it's natural setting, fire, construction, (plane crash) earthquake) to someone local just lost there exotic pet. Keep the latter in mind, as people keep exotics without permit. Careful whom you tell, some people get the happies and think they can trap or catch beasts such as these... Bob cats have short "bob tails" which would fit your footprint size, but the tail points toward mountain lion.

Answer 3

Hi there...possibly a young cougar/mountain lion, which isn't uncommon in So. Cal/Orange Co.

Cougar sitings nearby the Santa Monica Mtns: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/05/0521_030521_tvmountainlions.html

Bobcats have a bobbed tail.

Answer 4

Mountain Lion.
They are coming back in Southern Cal.

A bobcat has a short tail.

Answer 5

There's only two choices in So Cal, unless it's some escaped zoo animal: Mountain lion or bobcat.

Answer 6

I have no idea, to be honest. I've heard of wildcat ranches in California, that make money illegally, by letting people pose with their animals. Not a good idea. Maybe one of them escaped.You might want to call your local police, animal control center or wildlife specialist to get an answer. Just stay inside until you get this thing straightened out! Here, kitty, kitty! (LOL). Just kidding. Stay inside, please!

Answer 7

you saw a mountain lion or puma, couldn't be a bob cat with a long tail and feet that big

Answer 8

fr the you say it looks its a cougar stay away fr it if you see it a again at your home go in side they have been know to attack I'm not saying it will attack you it mite if it feels thereat so best to look at fr the safety of your home you see pic of them on line my typeing the word crougar i saw some cool pics of them a min a go

Answer 9

a spangled cat or a young mountain lion in southern california

Answer 10

It sounds like a botcat. Did it look anything like this?:

http://www.spottycat.com/marlos/emporium/bobcat/bobcat27.jpg

****Ooops! I didn't see your remark about its tail at first. With a long tail, this may have been a young cougar.