On the track..of the Sheppey 'big cat.

The Times Guardian cover Neil Arnold's plans to film the black leopard on Sheppey.

Sittingbourne 'big cats'.

From KENT ONLINE, the latest 'big cat' activity, from the Sittingbourne area.

Neil Arnold in the CFZ hot-seat!

Neil Arnold is asked five cryptozoological questions by the CFZ's Oll Lewis. To find out more, read it HERE

Jogger is chased by the 'beast' of Sydenham...

NEWSSHOPPER December 14th 2009:

A JOGGER was forced to run for his life after encountering the infamous Beast of Sydenham.
Father-of-four Roger Fleming, 40, was on a late night run with his puppy King on December 9 near Sydenham Hill station when a giant cat chased them through Dulwich Wood.
Mr Fleming believes the creature, which he says looked like a brown cheetah, was the Beast of Sydenham, seen several times in the area over the years.
The building services manager first saw the beast at the bottom of a path in the wood.
He said: “It was at least five or six feet long.
“I thought to myself ‘what the hell is this?’ That’s when the panic set in.
“It sat there, locked its eyes on to me, sat up and - boom - it started running towards us.”
Mr Fleming grabbed hold of his Staffordshire bull terrier and ran through the wood.
He said: “I looked over my shoulder and could see it still running at me.
“I was just thinking ‘please stop’. It was knackering and I was almost ready to give up.
“I was thinking ‘this is it - I think I’m going to die’.”
After realising the beast had given up the chase, Mr Fleming rushed home to Dulwich and read about other sightings on the News Shopper website.
He said: “When I got home I was almost in tears the adrenalin was pumping through me so fast.
“I swear an oath to God never to go to that same part at night again.
“There should be signs telling people to take some caution because they’re walking around willy-nilly.”
Neil Arnold, a researcher who runs KENT BIG CAT RESEARCH said the beast is believed to be a black leopard, the offspring of pets released into the wild.
He said: “He should have stood his ground, maintained eye contact and backed off slowly - but it’s easy to say that.
“People don’t need to panic because big cats won’t harm them.
“I do this full-time to let people know that these animals aren’t a threat.”

Neil to appear on COAST TO COAST AM radio

COAST TO COAST AM is one of the United States biggest radio stations attracting over four-million listeners. Neil Arnold will be discussing his research into monsters, 'big cats' and other folklore at 6:00 am UK time (December 1st), 11:30 pm US time (November 30th). For more info click HERE

Neil interviewed at THE LONDON WORD

Neil discusses his research into 'big cat' sightings around London as well as other mysterious creatures at THE LONDON WORD

More London 'big cat' sightings!

Neil's latest episode of THE SATURDAY STRANGENESS looks into the latest 'big cat' sightings around the capital..

Beast of Catford!

Is there a 'beast of Catford' ? A woman named Coral thinks so, and she reported her sighting on 16th October via the Sydenham Town Forum, commenting:

'A month ago whilst walking home along Datchet Road, Catford between 22.00 and 22.30hrs I saw what appeared to be a big cat. It was strolling between cars and front pathways of houses. I had no idea of previously reported sightings of black panthers and such like until my daughter later informed me of such. It was not black but more a brownish colour. The height was about 2 - 3ft high, thin body frame and it's fur was much shorter than a pet cat. The head was definetly that of the cat family. Make no mistake about it all you doubting Thomas's out there, a big Cat is definetly at large in the borders of Catford/Sydenham.'

South-east London mystery cats...

Over at the CFZ (Centre for Fortean Zoology) website, researcher Richard Muirhead loks at the recent spate of exotic cat sightings from around Sydenham etc. Read it HERE

Neil Arnold in CHAT! Magazine

The current issue (43 - October 29th) of CHAT! Magazine, pages 40-41, features an article by Neil Arnold on his full-time research.

Gravesend sightings...

There has been an abundance of reports from the Gravesend and Dartford area recently, of both puma and black leopard. The GRAVESEND REPORTER are on the trail HERE

Neil's Halloween talk on 'big cats'.

Neil Arnold's talk on 'MYSTERY ANIMALS OF KENT' at the 900-year old Gatehouse at Minster, Sheppey, is SOLD OUT. The event will see a ghost walk, an offer of witches brew, and an eerie talk from Neil concerning 'big cats' in the local woods.

Bengal cat on the loose!

Over at the Centre for Fortean Zoology website, Neil's latest blog shows an impressive photo of what could be a Bengal Cat on the loose in a rural part of Kent.

Did 'big cat' eat domestic cat ?

Left, one of a handful of photo's taken by Sara Hill.

SYDENHAM: Panther could be to blame for 'savage' death of pet cat
3:50pm Monday 28th September 2009
By Dan Keel

A PANTHER is feared to be on the loose after a mother-of-three stumbled across a pet cat which had been "savaged" and eaten.
Sara Hill, 32, made the grim discovery on Saturday during her daily walk around Sydenham's Southend Park with her two dogs and eight-month-old son, Archie.
A cat, still wearing its collar, was lying in the middle of a footpath and had been stripped of its fur, skin and flesh. Only its head and feet remained untouched.
The horse groomer who lives in Bellingham, said: "As I walked up to it I thought it was an old jumper - but then as I got closer I suddenly realised what it was.
"It's one of the most horrific things I've seen. I am a country girl and have seen a lot of dead animals and have plucked chickens - but I wasn't prepared for this.
"The poor thing had been completely savaged. There is no way a dog did it, as it would have been ripped apart. And a fox would have taken it away."
Miss Hill sent News Shopper some photos of the body which can be seen by clicking on the link below.
We passed them to full-time big cat researcher Neil Arnold, who has been studying cat sightings in the area for more than 20 years.
He said: "It looks very much like a large cat would carry out this type of kill, especially when comparing it to other kills I've examined over the years.
"The main animal seen around Sydenham, Penge, Norwood and Bromley is a black leopard - or panther.
"I've seen a black leopard three times locally, and have evidence such as livestock kills, faeces and paw-prints. But kills of animals are the best evidence."
He added: "When a leopard kills, it kills only to eat, to survive, and will rasp away fur with a sandpaper like tongue leaving a very clean kill.
"Domestic cats are on the menu although preferred prey is pigeon, pheasant, rabbit, rats, mice, and also larger prey such as deer and sheep.
"A black leopard mainly hunts at night and a cat seen around Sydenham could also travel to Sidcup, Welling, Dartford, via Orpington, Sidcup, Crayford, Hayes - all areas where a black leopard has been seen."
Mr Arnold also said black leopards are no threat to humans unless cornered, provoked or injured.

Is this a photo of the 'Palace' puma/panther ? (OF COURSE NOT!!)

Tragically the 'Palace puma' story is now nothing more than a farcical fiasco, which DID stem from a genuine encounter with a black leopard. However, now a Ms Mazur has claimed to have photographed the local beast - even though the photo is nothing more than a domestic cat. Sadly, it's this kind of rubbish which tarnishes research into such matters.

The 'Palace puma' facts...

Neil clears up the facts and fiction from the latest London-related big cat scare at his SATURDAY STRANGENESS column.

Neil Arnold discusses his research with the Kentish Times

For the full story read more HERE

Now they're saying Crystal Palace 'big cat' is just a dog!!

Story from the CROYDON GUARDIAN

'Palace puma' becomes the 'beast of Bromley'!

Two teenagers have come forward to report their encounter with a black leopard in the Bromley area. Story from the NEWSSHOPPER

The Croydon Guardian leap onto the beastly bandwagon!

More on the hunt for the 'Palace Puma'...which isn't a puma! Read it HERE

The Newsshopper completely make a mess out of investigating the 'Palace Puma'!

When are the local newspapers going to finally send out a reporter who for once, looks into 'his' research rather than completely sensationalising ? Of course, the press are known for making mountains out of mole-hills, but why do this when the facts of the matter are already stranger than the fiction they are trying to create ? Take for example the case of the 'Palace Puma' - a cat which was never a puma in the first place, and wasn't exactly seen at Crystal Palace.

The Newsshopper sent out poor Scott Mullins looking for the beast, read all about it HERE

Hunt is on for the 'Palace' puma...

From the Dartford Times

Is this a paw-print left by a big cat ?

Taken near Penshurst between Edenbridge and Southborough.

The 'beast' of Blue Bell Hill is back...

The legend of the beast' of Blue Bell Hill has lingered since the 1500s when a mysterious creature, once described as the 'Great Dogg' was said to have been spotted in the vicinity of Boxley and Burham, near Maidstone. This elusive beast was said to have attacked, killed and eaten a rambler at the time, but since then there have been numerous reports of large cats around Maidstone and Medway, usually described as a black leopard, puma and lynx.

On August 5th 2009 a sheep was killed in local woodland. Two piles of fresh excrement were found next to the discarded contents of the sheeps guts which contained grass, and a few yards away the eaten and cleanly rasped remains of the unfortunate victim. The owner of the sheep had never lost an animal in such a way in forty years of living in the woods.

Photo by Neil Arnold

Thanet cats...

Two recent reports have emerged from Thanet, the first concerning a large puma seen at the end of May by a motorist in the Acol area. The cat crossed the road in front of his vehicle at midnight 23rd May 2009. On Wednesday 22nd July at 1:00 am a couple sitting in their garden heard an animal in the nearby tree which leapt from the branches on to a wall. They shone a torch at the creature and claimed it was large, black and had orange eyes. Strangely, when the couple contacted police, footage emerged from the local council alleged to show the culprit...after observing the footage it was immediately concluded that the CCTV showed nothing more than a domestic cat.

A Tribute to Quetin Rose

Quentin Rose was one of the original researchers into the 'big cat' mystery in the UK. Neil pays tribute to him HERE

Neil giving a talk...

...at the PHANTOM ENCOUNTERS fayre, Spring Lodge, Witham in Essex. Saturday 11th July. Check HERE for details.

The Beast of...Bearsted!

From KENT ONLINE

The Edgware Tiger

A beastly 'big cat' story from the Summer of 1988 is Neil's latest installment of THE SATURDAY STRANGENESS

Beastly Sussex folklore...

An old account pertaining to a) a phantom hound, and b) possibly a black leopard in Sussex, taken from Richard Jefferies excellent WILD LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY (1879) - Link HERE

Nick Redfern interviews Neil Arnold

Neil discusses his research into local exotic cats, his new book, and a whole menagerie of strange beasts at MONSTER USA

BOOK SIGNING

Neil Arnold will be giving a talk, and also signing books at THE BOOKSHOP, NEW ASH GREEN, 7 THE ROW, LONGFIELD, KENT, DA3 8JB at 8:00 pm on Tuesday June 16th.

Sightings around Dartford

Have you seen a large,e xotic cat around Dartford ? Over the last few weeks, there have been sightings of both black leopard and puma in the Dartford area. The most recent being on the 31st May when a woman travelling on a coach spotted a large animal stalking through a field of horses and thei foals. The cat was described as three-feet in length, with a very long tail. A few weeks previous a black leopard was observed by a family as it sunned itself on their garden bench in the Wilmington area.

MYSTERY ANIMALS OF KENT - OUT NOW.

BUY THE BOOK FROM AMAZON

From publisher Jonathan Downes (CFZ Press):

"After months of work, this remarkable book is finally available. It is the bulkiest book we have ever done, and with over 270,000 words the longest apart from 'Monster Hunter' and 'Dragons: More than a Myth?'

Neil is to be congratulated for such an extraordinary piece of writing. A large proportion of the book concerns big cats, but as Neil - despite his detractors - is one of the leading mystery cat researchers in the country, this is hardly surprising.

However, what makes it so much better than yer run of the mill 'big cat' books which seem to be largely rehashed press cuttings, and in which the sentence "...err it was black, it had a long tail and looked like my Labrador,"seem to be repeated over and over again ad nauseam, this is the first-hand story of years of dedication and hands-on research.

The non-cat chapters are equally as interesting, covering a whole gamut of subjects from out-of-place animals to what Neil calls the 'nameless anomalies' which would not be out of place in an episode of 'The X-Files' from about ten years ago.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It's only £14.99 which is hardly extortionate in this day and age, and in the unlikely instance that you don't like it, it is so substantial that you can use it as a door stop, throw it at your dog, or wrap it in a pillow-case to make a handy cosh, and tootle on down to your nearest sub-post office. Well done mate."

Paperback: 420 pages; Publisher: Cfz (Mar 2009); Language English; ISBN-10: 1905723369ISBN-13: 978-1905723362; Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 15.6 x 2.2 cm

On the track of the mystery prowler.

A set of paw-prints found recently at Southern Valley Golf Club were all too quickly dismissed by 'experts' as belonging to a dog, whilst local press believed such prints were made by a 'big cat'. However, it seems that both parties are incorrect in their statements and we have an even bigger mystery on our hands. Do the prints belong to a member of the Mustelid family ? Zoologist Richard Freeman believes the impressions resemble those made by a wolverine, or a smaller animal such as the Fisher, although the prints are almost as long as a footprint made by a size 10 shoe!

The Centre For Fortean Zology have posted a link to the paw-prints HERE and whatever made them is around four-feet in length, walks on all fours, and has an elongated heel, unlike a badger. Richard Freeman commented that although the wolverine has five claws, the fifth claw is not always evident.

Did Bluewater 'beast' leave paw-print in sand ?

From KENT ONLINE

Black leopard sighted in Brighton

Courtesy of CENTRE FOR FORTEAN ZOOLOGY

Did you see the Sandwich black leopard ?

Three people saw one of the black leopards roaming the Thanet area, on Sunday February 15th at 1:30 pm. They were taking a stroll near Sandwich Golf Course when they spotted the animal, said to have been bigger than an Alsatian, with a very long tail.

Sighting of the 'beast' of Bluewater

From Kent Online

More Sussex big cat sightings.

Two witnesses have come forward to report seeing a black leopard, in separate parts of Sussex. The first sighting took place at the end of Jan' at a golf course in Brighton, owned by Brighton & Hove Council. A dog walker watched as a massive black cat bounded across the course in broad daylight and headed off into undergrowth. Around the same time, but in Battle, a male witness walking his two dogs heard a commotion as if the dogs had cornered an animal which was hissing aggressively at them. As the man approached he saw a big, black cat which speedily raced towards the woods.

Will Neil's new book be a 'beast'-seller ?

From the KENTISH TIMES

Kent Online cover the sheep attacks.

The latest feature (with video) from KENT ONLINE concerning the distressing sheep attacks from dogs across Kent which are pushing local farmers to breaking point.

Neil's article on mystery cats of Philadelphia.

At Phillyist.

More sheep savaged...

Canterbury is the latest area to be plagued by rampant, marauding dogs, said to have been responsible for the death of several sheep in the Downs Road area, and also causing traffic chaos as police were forced to shut off roads in the hunt for the animals. KENT ON SUNDAY has the story...

Neil to appear on White Noise Radio

Neil will be appearing on WHITE NOISE RADIO on Friday 16th January 2009 from 10:00 pm to discuss a year of mysteries.

Lookin' for beasts on the bike...

Cycling 4x4 webiste mentions Neil's website and research, and the possibilities of cycling through the Kent countryside and seeing a strange animal.

Mystery behind death of more than 40 sheep!

KENT ONLINE reports on the death of more than 40 sheep...and an ostrich, in the Ulcombe area. The attacks began around November 2008, but no marauder has been caught, leaving locals baffled, and police combing the area and conducting nightly vigils.

KENT - BIG CAT CAPITAL

KENT ONLINE interviews Neil Arnold and looks back over 2008 at the statistics regarding 'big cat' sightings across the county with Thanet, Sheppey, Maidstone/Medway and the outskirts of London featuring heavily.