Devon and Cornwall Police officers were called following a total of 16 reports of big cat sightings in the two counties since January 2019.

Information released following a request under the Freedom of Information Act shows that five of the sightings resulted in officers attending the scene.

The newly released data provides an incident date for each call, the area the sighting was made and a summary of the call.

Calls included the sighting of a big cat four times the size of a domestic cat, a puma with a footprint bigger than a labrador, a German shepherd sized feline and a lynx all in towns and villages around Cornwall and Devon.

A mysterious animal pictured on the outskirts of Plymouth
A mysterious animal pictured on the outskirts of Plymouth (Image: SWNS)

A number of these sightings were reported in the media at the time.

See the table below for a summary of each call and exactly where the sighting was made.

Incident Date

Location

Area

Summary Attended

Jan 2018

Seaton

Devon

Gone towards the beach- large black cat with yellow eyes

Yes

Jan 2018

Copperhouse & Gwinear

Cornwall

Reporting Person saw what they think was a large cat type animal described as being not as tall as a Labrador and black

No

Feb 2018

Mount Gould

Devon

The cat is 4 x times the size of a domestic cat and is possibly a Scottish wild cat

Yes

Feb 2018

St Stephen & St Dennis

Cornwall

A black puma emerged and picked the rabbit up and ran off and tucked into the carcass.

No

Feb 2018

Copperhouse & Gwinear

Cornwall

Two beige brown cats puma size walked across the road from farm shop

No

Apr 2018

Ashburton

Devon

Large dead animal in slow lane. Caller states it looks to be a large cat , bigger than a domestic cat

Yes

Jun 2018

Braunton Urban

Devon

Caller said he looked at it through his binoculars and it's definitely a larger black cat - too big to be domestic cat

Yes

Jun 2018

St Columb Major

Cornwall

Possible large cat . Caller states it is approx. 3 times the size of a large domestic cat, very long body and tail- similar in colour to a golden Labrador

No

Jul 2018

Launceston

Cornwall

Animal is not on the road – Caller cannot confirm what this was but stated it looked like a wild animal, possibly a large lynx like cat

No

Aug 2018

Ottery Rural

Devon

Saw a big ' panther like' cat on Aylesbeare Common

No

Feb 2019

St Stephen & St Dennis

Cornwall

Caller reporting that he has found a dead deer on his land this morning. Does not think it could be a fox or pack of hounds - he thinks large pit bull or large cat

No

Mar 2019

Calstock

Cornwall

Caller stated puma was in their garden & it has attacked their dog - not killed it.

It left a wide footprint, larger than Labrador dog

Yes

Apr 2019

Bodmin

Cornwall

I’ve seen a large cat , long and slim, not too tall, but more dog size that house hold cat, making its way over a hedge, but then it’s seen me, turned back the way it came from and darted off super quick.

No

Apr 2019

Newquay

Cornwall

Caller reporting a possible sighting of a lynx at the rear of her garden. Description is as a larger than normal domestic cat with bigger pointy ears.

No

May 2019

Kingsbridge & Salcombe

Devon

Sighted what he perceives to be a big cat on grass nearby - described as Labrador type size, dark grey with black speckles.

No

Jun 2019

Ivybridge

Devon

Caller saw a very large black cat in the road, size of a German shepherd dog, had a large black thin tail. Caller convinced it was like a panther or a lynx

No