Original headline: MAN CAME FACE TO FACE WITH A PUMA
Colossal cat spotted
A man has told how he came face to face with a puma while he was walking his dog at a beauty spot.
Michael McFadden was enjoying an early morning stroll with pet labrador, Rusty, when he saw the large feline emerge from trees.
But, as the colossal cat caught sight of him, it ran back into the woodland and disappeared.
Michael's encounter with the mysterious mammal took place as he rambled along the banks of the River Gryfe at Houston.
"I took Rusty out for his walk first thing in the morning because I was going to church at 8am," said the 48-year-old Paisley-based technician.
"It was quiet at that time and then, all of a sudden, I saw the black cat-like creature come out of the trees, close to Gryfebank Avenue, on the outskirts of Houston.
"It stretched its body and limbs against a tree in fairly open ground and I watched it for about three minutes. It was about 50 yards away.
"All this time, Rusty was straining at his lead, trying to go for the cat, but I held him back.
"Suddenly, the cat saw us and vanished back into the woodland, which borders houses in the Gryfebank area.
"I wasn't scared because I was more interested in trying to find out what kind of animal it was. As far as I'm concerned, it was a puma because it was jet black in colour and about three feet in height with a large cat-like face with whiskers.
"There were reports a few months ago about a puma killing livestock in the Merchiston area, which is very close to where I made my sighting.
"I think it was the same animal."
Last year, anglers fishing on the River Gryfe near Fulwood Bridge - not far from Mr McFadden's sighting - told the Paisley Daily Express they saw a big black cat in the undergrowth.
And there have been sightings from other parts of Renfrewshire, where there have been more than 50 official exotic cat recordings during the last 20 years.
Big cat experts say many of the animals could have been released into the wild following legislation which makes it more difficult for people to keep exotic pets like pumas, leopards and lynx in their homes or private zoos.
