Reports of

a large wild cat in Peachtree City spotted near the Three Ponds area have

been confirmed ... somewhat.

Tamarac Lane

resident Mary Lou Miller has shared photographs of a large cat that came

to her back porch routinely to pilfer food she left for another stray

cat several months ago. After a little research and advice from acquaintances,

Miller believes the cat is an Abyssinian, which is actually a large domesticated

cat.

But Don Campbell,

who originally reported the sighting to The Citizen, said the cat in the

pictures isn't the same one he and his son saw several weeks ago in the

nearby Three Ponds area. The cat they saw had a tan colored coat while

this one is greyish in color, he said.

Campbell said

it could be that the coat changed color in the six weeks since Miller

took her photos, but it isn't likely.

"There

could be two or more of them," he said.

Although she

hasn't seen the large cat in at least six weeks, it created quite a stir

during a Bible study at Miller's house, she recalled. It appeared and

startled the approximately 20 ladies in attendance, some of whom thought

the cat "would eat Maggie," her Boston terrier.

"It's

just not afraid," Miller said, noting that some people might take

its actions for aggressiveness. "If you get around it, it will stop

and look at you."

Miller said

she never saw the large cat make an aggressive move, and on at least one

occasion, the large cat and the tiny stray cat ate from the same bowl

together.

Since friends

wouldn't believe her stories about the large cat coming up to her back

porch, Miller snapped a few photos from inside her back door so as not

to scare off the animal.

"Nobody

believed me," she said.

Miller's son

first hinted at the cat's possible identity after watching a similar animal

displayed on "The Late Show" with David Letterman, a late night

talk show that occasionally conducts a skit called "stupid pet tricks."

A friend at church later confirmed that it appeared to be an Abyssinian.

Miller hopes

no one tries to kill the animal, adding that this particular breed is

apparently very valuable.

Back

to News Home Page |