As always, it is difficult to interprete tracks without putting them into context.
The tracks are feline, there are lots of reasons for this. The rear foot shows that one of the digits is longer than the others. The rear pads have three clear lobes and the general compression shape is round. The appearance of claws in mud is fairly normal for cats to get traction. The claws marks are more fine than the coarse claw of a dog.
The claws of a cat( domestic and wild) usually are evident in the track just before pouncing , either in play or before it pounces, or jumps into the air to attack prey.
The jumping into the air to take its prey can categorise the kind of cat it is.
I have attended several kills and sightings in the UK, and have tracked all the cat species in the world.
I also presented Big Cat Track for Discovery and interviewed several people who had footage.
Evidence is like a peice of rope, the more twine, the stronger the rope is.
Putting everything into context, I am sure that exotic cats do exist in the UK.
I have compiled a list of the cats, that I have seen spoor for in the UK and I have tracked in their own habitat.
The evidence does seem to indicate hotspots in the UK.
As regards the track in the pics and given the size, I have tracked a similar set of tracks to the where the cat lives, and have kept an eye on the lair over the last couple of years.
Pm and I will give you more info.
There is lots of hoax evidence out there, which in part is responsible for people being sceptical.
By the way all Shadowhawk Intermediate Trackers are able to distinguish cat tracks,from canine( not always that simple) and if there are any further sightings, tracks, I have a list of trackers who would be more than happy to do some tracking.
Max
Shadowhawk
