Rumours of big beasts like panthers, pumas, and leopards in the wild have long been rife in Britain, but officially the only confirmed big cat species in the UK is the European Wildcat. According to the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, the wildcat is similar to a domestic moggie – but is larger, stockier and has a bushy, black-banded tail.
However, that has not stopped hundreds of "sightings" of big cats across the UK. This may stem from the fact that in the 1970s, a law was introduced, banning such exotic pets, and many owners decided to release their big cats into the wild to avoid expensive rehoming costs. Therefore, it is plausible that several species of big cats choose to call the UK their home, but which ones? Our sister website North Wales Live has compiled this list:
