Talk:Phantom cat

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To-do list for Phantom cat:	edit · history · watch · refresh
Debate article title, rename if consensus exists Create/post images (non-copyvio) Map image with sighting locations Images of alleged phantom cats Fix and sort external links by country purge cache

Shouldn this rather be "Phantom cat", or do they always come in packs? ;-= --Magnus Manske 19:02 Jan 17, 2003 (UTC)

Wasn't there an unknown species of wild cat caught sometime during the early 1990s? Possibly a hybrid of Felis silvestris and Felis cattus. // Liftarn

I have noticed the use of ABC (Alien big cat) used instead of "phantom cat". Perhaps we shouls use that instead of the more "mysterious" sounding "phantom cat". // Liftarn

The state of Hawaii uses the term "mystery big cat". I would like to add information on Hawaii to this page. --Thomas Veil 07:23 Sep 5, 2004 (UTC)

[edit]  ?

Occasional large cats are captured or killed, but it would be assumed they were one-off escapes from zoos etc., were it not for one major complicating factor: The Dangerous Wild Animals Act of 1976.

I don't understand this, can somebody help repair? Sam [Spade] 18:30, 6 Nov 2004 (UTC)

It looks like the U.K. Dangerous Wild Animals Act allowed for private ownership of big cats. I'm looking into it.--Viriditas 22:17, 6 Nov 2004 (UTC)

Ok, I finally figured it out. People released their pets into the wild after the Dangerous Wild Animals Act was passed. --Viriditas 10:49, 11 Nov 2004 (UTC)

I see.. Good edits! So... if there is such an obvious and rational explanation, why the "phantom cats" and "Alien Big Cats" title? Also there used to be some content about cats from other dimensions slipping in and out of reality, or some such ;) Sam [Spade] 12:06, 11 Nov 2004 (UTC)

Well, as you can probably tell, these informal classifications are usually spread by laymen through the media, which make for good headlines, but less than objective naming systems. However, even biologists have not agreed upon a standard term. You can read about this debate on the introduced species page. --Viriditas 12:35, 11 Nov 2004 (UTC)

Very interesting... I found this via cryptozoology (Beast of Bodmin, Beast of Exmoor etc...) however, so I am rather dismayed to find such mundane soloutions ;) Sam [Spade] 15:11, 11 Nov 2004 (UTC)

The difference between these sightings and the ones on the cryptozoology page, is that there is good (but not great) evidence for these big cats in many cases. --Viriditas 21:07, 11 Nov 2004 (UTC)

Sure seems like it. Sam [Spade] 21:17, 11 Nov 2004 (UTC)

The thing is, you are absolutely right about the problems with the title for this page. But, since no standard classification exists, there is as of yet, no good reason to choose one title over another, however, it would be neat to present arguments for proposed titles. In Maui, we use the term, "Mystery Big Cat". --Viriditas 10:43, 13 Nov 2004 (UTC)

See User_talk:Sam_Spade#Phantom_cats

[edit] List of names for putative wild big cats

This list represents a description of an introduced species, often non-native, and rarely invasive. Ordered by google hits:

    2,910 hits:  Alien big cats 
    1,210 hits:  Wild big cats 
    1,060 hits:  Exotic big cats        Australia
      819 hits:  Phantom panthers       North America
      667 hits:  Phantom cats           
      175 hits:  Mystery big cats       U.S.
       87 hits:  Phantom wild cat       U.K.
        6 hits:  Introduced big cats
        0 hits:  Cryptozoological cats 

Please add to this list, if you can. --Viriditas 20:05, 13 Nov 2004 (UTC)

Like I said, I don't think anybodys reading. What term for these beasties (real or imagined) is most used? Thats the term we ought to be using for the article, so as to help the readers find it. [[User:Sam Spade|Sam Spade Arb Com election]] 23:48, 19 Nov 2004 (UTC)

I've added google hits to the above list. Note, this is only a preliminary google test, and does not reflect accuracy of usage. I think it's pretty neat to see how the current title came in directly between the other titles. I suppose that would make it NPOV, but not necessarily accurate. Heh. --Viriditas 00:37, 21 Nov 2004 (UTC)

I'm happy with the current title, in tandem with the current redirect from "Alien big cat", but perhaps switching these roles would be better. Since usage seems to depend greatly on geographical location, adding redirects for the rest of the top five or six names would help people find the article. Avenue 12:50, 6 Dec 2004 (UTC)

Done. --Viriditas | Talk 20:52, 28 Feb 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Penrith Panthers

Sightings of exotic big cats in Australia began more than 100 years ago.

In the Gippsland region of south-eastern Victoria, the origin of the cats is claimed to be American World War II airmen who brought cougars with them as mascots and released them in the Australian Bush. No conclusion has been reached, and photographic evidence is often difficult to interpret. The mass slaughter of sheep is often given as evidence to support the big cat theory. They are often killed by a clean puncture or slit in the throat. The animals' insides are then eaten precisely and with no mess, in the same way a big cat kills and eats its prey.

Whilst I aknowledge the Gippsland issue, the fact there is no airbase there makes it seem less likely as the origin point of the above story, however the above story is the reasoning behind the 'Penrith Panthers' released at RAAF Richmond from American WWII airmen who were stationed there, allegedly. It's Penrith's mascot, it's football team, and a very well known story across all of New South Wales. I'd recommend an ammendment, based upon googlefight.com's figures: -

"Penrith Panther" - 1250 "Penrith Panthers" - 124,000 "Penrith Cat" - 6 (!) (might include cat clubs, or something?)

vs

"Gippsland Cat" - 62 (might include cat clubs, or something?) "Gippsland Cougar" - 0 "Gippsland Tiger" - 7 "Gippsland ABC" - 105 (remember, ABC is Australian Broadcasting Corporation too.  :/) "Gippsland Alien Big Cat" - 0

Totals: -

Penrith: 125,256 Gippsland: 174

Take into account that Gippsland is a region and Penrith a city, you'd assume a broader scope would yield a broader response. I'm really starting to take the stance that the original editor who attributed the ABC of Australia section to their locale perhaps? Jachin 12:04, 19 June 2007 (UTC)