Cat????

Rank Amateur · 01-14-2008, 04:48 PM

Found this track today, I was last in this area last Sunday, this is the best track I could find the others were melted out. I think it might be a small cougar, I looked pretty hard and could not put any toenails in any of the tracks. What do you think?

Of coarse some outlaw was in the area with an ATV and they turned around right on top of these tracks, which made me think they were looking at them too. It appears that these tracks were made very close in time to a herd of elk that moved through the area. Oh, that is a .223

Santiam338 · 01-14-2008, 05:47 PM

Looks like a melted out coyote to me...Ain't a cat,thats for sure...

Smoked Salmon · 01-14-2008, 05:48 PM

My dog leaves bigger tracks than that. Must be coyote.

Rank Amateur · 01-14-2008, 06:02 PM

Yeah, looking at Mad Mikey's tracks the shape is totally wrong for a cat, if it is a coyote it is a pretty good size one, even for being melted out. I don't think it is a domestic dog, this was the only spot I saw the tracks, dang dogs like to run the roads and I was a long ways from the nearest houses. I guess the toe nails melted out.

Smoked Salmon- I didn't know a rat terrier even left dog tracks!

CombinationLicense · 01-14-2008, 06:04 PM

A while back I was looking for some reference materials regarding cat/wolf/coyote tracks and found a pretty interesting web page. It breaks down the structure for canines and felines so that you can easily identify the difference between the two. Check it out at:

http://www.bear-tracker.com/caninevsfeline.html

"CL"

Rank Amateur · 01-14-2008, 06:35 PM

Thanks, good link.

Mad Mikey · 01-14-2008, 07:42 PM

That's a great link. I admit I'm new to this tracking thing. I've been fooled a few times by coyote tracks but as time has progressed I have noticed the coyotes tend to wander and deviate from their path to sniff snings out. The cats have a purpose and go in a straight path.

The cat I'm pursuing has one identifying mark:

I'm not sure if this is it's left/right paw, front or back but I think it's unusual and ID's this particular animal. Looks like an extra toe?

Thoughts?

FromTheWoods · 01-14-2008, 10:48 PM

Who was the cat following?

Was there more than one print with six toe marks?

Could it be a depression of the front foot covered by the hind foot?

Rank Amateur · 01-15-2008, 03:43 AM

I thought your track looked odd but I couldn't put my finger on it. Five toes? According to the link it looks like a left foot, I think you would have to compare the tracks to say front or back.

The snow was splotchy were I was at and the ATV ran over some of the tracks. Yes, the cats seem to walk the straight line and one foot in front of the other, at least the bob's.

Hope you get that cat, I would like to see it's feet.

Mad Mikey · 01-15-2008, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FromTheWoods

Who was the cat following?

Was there more than one print with six toe marks?

Could it be a depression of the front foot covered by the hind foot?

The track in the picture is over my boot print from the previous day, it's on another thread I started about the hunt.

After thinking about it today I'm convinced it's the left rear paw, since the cat would be stepping in it's front print as it goes forward. I'm doubting it appears like an extra toe due to it being superimposed over the front track ,and that print is very consistant throughout it's path. I could be wrong though, there's a lot of guys here who know more about this tracking stuff than I do.

Cornbread · 01-15-2008, 04:17 PM

A cougar bounding will consistently super impose the two middle tracks in every bound. This happens even when they are making little bounds and is really evident in snow. You usually only get one or two toes off to the side making it look like it has six or seven toes. I have been big into tracking since I was a kid

Get yourself a copy of "A field guide to animal tracks" by Olaus J. Murie it not only shows tracks it also shows common gait patterns.

Mad Mikey · 01-15-2008, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cornbread

A cougar bounding will consistently super impose the two middle tracks in every bound. This happens even when they are making little bounds and is really evident in snow. You usually only get one or two toes off to the side making it look like it has six or seven toes. I have been big into tracking since I was a kid

Get yourself a copy of "A field guide to animal tracks" by Olaus J. Murie it not only shows tracks it also shows common gait patterns.

Thanks Cornbread, I'll defer to the guys who know more than I. I have probably 30-40 pix of the tracks and looked at them a lot closer after my last post, I found one pik where there were 7 toes! Thanks for the learn.

Now, what's going on HERE?:

Looks like the cat was in a crouch. There is a spot where deer bed down just a few yards away.

Thanks for the help.

riverswild · 01-17-2008, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FromTheWoods

Who was the cat following?

Was there more than one print with six toe marks?

Could it be a depression of the front foot covered by the hind foot?

Yep, looks like a double step.

Archer1000 · 01-17-2008, 05:50 PM

wow, very nice pictures. A learning experience as well. Thank you.

tag-a-long · 01-18-2008, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CombinationLicense

A while back I was looking for some reference materials regarding cat/wolf/coyote tracks and found a pretty interesting web page. It breaks down the structure for canines and felines so that you can easily identify the difference between the two. Check it out at:

http://www.bear-tracker.com/caninevsfeline.html

"CL"

Very cool link. I printed out a couple of copied to give out to my son and a couple of hunting buddies. Already knnew about the claws and the lobes on the back of the paws. Didn't ever realize the the toes didn't line up on the cat... Thanks!!!!!!!

Rauly · 01-18-2008, 06:05 AM

Looks like he was crouched ready to pounce like you stated orrrrr hetripped and was catching his balance..you can just make out were his chin hit in the snow.

Wish I had the time to do some of these hunts you are doing!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad Mikey

Thanks Cornbread, I'll defer to the guys who know more than I. I have probably 30-40 pix of the tracks and looked at them a lot closer after my last post, I found one pik where there were 7 toes! Thanks for the learn.

Now, what's going on HERE?:

Looks like the cat was in a crouch. There is a spot where deer bed down just a few yards away.

Thanks for the help.