Walking up the drive after an early morning walk, my husband and I were alerted to a lot of yowling and general cat bad language from our backyard. We hurried to see what was going on and found that a black cat we have always discouraged from our backyard because it systematically catches and tortures dozens of birds, especially babies, had cornered a beautiful leopard cat up against the back wooden fence and under a privet hedge.

My husband threw a pebble at the black cat and after a final yowl of anger he leaped on top of the wooden fence where he continued to hiss and spit. Another pebble, tossed at the fence made sufficient noise to cause him jump down on the other side.

The leopard cat remained under the hedge for a minute or so, then cautiously left his cover and crept into full view on the lawn.

Truly, it was the most beautiful cat I have ever seen. His coat was an orange-tan color and all over it had circles of black spots. The picture I am including was the best example I could find on the Internet but it really doesn’t do justice to the long-legged, elegant cat standing on our back lawn.

Cautiously I tried to approach, but after the trauma with his black adversary he wasn’t in a mood to make friends. Immediately I began to move towards him he took off and with one graceful leap, vanished over the side fence (not the one where the black cat had departed.)

We’ve never seen him before and he wasn’t wearing a collar or any identification—not that either would have done me any good.

He (or she) really was the most amazing cat I have ever seen. A real leopard in miniature. I shall keep a keen eye open for him, if he’s a stray he must be valuable and his owners must be searching for him.