By Tim Binnall
Residents of a British coastal community are not quite sure what to make of a mysterious man seen roaming the area dressed as and behaving like a cat. The bizarre case is reportedly unfolding in the town of Wallasey, where multiple residents say they have encountered the curious character while walking their dogs near the beach. Clad in a black cat costume (pictured below), the puzzling 'panther' has a penchant for surprising people with his sudden presence and, as one might imagine, leaving those who encounter him scratching their heads.
"Was walking my dog tonight and heard a man making cat noises," recalled one woman who recently came across the character, "he was waving his arms at me before crawling up the hill. Never been so scared." Her experience was echoed by another resident who recounted first hearing "a feline growling," which caused her Terrier to begin furiously barking at what she soon realized was "a man in a panther costume" ascending a hill on all fours.
While her dog was disturbed by the mysterious stranger, the witness indicated that she found the situation more perplexing than perilous, musing "I felt more confused than scared." Similarly nonchalant about the character was a man who also stumbled upon the faux cat in the past, dismissing his antics as merely mischief. "I think it's just a wind-up," the witness said, "he's definitely not out to frighten people, he does it for fun. He just likes being a giant cat."