A COUPLE hace reported spotting a “big black cat” they believe could have been a “puma” - one of three such sightings in Colwyn Bay.

The couple saw the creature run across the road while they drove through Colwyn Heights.

The encounter happened at about 3.45pm on Wednesday, February 2.

Colwyn Heights is situated atop a steep hill and separated from the rest of the town by Pwllycrochan Woods.

The couple reported the sighting to Puma Watch North Wales, the group set up to document and encounter such encounters in the region.

They told Puma Watch: “We were travelling up into Colwyn Bay heights to fetch an item we had just bought and as we were going further up a big black cat which was the same size as a Labrador ran in front of us.

“Both me and my husband saw it.

“It had a big black tail and moved across the road like a cat.”

Tony Jones, founder of Puma Watch, said after reported the sighting he received reports from more people claiming to have seen a black cat in the area.

Tony said: "We shared a report of a 'big black cat' believed to be a puma dashing across the road in Colwyn Heights.

"Following this coverage, we’ve received two further reports of sightings from the local community. They both happened a few years ago, but the witnesses were unaware they could report their sightings until seeing this week’s coverage.

In one report, Peter Owens said he was driving with his son on the Old Highway Road, which runs over the hills from Colwyn Bay, past Colwyn Heights to Mochdre, when he ran over a “big black animal” – which immediately got back up and jumped over “an eight-foot wall” near Rydal Penrhos School.

Big cat sighting in Colwyn Heights. Image: Puma Watch North Wales

Big cat sighting in Colwyn Heights. Image: Puma Watch North Wales

Peter told Puma Watch: “Me and my son were coming back along the old highway around 9pm when I ran straight over a big black animal. (both wheels on the passenger side )

“I said to my son ‘wtf was that’ as I was doing 30 mph and I hadn’t had time to even slow down, but it got up and jumped up an 8-foot wall just past Rydal collage.

“This was a couple of years ago but it was just before Christmas."

Peter added that he thought it happened in 2018 but couldn't be sure.

Tony said a third report was also made.

He said: "Vince contacted us to report an encounter he had around 11am one morning back in April 2016. He saw a 'big black cat' he believes could have been a puma in the woods off Mochdre Road, a lane less than a mile from the other two sightings, which runs up the hill towards Bryn-Y-Maen and Colwyn Heights from Mochdre village."

The witness told Puma Watch: “Pushing my bicycle up Mochdre Rd, through the woods, when what looked like big black cat, walked from the edge, looked at me, then disappeared back into woods.

“I could tell by the way it moved, definitely big cat. I didn’t hang around, I flew back down the hill.”

All three sightings have been added to Puma Watch's interactive map.

Tony added: While the reports this week are the first three we’ve had from Colwyn Bay, we’ve had multiple reports of similar animals within a few miles over the last year. Additionally, a footbridge in the Nant-y-Glyn Valley, which runs along the southeast border of Colwyn Heights, is known locally as ‘Puma Bridge’.

"In May 2021, a “massive black cat” left two pet cats “terrified” of leaving their home in Pentrefelin, a small village less than three miles from Colwyn Heights.

"In July 2021, dog walkers again reported a “massive black cat” on the Little Orme near Llandudno, again only three miles from Colwyn Bay. The witnesses claimed the animal had “a glow in its eyes” and also sent in an image of an animal carcass found at the location.

"That same month, a woman living in Conwy phoned police after seeing a “black panther” on her garden fence."

"Big cats such as pumas are solitary with a hunting range of dozens of miles. They’re mostly spotted in Snowdonia and the Clwydian hills but reports of sightings in urban locations some distance from these areas are becoming more frequent.

"Just last month, we shared a report of a big cat in Leamington Spa. While we focus on North Wales and the surrounding areas, we often receive reports from further afield and have shared sightings from as far out as Scotland and Cornwall."