Wildcat

[Normcar21]

I don't make a point of photographing kitty cats but I found this one as I was travelling country roads this evening, it was dripping with character and seemed to me to be as wild as wild can be. And it's eyes were captivating!

Those eyeballs
http://www.syban.ca/~normcar/aug0208/aug0208020b.jpg

Cute and wild looking as I spotted it in the wild grass beside the county gravel road (a farm cat probably hunting as it clearly didn't like the fact that I parked and took interest :D)

http://www.syban.ca/~normcar/aug0208/aug0208020.jpg

A few minutes later I interrupted a deer feeding at dusk, I spotted it and climbed out of my suv in faint hope that the deer would remain. I wandered around the bush and spotted it about 20 yards away. Here is the first shot. I know that deer feed near bushes in order to provide an escape route if something happens by that is unwanted. This deer was approximate to a very shallow bush when I took this shot.

Then it made it's first instinctive mistake, it took off into the field where no bushes existed. It appeared puzzled as to what to do next.

http://www.syban.ca/~normcar/aug0208/aug0208055.jpg

Of course it reacted and took off immediately in any direction that was not close to me

http://www.syban.ca/~normcar/aug0208/aug0208076.jpg

Then it wandered back and forth, not quite knowing what to do because no "forest" hiding place existed for it to vanish into.

http://www.syban.ca/~normcar/aug0208/aug02080124.jpg

I noticed it's actions and was really pleased that the animal was showing me it's behavior so clearly. It wasn't really bugged because it's tail had not shown itself and it's protective grunt was not evident. I was like a mosquito, a bit bothersome but not a real threat.

http://www.syban.ca/~normcar/aug0208/aug0208134.jpg

It paused once more, took another peek at me and my camera, more curious than bothered, which was nice.

Then, amazingly, it headed straight for me in a leaping deer gallop! I couldn't believe that it was heading straight for me. The I realized that it was doing so simply because the closest "tree" and "hide" for this animal was approximate to myself.

http://www.syban.ca/~normcar/aug0208/aug0208169.jpg

And into the bushes it went! About 10 feet from me

[mono55]

Judging by the bits missing from the cat's ears it looks as if it's fought a few wars in its time. That last pic of the deer is amazing!

[Flo]

Last photo is the best out of this series.very nice.

[sparker1]

Excellent series.

[scrumpy]

Nice series, thanks.

[debbie_liane]

That cat is absolutely gorgeous! My cat went missing for 14 months and came home, and his ears are just like that, all torn and ragged. He also has a few scars on his face. Still love him though! The last picture of the deer is fantastic!

[Normcar21]

Thanks All!

[pttenn]

Wonderful series! How close did he come to you?
Karen

[downywp]

...Well, Your title caught my attention right away, wild cat indeed...;) Excellent detailed shots as always, the 2nd and very last shot are my favourites!:)

[Avi]

loved the 2nd image of the cat and the 1st and the last image of the deer..

very nice series..

Thanks for sharing;

Avi

[Normcar21]

Karen, Ruth, and Avi, many thanks for taking the time!
Karen, I was about 25 feet away from this deer before it turned into the small brush patch directly ahead of me. I could have wandered around the bush and perhaps captured a few more shots but couldn't bring myself to disturb it's dusk feeding and more. I drove off and I'm sure the animal resumed the feeding, perhaps checking out the surroundings a bit more efficiently. :D