Big Cat Footprints

Big cats have a leading toe on their paws and rather irregular toe positioning , unlike dogs which have two parallel toes at the top, and large and distinctive planter pads. Big cats have retractable claws and usually walk with their claws retracted but may bring them out when walking in mud and slippery conditions or when they need to climb up steep slopes or up trees or of, course when they are attacking prey! Dogs cannot retract their claws and their claw marks are easy to see above their toe prints! In short, it's very easy to spot the difference between a dog paw print and a big cat footprint!

Leopard Right Hind Footprint - South Devon Wood February 19th 2024

Leopard footprint in a South Devon wood. Photo Copyright Alex Bowler 2024.

More Leopard Footprints in a South Devon Wood

Leopard left hind footprint in a South Devon wood with leopard right front footprint below it. This is an example of direct register. Photo Copyright Alex Bowler 2024.

Leopard footprint in a South Devon Wood. Photo Copyright Alex Bowler 2024

Leopard footprint found in a South Devon wood on October the 4th 2024. Photo copyright Alex Bowler 2024.

Leopard footprint in a South Devon wood. Photo copyright Alex Bowler 2025.

Puma Footprint found in a Devon wood on 17th of April 2025. Photo Copyright Alex Bowler 2025

Puma or Leopard Footprints in a Devon Forest

Leopard or puma footprint in a Devon forest. Photo copyright Alex Bowler 2024

Leopard or Puma Footprint in a Devon Forest. Photo Copyright Alex Bowler 2024

Puma or Leopard Footprints in Mud in a Devon Forest

Puma (or Leopard) footprint in mud in a Devon forest. Note the massive planter pad. Photo Copyright Alex Bowler 2023.

This puma scat was found just a few yards away from the puma footprints in the mud in the Devon forest. Photo Copyright Alex Bowler 2023.

In this photo both an upward footprint and a downward footprint at visible, as are claw marks. Big cats sometimes put their claws out when walking on slopes or in muddy and slippery conditions.

Leopard Footprints in a South Devon Wood

This leopard left hind footprint, found on the 28th of September 2024, was in a wood in South Devon where I have recorded a leopard growling and seen and heard one very nearby. The print was probably made by a female.

Leopard footprint found in the same place as the one above on the 1st of October 2024. Photo copyright Alex Bowler 2024.

Leopard Footprints in a West Somerset Field near Woodland

Leopard left footprint. Retaken on 15/03/2025 in Somerset. Photo Copyright Jenny and Neil Squire 2025.

Leopard left footprint. Taken on 14/03/2025 in Somerset. Photo Copyright Jenny and Neil Squire 2025.

Leopard Footprints in Dorset

A leopard has walked through a dried up pond on heathland in Dorset. - Photo Copyright Jonathan McGowan

Coloured plaster casts of leopard and puma footprints found in Dorset - Photo Copyright Jonathan McGowan