Essex lion thought to be big house cat

Wednesday, 29th August 2012

There have been extensive media reports recently that there is a lion roaming the area of Essex.

However, it is now thought that the 'lion' is merely a giant house cat named Teddy Bear, who lives close to where the lion was spotted.

Teddy Bear is a ginger Main Coon cat. This breed can weigh up to 25lb, be 16 inches tall and 40 inches long.

Ginny Murphy, the cat’s owner, told the Daily Mail: "We thought it had to be Ted as he's the only big gingery thing around there and he does tend to wander into that field.

"From a distance, because he has a light-coloured mane he does look a little lion like. I can see why someone would think that."

She added that Teddy Bear has a personality to match his size and has been mistaken for a fox before.

Essex Police has now called off its search for the lion, saying that the force believes it was either a large domestic cat or a wildcat.