Big Cat in Salem

On February 21, 2013 while traveling northbound on Rt. 85 in Salem at about 12:30 p.m. we saw a big cat about 3 feet tall to top of body plus a long neck of about 6 to 8 inches, with a cheetah-like face. It was white with brownish-orange patches. It was on the west side of Rt. 85 and walked toward the road. Looking through the trees at first I thought it was a baby deer the way the hind legs moved. Then it came out of the trees and I saw the body standing erect on all fours and I thought it was a big dog. As we went by I slowed the car down to almost a stop (with some traffic behind me) and I saw its head was more like a cheetah. It stood on the side of the road looking into the street as we passed. It was pretty sleek, and perhaps weighed 100 pounds. It was a wooded area with no houses in the immediate area.  Submitted by: Robert Cushman