This got way off track, but I'm sure what you are hearing is a Screech Owl. We've hear it many time on our side of the flowage. Many people are saying its a cat, but it isn't. We've seen it as it does its call and it sounds like a child in distress or a cat screaming.

As for large cats, they are here and we've seen them. Some day I'll get a picture of one. Yesterday I saw a big black wolf on FF, just east of Swamp Creek Road.

See ya on the water,