Hounds Locating Cats

[Emily]

My dogs have no trouble treeing bears, but rarely hold a bobcat until I get there (feral cats are a different matter--they can tree those fine!). I am very slow, and cats jump out a lot quicker than bears generally do. By the time I get to the tree, the cat is usually long gone. I can usually figure that out by the record in the snow. Sometimes my hounds are gone with the cat, sometimes not.
In thick cover, cats are good at all sorts of tricks--jumping off steep ledges, going from tree to tree before jumping out, etc. They're a lot quieter about getting away than bears are, too. Look closely at the ground in a wide circle around the tree--the hounds will usually stick pretty close to the tree, but you will find cat tracks further out. Also, pay very close attention to what your hound is saying. Most of the time, you can tell the difference between a hound that is sure and one that is guessing. If its guessing, help it out by walking it on lead in ever wider circles around the tree.
Also, if you are cat hunting during the day, carry a coon light anyway. Cats are a lot smaller and better-camouflaged than bears, and spotting a cat during the day is a lot different from shining for eyes at night. Use the light to help you search the tree your hound is locating on more carefully. The hounds usually know more than we do! I know I need a fair amount of experience before I learn to spot new kinds of game.