Nothing brings a community together like a large, wild cat roaming area woods.

Cougars have been the hot topic of conversation all over town for months.

At first the existence of such a beast in little ole Natchez was fun for the rumor mill but hard to believe for many.

Quickly, nearly everyone believed.

The sighting this week by a group of people all at once makes it difficult to deny that at least one large cat is among us.

And with that confirmation comes the next step — fear.

Fear often brings quick action and irrational thought.

Residents along the Natchez Trace have probably already thought twice about their pets and children roaming the yard at dawn or dusk.

Now others who live at apartment complexes may be just as nervous.

But we all need to remember that this cat has shown no signs of aggression. It’s attacked no one, and it may even be a former pet itself.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be careful; the critter is still a wild animal.

But please treat our cat with respect. Unless someone’s life in danger, the animal doesn’t need to be killed.

Nor does he or she need a full-on search committee tracking its every step.

Let the authorities handle our cougar. Natchez Police, Adams County Sheriff’s Office deputies and most of all Wildlife and Fisheries personnel should be called to the scene of any cougar sighting.

This cat has entertained us for months; let’s not let things end badly.