I've had that issue with the WI DNR for more years than I care to remember, and I do know exactly what I am looking at live and sign. There have been cats here in southeastern section of the state since the 70's. Very rare sightings or sign but still here. Well just a few years back the DNR slipped up and admitted that yes they are around. Some how information got dispersed that dated back that far. They found it hard to deny the game cams any more as well as a few phone movies. Reason for denial- did not want to panic the city slickers. We got several established wolf packs as well mostly northern portion state, denied that for quite awhile also. There's been some sign and sightings in and around the Horicon marsh area. This would be a natural progression as they become more established, similar to the coyotes which have found suburbia to be to there liking. Cats & wolves were all but eliminated by the early 1900's here along with Elk. The Elk have been reintroduced. There was an Elk kill by a wolf pack last year or the year before.
