That was as big mamma. I suspect she was out looking for breakfast, and while she looked interested, she definitely didn't look threatened. Had the hiker been a smaller kid or petite lady...attitude might have changed for breakfast-interests. At that distance, gun would be out and I would be saying nice things, like "go away kitty".
Big cats scare the shit out of more than any other critter on the Northern Hemisphere. Sure, a brownie or moose can fuck you up dead, but they don't make my hairs stand up on my neck like a cat. I've had two encounters with mountain lions. One had been running from something and ran almost into me; spooked us both
The second was bow hunting on the east side of the Cascades and I was rounding a rock wall, something felt weird, I looked up and a big cat was looking down at me, literally 10 feet above me...once I saw her (I prefer her, sounds better for a cougar
), she backed up and disappeared...it distracted me the rest of the morning and I was constantly looking over my shoulder.
I carry when outdoors more for two-legged threats, but don't ignore a hungry or territorial cat or bear.
ROCK6