A big cat, any of them really. They look so cute and I’d have my guard down because of how much they remind me of little cats. And then boom it’d hit me, they might be running the same Cat Brain OS but they’re capable of taking me out in one swift swipe if they wanted to and if I accidentally irked them somehow (also not having any positive attachment to humans they might not hold back). But it’d be too late, and I’d die terrified but also beholding the cute, cute kitty.
I saw a tiger pacing back and forth and thought "yup, predator" and then it rolled on its back and exposed its fluffy belly and I was immediately disarmed.
I've met a few in person and my personal preference is a range of 100 yards/meters. They are a lot bigger than people think.
A notable encounter was on the 4th of July Pass in Idaho, one crossed right in front of my vehicle (Geo Metro) and was about the same size of said car.