The cat in the picture looks like a big bobcat to me,notice the striped legs and short tail? I have hunted all over the south and southwest and saw several cougars in my days,the long tail of a cougar is very noticeable.
on a side note I did see a cougar in Lee county,Va near the Kentucky border back in the mid 1970's,so I believe there was always a small remnant population combined with pet releases and the noted eastern migration of cougars into old habitat teenming with deer,they are soon to make a comeback like the black bear is doing.Elk meat is pretty good too!