Description:Per the BBC: The animal was seen near Earl Hall Drive in St Osyth, near Clacton-on-Sea, by holidaymaker Bob Martin at about 19:00 BST on Sunday.
Mr Martin said he and his wife Denise saw a large cat and a lion "was the first thing that came to mind".
Police officers decided to call off the search on Monday after no trace of a big cat was found.
A police spokesman said: "We believe what was seen on Sunday evening was either a large domestic cat or a wildcat.
"Extensive searches have been carried out, areas examined and witnesses spoken to - yet nothing has been found to suggest that a lion was in the area.
"The reporting of the animal is not being treated as a hoax, but should such information come to light we will have no hesitation in making arrests."(1:36)