Prowling cougar has taste for younger guys.

Age and gender have always played an integral role to the development of relationships.

Take, for instance, the stereotypical relationship between a gent and a girl very much his junior.

Society is quick to pass judgement on these father-figure relationships, commonly perceiving the man to be virile, while judging the girl as a gold-digging hussy.

But what if the roles are reversed? Young men beware – cougars are on the prowl.

The term “cougar” is used to describe a woman in her 40s who goes to clubs with the goal of picking up men in their 20s. Cougars are usually divorced, sometimes with children, but always financially independent.

The trained eye should be able to spot a cougar from a safe distance.

They often wear inappropriate clothes, with dyed hair and a heavy application of make-up and jewellery.

Cougars manage to stay in shape thanks to their lifestyle of extensive shopping, travelling and incessant dinner party planning.

But how has this latest romantic phenomenon affected the Lincolnshire dating scene?

Heidi Cheetham, 43, of Ruskington, says she finds the concept of cougars rather strange.

She said: “As a woman in her 40s, I’m not sure I could strike up a relationship with a young guy.

“I have kids that age, so it wouldn’t feel right. I’d just want to mother them. If I ever came back on the market, I’d sooner date someone with more life experience, but if it’s someone else’s preference to go for someone significantly younger, then good luck to them. At a push, I’m sure I could make the exception.”

Meanwhile, Kat Turner, 26, of the Bailgate area of Lincoln, believed she could be considered as a cougar in training.

She said: “I can see how that kind of lifestyle could be attractive.

“The whole cougar lifestyle could be seen as an empowering sense of feminism. It’d be nice to think that when I’m in my 40s, I’d be financially secure enough to support myself and still have an appearance attractive to young men.

“It’s totally acceptable for men to date women younger than them, so there’s no reason it can’t be acceptable for women to date younger men. Just look at Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher.”

Younger women who aspire to be cougars are more commonly known as “pumas” or “cougar-cubs”.

However, cougar relationships should be treated like any other.

If there are two people willing to create a future, age disparity shouldn’t be an issue.