Stalker Cat
Hey Greatest Ape,
The text for the stalker cat is for all stalker cats. The informal nature of the stalker cat means that it is more of a rule of thumb than specific factual information. The cat doesn't say "Random Cat" vs. "Stalker Cat" so there is no way to truly know if you ran across another stalker cat on the way back or if it was just a randomly spawned Black machariodus where you couldn't find the nest.
The stalker cat is an aggressive cat that hunts you down. It comes into your settlement and wants to kill you. Coming across another black machairodus on a return trip seems like you ran into a random spawn. Many people have noted this stalker cat behavior on other forums (like reddit) describing the behavior and the times when it appears/spawns, etc.
If you can run more tests and set down a pattern of Black Stalker Cats (or other stalker cats) showing up if you wait long enough - then we can document that. Not saying it isn't possible, it seems more like you came across a random black cat that then den wasn't around for.
If you were hanging out in an oasis, after killing the stalker cat on the way back from the ocean - just chillin'- and a cat came into the settlement like a stalker cat - that would be a better argument that there might be a time limit.
Maybe it is true if you wait a really long time, they respawn a stalker cat in the same generation but how long is that? You'd have to test it out multiple times and then we could add extra wording in a generalized fashion about "sometimes when you wait a very long time after killing a stalker cat in the same generation, another stalker cat can appear but it is unclear how long this takes. Be aware that it is possible but very unlikely unless you wait a very long time to change a generation or complete an evolution leap. Normally there is a single stalker cat to put pressure on you in a single generation and once it is dead, you don't have to fear another returning until you move forward in time."
I put the text back for now so that people know the general rule of thumb but if you can complete testing - we can always update it. :) --GS877 (talk) 23:14, 4 January 2021 (UTC)