I find it interesting how the pathetic species of modern domesticated human is always more scared of the improbable prospect of an attack from a natural predator, but always so non-plussed and nonchalant about the much greater and more probable danger from the technology of the man-made world. It points to a large mentality that fears the natural world and is ignorant of greater dangers from the machines we create.
Everyone here probably knows someone injured or perhaps killed in a car crash. Alot of cyclists disproportionately get whacked by cars. Attacks from predators like bears or lions are more Tall-tales such as Pecos Bill, you hear rumors, read sensationalist stories in the paper, or lies from your friends, but you don't know anyone you maintain social contact with who was party to such an attack. That does not mean that they do not happen, but they are so rare, you just don't know anyone that it happened to.
Also if there are cougars in NJ alot are probably owned by rich douches. There are more big cats in the USA owned by private citizens with too much money to part with, than there are by all the zoos. It is legal in alot of the country too, don't know about NJ, but you could always illegally own them and the cops will just harass the poor as usual.