WILDCAT
Felis silvestris grampia

At first glance, Scottish wildcats may look similar to a pet cat, but on closer observation there are differences. The wide, flat head, ears pointing more sideways, a bushy blunt-ended tail encircled with dark rings, and a distinctly striped coat all distinguish the true wildcat from feral cats. Research has also revealed differences in their genetic make-up, blood type and skull features.

Scottish wildcats are now one of Britain's rarest mammals and could be in serious danger of extinction. The latin name for the wildcat, Felis silvestris means 'woodland cat'. Since forests first covered the land, the wildcat has lived in Britain, however human persecution and habitat destruction led to its extinction in England, Wales and southern Scotland by 1880. The remote Highlands provided a last refuge. In February 2008, the first Scottish Wildcat Survey for 20 years was launched here at the Park by Scottish Natural Heritage. They are asking for the public to report sightings of wildcats or feral cats, in the hope that this will provide them with a picture of the current status of wildcats in Scotland. If you would like to help, more information is available at http://www.naiadecology.co.uk/wildcatsurv.html

The Scottish Wildcat has been identified in Scotland's Species Action Framework (SAF) as "a species requiring targeted management action to improve prospects for its future survival as a distinct native species." For more information of the Species Action Framework, visit http://www.snh.org.uk/speciesactionframework

Unlike the domestic cat, the wildcat is a seasonal breeder.The ancestors of our domestic pet cat may have been the African Wildcat or the Indian Desert cat. After centuries of evolution and human selection, the domestic cat today is considered a separate species, Felis catus. In Britain, the pet cat arrived with the Romans. Today, there are many domestic cats 'gone wild'. These feral cats can interbreed with the Scottish wildcat, and produce fertile hybrid cats. Such cross breeding may also contribute to putting the future survival of the Scottish wildcat at risk.

The Scottish wildcat is now fully protected by law and is recognised as a separate subspecies, Felis silvestris grampia, confined to the Central and Northern Highlands of mainland Scotland. Their preferred habitat is upland forest with young trees, moorland, scrub and hill ground where they can lie up during the day in a den among rocky cairns, old fox earths, badger setts, or among tree roots. The wildcat is a useful predator of pests such as rabbits and rodents and will also eat birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects and may scavenge fresh road casualties.

Solitary and territorial, the wildcat is active at night particularly around dawn and dusk. Territory is marked out by urine and droppings, and by scratches on tree trunks. The male's home range may overlap that of the female and young males may be nomadic. Mating occurs during February and 2-6 kittens are born approximately 68 days later. The family breaks up after about 5 months, when the young leave to establish their own home range.

Our cats in the Park can often be found on a tree branch, in the aerial walkway or in one of the stone cairns in our Forest Habitat. They are fed mainly on rabbit. The rabbits’ furry skin is left on to provide roughage and interest, with extra 'carnivore' vitamins added for health. As meat eaters, wildcats spend long hours sleeping and digesting their food during the day.