SCOTTISH WILDCAT

WORLDWIDE DISTRIBUTION

• The Scottish wildcat is a distinct variety of wildcat. Wildcats are found in most of Europe, as well as parts of Africa
• There is only 5 subspecies of wildcat altogether, and as well as Scotland, the Scottish wildcat is part of the variation found throughout Europe and Turkey.

DISTRIBUTION IN SCOTLAND

• Originally the wildcat lived in all parts of the UK, but due to loss of forest habitat there are no longer any found in England or Wales.
• In Scotland, the wildcat can be found in the Highlands, Argyll, and northern parts of the Central Belt.
• Due to its elusive behaviour the exact population is hard to determine, but a team of scientists concluded there is around 100-200 left

CONSERVATION STATUS

• Although the wildcat is the most common cat species, the Scottish Wildcat is listed as vulnerable
• According to the European Community's Habitat and Species Directive, it is a Species in need of strict protection.
• In the U.K., the Scottish Wildcat is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, and was added to the UK Biodiversity Action Plan as a priority species in 2007.

CONSERVATION STATUS

• Under the Scottish Natural Heritage's Species Action Framework, it is one of 32 species prioritised for conservation action, this was also in 2007
• A Cairngorm Wildcat Conservation Project launched in 2009 following a conference about the Scottish Wildcat's status.
• Figures from the Scottish Wildcat Association in 2012 suggest a best case scenario of 100-200 Scottish Wildcats remaining- they are at an extreme risk of extinction

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

• The Scottish Wildcat is small- the head and body is an average of 56cm long, the tail 30cm long.
• Males are slightly larger than females, weighing 6-9kg and 5-7kg
• Appearing very similar to the typical tabby, it is the wildcat's tail that sets it apart - it is very thick and clublike with big bold distinct rings around it which do not join together at all

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

• In order to be a pure Scottish Wildcat, the features it must have are: brown with black tiger-stripe markings Thick, ruffled coat Long stripes over body, No white patches Muscular solid body frame Wavy lines over head and neck Dorsal stripe ends at base of tail Very thick tail with a blunt tip Perfect black rings circle the tail with a large black tip Large Jaw and wide head

BEHAVIOURAL CHARACTERISTICS

• They are pure carnivores and eat only meat, and consume almost every part of any kill they make
• They live a solitary existence, coming together in pairs to mate for a short period around February. 2 or 3 Kittens are born in spring and raised solely by the mother who protects them exceptionally
• They are Intelligent, fearless, resourceful, agile, aggressive and incredibly powerful, and even thought to be man killers until the 1950s

BEHAVIOURAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Unlike most wild animals they cannot be tamed, even a hand reared kitten will naturally develop a complete distrust for human kind
• Scottish wildcats have excellent day and night motion-sensitive vision, a highly tuned sense of balance and touch, good scenting ability and incredible hearing.

ECOLOGICAL NICHE

• Predators of the wildcat include the fox and the golden eagle, which will both take kittens, while in the past the lynx and wolf would also have preyed on the wildcat.
• Like all mammals, the wildcat is host to a range of parasites, and external parasites include the deer tick and an ear mite. Another is the cat flea.
• As it's diet consists of purely meat, they are susceptible to worms in particular and so will sometimes eat grass to try and remove them from its gut and provide folic acid for its body