Scotland's wildcats down to the last 400
There has been much media attention recently to the plight of the tiger and other highly endangered big cat species, and rightly so. Yet one of the world’s most endangered cat species is the UK’s own Wildcat, and it is our entire fault. Recent genetic tests have shown that there are fewer than 400 true wildcats left.
For further information about Scottish Wildcats, or to find out how you can help with their predicament, go to www.scottishwildcats.co.uk
For further information about Scottish Wildcats, or to find out how you can help with their predicament, go to www.scottishwildcats.co.uk
Steve Piper of the Scottish Wildcats Association writes:-
Cats evolved in Europe and wildcats have walked the European forests for about 12 million years, here in the UK bones have been found from 2 million years ago though they were probably here well before that; existing alongside things like mammoths, cave bears, lynx and cave lions.
9000 years ago melt water from the ice age glaciers formed the English Channel stranding a population of European wildcats here. For most of those millennia things have been just fine, however as sport hunting has become popular (since the Roman invasions) and more recently the agricultural and then industrial revolutions have broke, natural land has disappeared and the cats have been heavily persecuted along with all the other British predators (2000 years ago we had brown bear, lynx and wolf all resident here).
Through the Victorian era of gaming estates the wildcat came to the brink of extinction because they were blamed for killing game birds; they certainly do kill birds but comparatively rarely, the main thing they kill are rabbits making them a good friend to crop farmers, estates spread outrageous propaganda about wildcats wiping out whole herds of deer, packs of hounds, seasons of lambs and even unwary crofters to help justify the persecution.
Cats evolved in Europe and wildcats have walked the European forests for about 12 million years, here in the UK bones have been found from 2 million years ago though they were probably here well before that; existing alongside things like mammoths, cave bears, lynx and cave lions.
9000 years ago melt water from the ice age glaciers formed the English Channel stranding a population of European wildcats here. For most of those millennia things have been just fine, however as sport hunting has become popular (since the Roman invasions) and more recently the agricultural and then industrial revolutions have broke, natural land has disappeared and the cats have been heavily persecuted along with all the other British predators (2000 years ago we had brown bear, lynx and wolf all resident here).
Through the Victorian era of gaming estates the wildcat came to the brink of extinction because they were blamed for killing game birds; they certainly do kill birds but comparatively rarely, the main thing they kill are rabbits making them a good friend to crop farmers, estates spread outrageous propaganda about wildcats wiping out whole herds of deer, packs of hounds, seasons of lambs and even unwary crofters to help justify the persecution.
Hybridisation with domestic cats
Currently scientific research continues and Scottish Natural Heritage are trying to establish how many cats there are and where most of them live, it's taking them a long time to do it even though they've highlighted the wildcat as a priority species for conservation. The Scottish Wildcat Trust is about bringing together a lot of interested individuals to spread the information and raise money to help, it has been formed by people involved in the captive breeding program, wildlife film and photography, the scientific research and from the general public and we hope it can make a difference from improving the quality of enclosures for the captive breeding through to helping resolve the ‘hybrid’ issue; if everyone in Scotland neutered their domestic cat, there wouldn't be any feral cats, and that's also good for them, they're not adapted for such a tough environment and live difficult, short and dangerous lives.
The wildcat itself is a fantastic species of animal, the Scottish form is unique to Britain, characteristically larger with heavier striping than most of its European cousins; fossils 4 feet long from nose to tail have been found. The modern wildcat is typically 50% larger than a domestic cat, most of which is extra muscle and more robust bones. They are highly aggressive when given reason to be so and are known to be able to bring down small deer species for food and even golden eagles when defending their young; a wildcat mother is just about the baddest cat on the planet pound for pound. Just a couple of weeks ago I heard about a German shepherd cornering a cat and coming off very much the worse for the encounter, the dog's owner had to beat the cat off with a stick after it had inflicted heavy facial lacerations to the unfortunate dog.
Despite this incredible temper and a deserved reputation as the only animal that can never be tamed, wildcats are usually very peaceful and avoid confrontations and people; I'm often asked if wildcats are dangerous to people and the answer is always no; if you corner a cat and threaten it of course it would attack you, we're some 4-5 feet taller and have almost eradicated their entire species, they're terrified of us and if you back away calmly it will happily go on it's way. The family pet rabbit may not be so fortunate I have to admit...
Habitat
Our cat is also special for it's use of habitat; in Europe the wildcat is a forest animal, but in Scotland it has adapted to heavy deforestation by hunting across all habitats and each wildcat will include some forest, heath, river, farm etc. in it's home range; a little bit of everything. Today they seem to favour farmland fringes where rabbits are common but footprints have been found up on Beinn Macdhui in the snow so they get around. Like all cats they have superb day and night vision, incredible hearing, great hunting ability and can sprint at about 30mph, even straight up pine trees. They tend to be active at dawn and dusk while hunting, and sleep in hidden tree branches of thickets by day and the coldest part of the night.
History
Historically the cat is also very special; the ancient Picts used to worship it and fought the Romans and later the English under its image. Even today if you go to the Aviemore/Speyside area, all the local clans have a wildcat in their leader's coat of arms and used to form an alliance called the Clan Chattan (or ‘Clan Cat’), this includes the MacKintoshes, MacPhersons, MacGillvarys, MacBain and quite a few more. Remember that going back to the Picts these clans could have chosen lynx, bear or wolf but went instead for the smallest of the big predators, the wildcat, because of it's independent spirit, fierceness and ability to kill.
For further information about Scottish Wildcats, or to find out how you can help with their predicament, go to www.scottishwildcats.co.uk
Our cat is also special for it's use of habitat; in Europe the wildcat is a forest animal, but in Scotland it has adapted to heavy deforestation by hunting across all habitats and each wildcat will include some forest, heath, river, farm etc. in it's home range; a little bit of everything. Today they seem to favour farmland fringes where rabbits are common but footprints have been found up on Beinn Macdhui in the snow so they get around. Like all cats they have superb day and night vision, incredible hearing, great hunting ability and can sprint at about 30mph, even straight up pine trees. They tend to be active at dawn and dusk while hunting, and sleep in hidden tree branches of thickets by day and the coldest part of the night.
History
Historically the cat is also very special; the ancient Picts used to worship it and fought the Romans and later the English under its image. Even today if you go to the Aviemore/Speyside area, all the local clans have a wildcat in their leader's coat of arms and used to form an alliance called the Clan Chattan (or ‘Clan Cat’), this includes the MacKintoshes, MacPhersons, MacGillvarys, MacBain and quite a few more. Remember that going back to the Picts these clans could have chosen lynx, bear or wolf but went instead for the smallest of the big predators, the wildcat, because of it's independent spirit, fierceness and ability to kill.
For further information about Scottish Wildcats, or to find out how you can help with their predicament, go to www.scottishwildcats.co.uk
