Field Guide
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Scottish Wildcat
Felis silvestris
Not yet photographed by the community
UK's only wild cat; critically endangered hybrid threat.
Species Profile
UK Red List (Endangered); Critically Endangered in Scotland due to small population and hybridization with feral domestic cats.
- Lifespan
- 4–5 years in the wild; up to 8 years in captivity
- Size & Weight
- Head and body 42–50 cm; tail 21–31 cm; 1.6–3.2 kg
- Habitat
- Remote, dense woodlands and moorland with rocky outcrops and heather, typically in upland areas with minimal human disturbance.
- UK Distribution
- Found almost exclusively in the Scottish Highlands, particularly in Strathspey, Breckland, and parts of the west Highlands; resident year-round.
- Diet
- Obligate carnivore; hunts small mammals and birds, predominantly at dawn and dusk.
- Prey
- Rabbits, hares, voles, mice, shrews, moorhen, and grouse.
- Predators
- Golden eagles, red foxes; human persecution and vehicle strikes are major threats.
- Mating Season
- January to March
- Breeding
- Litter size 4–8 kittens; gestation 65–68 days; kittens weaned at 8–10 weeks; single brood per year.
- Behaviour
- Highly territorial, solitary nocturnal hunter with a distinctive thick, ringed tail and robust build. Extremely shy and elusive, with little tolerance for human proximity or habitat disturbance. Males defend territories of 50–100 hectares.
- •Scottish wildcats are among the rarest carnivores in the British Isles, with fewer than 400 individuals estimated to remain in the wild.
- •Hybridization with feral and domestic cats is the greatest threat to the species' survival, diluting the wildcat gene pool.
- •They have larger paws and a more robust skull than domestic cats, reflecting their adaptation to harsh upland environments.
- •A distinctive characteristic is their thick, blunt-tipped tail with dark rings, which differs from the pointed tails of most domestic cats.
- •Intensive conservation breeding programmes, including the Scottish Wildcat Action partnership, are working to restore populations and reduce feral cat numbers in key areas.
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