Scottish Wildcat

Wild Cat Felis silvestris

Scottish wildcats live in the highlands of Scotland, they are the last remaining large, wild predator in Britain, whilst others such as the lynx, bear and wolf have been hunted to extinction, the Scottish Wildcat has hung on. Wildcats have a brown and black striped, thick coat with light brown fur around the mouth and a striking thick, ringed tail which is black at the tip, typically weighing 5-9kgs. Scottish wildcats are perfectly adapted to hunting, with immensely powerful back leg muscles for fast sprinting, eighteen retractable sharp claws and rotating wrists which allow them to grip prey and climb trees. The coat gives the wildcat great camouflage and protection as it has an inner downy layer for warmth and the outer layer protects the cat from the rain. Wildcats are solitary animals and come together just once a year to mate. At other times they communicate with one another through scent marking. They are secretive and elusive, preferring the cover of dense vegetation. Due to its secretive nature it is hard to be certain exactly how many Wildcats survive though it is commonly accepted that Wildcats are at serious risk as their numbers have declined due to deforestation, persecution from hunters and road deaths.