Scottish Wildcats, the Highland Tiger

“They’ll do anything to keep out of your way. When you corner them…and they’ll have no where else to go, that’s when you have to watch out…” —coffeefilms

Domesticated cats originate from the smaller African wildcat. The Scottish wildcats colonised Britain after the Ice Age over 9000 years ago. They followed the spread of suitable habitat and prey so that by the time Britain became an island, they spent a millennia in isolation. The British wildcats evolved to become what many consider to be a separate subspecies: Felis sylvestris grampia.

Due to the loss of forest habitat, hunting for their fur and persecution, by the late 19th century, wildcats in Britain were found only in remote parts of the Scottish Highlands and only there in very low numbers. They began to recover after the First World War, but by this time, domestic cats had become widespread and the principal threat that faces wildcats today - inter-breeding with domestic cats – began to take hold.

As a subspecies of the European wildcat, the Scottish wildcat is the largest and most powerful of all wildcats. It measures 47–66cm(18.5-26 in) in body length, 26–33cm(10in-13in) in tail length, and weighs 2.35-7.26kg(5.18lbs-16lbs). The wildcat is similar in appearance to a striped tabby cat, but has relatively longer legs and a more robust build. The wildcat’s fur is fairly uniform in length throughout the body, except for their tails. The hair on the tail is very long and dense, thus making it look furry and thick (Comparing a Scottish Wildcat to a hybrid or feral).

Apart from differences in genetics and temperament – wildcats are considered to be untameable, a trait not lost on Highland clans who adopted the animal as a symbol of ferocity and independence. The wildcat is considered an icon of the Scottish wilderness. The Picts venerated wildcats, having probably named Caithness (Land of the Cats) after them.

The Scottish wildcat has become rarer than the Bengal tiger. Experts believe there could be as few as 400 left in the wild. They have disappeared from England and Wales in the 19th century and it’s estimated that they will be extinct within the next ten years if no actions are made to preserve them (2006).

The voice of wildcats

Rumble and hiss. Grumpy cheetie.

BBC