Feb 3, 2025 · The Scottish Animal Welfare Commission (SAWG), which advises ministers on animal welfare, had urged them to look further into the pros and cons of "compulsory containment" of cats in certain parts ...

The Scottish wildcat is a European wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris) population in Scotland.It was once widely distributed across Great Britain, but the population has declined drastically since the turn of the 20th century due to habitat loss and persecution. It is now limited to northern and eastern Scotland. Camera-trapping surveys carried out …

6 days ago · Cats Protection, the U.K.’s biggest cat charity, gave the idea of draconian containment measures short shrift, saying “pragmatic solutions like keeping cats indoors at dawn and dusk can balance the needs of domestic cats and wild animals.” “Scotland is a nation of cat lovers,” said Alice Palombo, the charity’s advocacy and ...

Scottish wildcats are found further north than those in mainland Europe. They use a mosaic of habitat types which often include broadleaved or mixed woodland. Young coniferous …

Jul 25, 2024 · Explore the captivating world of the Scottish Wildcat, the only native wild cat in the United Kingdom. Learn about its unique physical traits, behaviors, and the critical conservation efforts to protect this iconic species.

Scottish wildcats inhabit a few small remote wooded highlands of Scotland. They are particularly active at night, and will prey on rabbits, voles and birds. The introduction of a very similar animal has all-but spelled the end for this critically endangered wild cat.

The Scottish wildcat (Felis silvestris) is one of our most elusive carnivores and the only native member of the cat family still found in the wild in Britain. The wildcat is a European protected species.

Scottish wildcats are one of our rarest mammals. A combination of hunting and habitat loss meant they disappeared from England and Wales close to 200 years ago. Now, the greatest threat to the Scottish wildcat is hybridisation. Many wildcats breed with feral domestic cats.

Facts about the Scottish Wildcat Scientific name: Felis silvestris At a glance A subspecies of the European Wildcat which crossed into Britain after the end of the last Ice Age. Impacted by habitat fragmentation and widespread hybridisation with feral house cats.

Browse our Scotland wildlife guide to learn about the physical characteristics, behaviors, feeding habits and conservation of rare Scottish wildcats.