|
|
|
 Sent
to you
by e-mail
|
|
Simply
enter your details and hit the send button
more
info |
|
Click Here
Links
Advertise
Terms of Use
Contributors
About Us
Contact Us
|
 |
Go back
| Bookmark
| Print Page 
| E-Mail Us 
Photo: G. Bradley |
|
UK
Safari Tip:
Get help identifying wildcats and other British land mammals with a fully
illustrated fold-out chart - click here
|
|
Latin name: Felis sylvestris
Size: 85 to 110cms, of which 25cms is tail
Distribution: Up until the 1800's wildcats were found in many parts of
Britain. Today they are mainly confined to northern Scotland.
Months seen: All year.
Life Span: Wildcats can live for up to twelve years.
Food: Rabbits, hares, mice, voles, birds.
Habitat: Found on high hills. Lives in old fox dens, hollow trees or in dens under rocks.
Special features: Wildcats look a little like large domestic tabby cats.
 They differ from feral cats (which are domestic cats gone wild) in that the tail has black rings all along it and a rounded black tip. Feral cats have a more pointed tail.
Some Wildcats breed with feral domestic cats, producing hybrids, which
can lead to some confusion.
The foot pads of the Wildcat are black, and they have a split M-shaped (^ ^) black marking over the eyes. They have long white whiskers which are very brittle.
Wildcats do most of their hunting at dawn and dusk, which is when their prey is on the move. During the daytime they rest up in trees and on rocks.
Wildcats breed in March, and again in May or June. The kittens are born two months later. Each litter usually contains between three and five kittens. They are blind at birth, but have a full coat of fur.
At one week old they are able to hiss and spit at anything which upsets them. At six weeks of age they are quite mobile and will follow the mother around outside the den.
UK Safari Mammal Section
|
|
|
