Okay, I bet you’re wondering why the Cheshire Cat was the first face you saw on this post. This week’s star animal was what no-doubt what inspired the Cheshire Cat from Alice and Wonderland. This big, little cat may not have the eerie smile of the beloved cartoon character, but it does have some adorable features that make me wonder why they are not more well-known. This cat, also known as the Tiger of Scotland, is called the Scottish Wildcat.  

The Scottish Wildcat:

Before I get into the mission to rescue them, I will give you a little background, since it isn’t a well-known animal. The Scottish Wildcat is the only wildcat in Scotland, since the extinction of a species of lynx in the region (not in the whole world). It shares some characteristics of domestic cats that make people mistake them for pets from time to time. But there are some noticeable differences between a Scottish Wildcat and a Tabby. Wildcats have a more muscular build, with a heavy-set face and jaw, compared to the delicate build of a domestic cat. They are also about 25% larger than a domestic cat. And last, they have a tail that is thick, and ends abruptly at the end, in contrast to domestic cats that have thin tails which taper to the end.  

Scottish Wildcat vs. Tabby, see the differences?

The Wildcat is highly elusive, making it incredibly difficult to film them in the wild. They are only known to inhabit six small regions of Scotland, and are extremely endangered. It is unknown exactly how many Wildcats there are in the wild. Estimates range from 35-100 wildcats, and some think there are no completely pure Wildcats left. This is because they sometimes resort to breeding with domestic cats for lack of finding a mate of their own kind. Wildcats are even more endangered than Tigers or Panda’s, but because they are not well-known, there has not been much done to try to save them… until now.  

I just can’t get enough beauty shots of Wildcats. The’re SO BEAUTIFUL!

The three main threats to the Wildcat population are 1. Hybridization, 2. Disease, and 3. Persecution. Hybridization occurs when Wildcats breed with domestic cats, and they create fertile offspring with characteristics of both animals. This happens a lot, since it can be difficult for Wildcats to find mates of their own kind. The problem with this is that if it continues, the real Wildcat will disappear, replaced with hybrids that aren’t the same amazing creature. Disease is also another problem. Feral cats (domestic cats living in the wild), often carry diseases, which can then be transmitted to Wildcats. Last, they face lots of persecution from gamekeepers, who kill them for fear of Wildcats killing their game. 

Dr. Keri Langridge:

Experts who love Wildcats like Dr. Keri Langridge, a part of the Scottish Wildcat Action, are working to spread awareness of them and to increase the Wildcat population. “What we’re trying to do is work with estates, work with keepers, and look at ways that predator control can be Wildcat friendly,” says Dr. Langridge. Another huge contributor to the conservation of the Wildcat is the Aigas Field Centre. “Since 2011, Aigas Field Centre has been contributing to an important national programme to bring back the Scottish wildcat from the edge of extinction. We are working in partnership with Scottish Wildcat Action which includes efforts to protect what’s left in the wild and a conservation breeding programme led by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland,” says their website.  

One of the captive Wildcats at the Aigas Field Centre:

Both these organizations work with the people of Scotland to find a compromise that benefits Wildcats. One thing that is encouraged is that gamekeepers use live traps, so they can at least see what the threat is before shooting. They have also developed a system called TNVR, which stands for Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, and Release. This is how it works; the organization gets tips from locals and cameras they set up about where feral cats roam. Then, they set up a live trap with food inside. Eventually they will arrange it so that they can catch the cat and quickly have it transported to a local vet to get it neutered and vaccinated. Before putting a cat through this procedure, they take precautions to make sure that the cat is feral and isn’t owned by anyone. After the procedure, they take the cat back to where they caught it and release it. This prevents Wildcats breeding with feral cats and producing weird hybrids. Last, the Aigas Field Centre is home to multiple Wildcats in captivity. They work to breed the Wildcats containing authentic genetics with the hopes of reintroducing them back into the wild one day.  

Thank you for reading this week’s post! Is the Scottish Wildcat your new favorite animal? Interested in helping them stick around for the foreseeable future? Visit Aigas Field Centre  website if you’re interested in “adopting” one of their Wildcats. And be sure to visit http://www.tigersofscotland.com/ to learn more about these fascinating creatures. And if you’re into documentaries, look on Netflix for The Tigers of Scotland. Good bye for now!