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68-494: The European wildcat ( Felis silvestris ) is a small wildcat species native to continental Europe, Great Britain, Turkey and the Caucasus . Its fur is brownish to grey with stripes on the forehead and on the sides and has a bushy tail with a black tip. It reaches a head-to-body length of up to 65 cm (26 in) with a 34.5 cm (13.6 in) long tail, and weighs up to 7.5 kg (17 lb). In France and Italy,

136-653: A broader muzzle than African wildcats. Since European wildcats and domestic cats opportunistically interbreed , it is difficult to distinguish wildcats and striped hybrids correctly on the basis of only morphological characteristics. The European wildcat lives primarily in broad-leaved and mixed forests. It avoids intensively cultivated areas and settlements. The northernmost population lives in northern and eastern Scotland. It has been extirpated in England and Wales. There are two disconnected populations in France. The one in

204-799: A burrow, rather than climb trees. When taking residence in a tree hollow, it selects one low to the ground. Dens in rocks or burrows are lined with dry grasses and bird feathers . Dens in tree hollows usually contain enough sawdust to make lining unnecessary. If the den becomes infested with fleas , the wildcat shifts to another den. During winter, when snowfall prevents the European wildcat from travelling long distances, it remains within its den until travel conditions improve. Territorial marking consists of spraying urine on trees, vegetation and rocks, depositing faeces in conspicuous places, and leaving scent marks through glands in its paws. It also leaves visual marks by scratching trees. Sight and hearing are

272-542: A den site. In Transcaucasia , the wildcat's diet consists of gerbils , voles, birds, and reptiles in the summer, and birds, mouse-like rodents, and hares in winter. The Scottish wildcat mainly preys on European rabbit ( Oryctolagus cuniculus ), field vole ( Microtus agrestis ), bank vole ( Clethrionomys glareolus ), wood mouse ( Apodemus sylvaticus ), and birds. In most European countries, European wildcats have become rare. Although legally protected, they are still shot by some people mistaking them for feral cats . In

340-689: A human and a possibly tamed cat. As no cat species is native to Cyprus, this discovery indicates that Neolithic farmers may have brought cats to Cyprus from the Near East. Results of genetics and morphological research corroborated that the African wildcat is the ancestor of the domestic cat. The first individuals were probably domesticated in the Fertile Crescent around the time of the introduction of agriculture. Murals and statuettes depicting cats as well mummified cats indicate that it

408-550: A modified muskrat trap with a spring placed in a concealed pit. A scent trail of pheasant viscera leads the cat to the pit. Wildcat skins were of little commercial value and sometimes converted into imitation sealskin ; the fur usually fetched between 50 and 60 kopecks . Wildcat skins were almost solely used for making cheap scarfs , muffs and coats for ladies. Wildcat species are protected in most range countries and listed in CITES Appendix II . The European wildcat

476-661: A native wildcat population. The African wildcat lives in a wide range of habitats except rainforest , but throughout the savannahs of Africa from Mauritania on the Atlantic coast eastward to the Horn of Africa up to altitudes of 3,000 m (9,800 ft). Small populations live in the Sahara and Nubian Deserts , Karoo region, Kalahari and Namib Deserts . It occurs around the Arabian Peninsula 's periphery to

544-482: A period of population decline, it appears to be increasing or stabilizing once again. It is unknown whether it was truly on the verge of extinction, if it has returned from France, or if it was reintroduced by private individuals or official services. In the 21st century, it has appeared in new locations, such as the shores of Lake Neuchâtel . Its distribution and population size is assessed using hair traps: stakes coated with Valerian are placed in potential habitats, and

612-767: Is also listed in Appendix II of the Berne Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats and in the European Union 's Habitats and Species Directive . Conservation Action Plans have been developed in Germany and Scotland. An African wildcat skeleton excavated in a 9,500-year-old Neolithic grave in Cyprus is the earliest known indication for a close relationship between

680-412: Is at least one account of an adult wildcat being killed and eaten. Competitors include the golden jackal ( Canis aureus ), red fox, marten, and other predators. In the steppe regions of Europe and Asia, village dogs constitute serious enemies of wildcats, along with the much larger Eurasian lynx , one of the rare habitual predators of healthy adult wildcats. In Tajikistan, the grey wolf ( Canis lupus )

748-482: Is categorized as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List since 2002, since it is widely distributed in a stable global population exceeding 20,000 mature individuals. Some local populations are threatened by introgressive hybridisation with the domestic cat ( F. catus ), contagious disease, vehicle collisions and persecution. The association of African wildcats and humans appears to have developed along with

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816-547: Is coordinated by Scottish Natural Heritage (now NatureScot ). The existing wild population has been deemed no longer viable without the implementation of conservation measures. In 2023 a license was approved by NatureScot to release captive-bred wildcats into the Cairngorms region in June of that year. 19 cats were released in early June 2023, with a further 40 expected to follow in 2024 and 2025. In spring 2024, at least two of

884-425: Is spread over most of the skin, constitutes the main mass of the fur, and gives the contour and color of the fur, from the combinations in different percentages of two pigments: brown and black eumelanin , and yellow and red pheomelanin. This layer has the most marked pigmentation and gloss, manifesting as coat markings that are adapted for camouflage or display. Guard hair repels water and blocks sunlight, protecting

952-444: Is the most common type of guard hair, characterized by an expanded distal end, a thin base, and definitive growth. The shafts of the awn are thick and usually spindle-shaped (or blade- or shieldlike), thinning gradually at the tip. Spindle-shaped portion is hard and usually differently colored. Awns usually lie in one direction, giving the pelage a distinct contour. This type of hair is found in carnivorans . In equids , cattle , and on

1020-643: Is the most serious competitor, having been observed to destroy cat burrows. Birds of prey , including Eurasian eagle-owl ( Bubo bubo ) and saker falcon ( Falco cherrug ), have been recorded to kill wildcat kittens. Golden eagle ( Aquila chrysaetos ) are known to hunt both adults and kittens. Seton Gordon recorded an instance where a wildcat fought a golden eagle, resulting in the deaths of both combatants. In Africa, wildcats are occasionally killed and eaten by Central African rock python ( Python sebae ) and martial eagle ( Polemaetus bellicosus ). Wildcat populations are foremost threatened by hybridization with

1088-481: Is the only Mediterranean insular population that has not been introduced. The population in the Polish Carpathian Mountains extends to northern Slovakia and western Ukraine. In France and Italy, the European wildcat is active foremost at night; in undisturbed sites, it is also active by day. In Sicily, an individual was photographed in 2009 and again in 2018 at about the same location. It

1156-742: The Ardennes in the country's north-east extends to Luxembourg, Germany and Belgium. The other in southern France may be connected via the Pyrenees to populations in Spain and Portugal. In the Netherlands, European wildcats were recorded in 1999 near Nijmegen and in 2004 in North Brabant ; these individuals had possibly dispersed from Germany. In Germany, the Rhine is a major barrier between

1224-523: The Asiatic wildcat ( F. lybica ornata ) is spotted. The wildcat and the other members of the cat family had a common ancestor about 10–15 million years ago. The European wildcat evolved during the Cromerian Stage about 866,000 to 478,000 years ago; its direct ancestor was Felis lunensis . The silvestris and lybica lineages probably diverged about 173,000 years ago. The wildcat

1292-562: The Carpathians , the wildcat feeds primarily on yellow-necked mouse ( Apodemus flavicollis ), northern red-backed vole ( Clethrionomys rutilus ), Tatra pine vole ( Microtus tatricus ), and occasionally also European hare ( Lepus europaeus ). In Transcarpathia , the wildcat's diet consists of mouse-like rodents, galliformes , and squirrels . In the Dnestr swamps, it preys on Microtus , water voles, and birds, while those living in

1360-499: The Caucasus was threatened by destruction of broad-leaved forests, entailing a reduction of their range. Only small numbers occur in protected areas. The European wildcat is protected in most European range countries. It is listed in CITES Appendix II , in Appendix II of the Berne Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats and in the European Union's Habitats and Species Directive . In 2004,

1428-465: The Caucasus , while the African wildcat inhabits semi- arid landscapes and steppes in Africa , the Arabian Peninsula , Central Asia , into western India and western China . The wildcat species differ in fur pattern, tail, and size: the European wildcat has long fur and a bushy tail with a rounded tip; the smaller African wildcat is more faintly striped, has short sandy-gray fur and a tapering tail;

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1496-455: The Felis species around 1.62 to 0.59 million years ago , based on analysis of their nuclear DNA. Analysis of their mitochondrial DNA indicates a genetic divergence from Felis at around 4.14 to 0.02 million years ago . Both models agree in the jungle cat ( F. chaus ) having been the first Felis species that diverged, followed by the black-footed cat ( F. nigripes ),

1564-621: The Friends of the Earth Germany initiated the project "Safety Net for the European Wildcat". This project aimed at relinking Germany's forests by planting bushes and trees between areas inhabited by and suitable for European wildcat, and which are larger than 500 km (190 sq mi). They developed the "Wildcat Routing Map", a map depicting the 20,000 km (12,000 mi) long network of corridors. An Action Plan for

1632-463: The Prut swamps primarily target water vole, brown rat, and muskrat ( Ondatra zibethicus ). Birds taken by Prut wildcats include warblers , ferruginous duck , Eurasian coot , spotted crake , and gadwall . In Moldavia , the wildcat's winter diet consists primarily of rodents, while it preys on birds, fish, and crayfish in summer. Brown rats and water voles, as well as muskrats and waterfowl are

1700-601: The Pyrenees . Between the late 17th and mid 20th centuries, its European range became fragmented due to large-scale hunting and regional extirpation. It is possibly extinct in the Czech Republic , and considered regionally extinct in Austria , though vagrants from Italy are spreading into Austria. It has never inhabited Fennoscandia or Estonia . Sicily is the only island in the Mediterranean Sea with

1768-618: The Scottish Highlands , where approximately 400 were thought to remain in the wild in 2004, interbreeding with feral cats is a significant threat to the wild population's distinctiveness. The population in Portugal and Spain is also threatened by interbreeding with feral cats and loss of habitat. The extent of hybridization is low in Germany, Italy and Luxembourg. In the 1990s, the easternmost population in Ukraine, Moldova, and

1836-656: The anal opening . Large-sized sebaceous and scent glands extend along the full length of the tail on the dorsal side. Male wildcats have pre-anal pockets on the tail, activated upon reaching sexual maturity , play a significant role in reproduction and territorial marking . The European wildcat inhabits temperate broadleaf and mixed forests in Europe , Turkey and the Caucasus. In the Iberian Peninsula , it occurs from sea level to 2,250 m (7,380 ft) in

1904-563: The evolutionary radiation of the Felidae began in Asia in the Miocene around 14.45 to 8.38 million years ago . Analysis of mitochondrial DNA of all Felidae species indicates a radiation at around 16.76 to 6.46 million years ago . The European wildcat is part of an evolutionary lineage that is estimated to have genetically diverged from the common ancestor of

1972-459: The jungle cat ( F. chaus ) and leopard cat ( Prionailurus bengalensis ). Its dentition is relatively smaller and weaker than the jungle cat's. Both wildcat species are larger than the domestic cat. The European wildcat has relatively longer legs and a more robust build compared to the domestic cat. The tail is long, and usually slightly exceeds one-half of the animal's body length. The species size varies according to Bergmann's rule , with

2040-1066: The sand cat ( F. margarita ), the African wildcat ( F. lybica ) and then the European wildcat. Fossil remains of small wild cats found in Europe indicate that the European wildcat probably descended from Felis lunensis in the Villafranchian more than 1  million years ago , a transition that was completed by the Holstein interglacial about 340,000 to 325,000 years ago. Domestic cat ( F. catus ) European wildcat African wildcat Chinese mountain cat ( F. bieti ) Sand cat Black-footed cat Jungle cat Domestic cat Near Eastern wildcat Asiatic wildcat ( F. l. ornata ) Southern African wildcat ( F. l. cafra ) European wildcat Chinese mountain cat Sand cat The European wildcat's fur varies in colour from brownish to grey with paler contour hairs. It has five stripes on

2108-478: The 1940s, the taxonomist Reginald Innes Pocock reviewed the collection of wildcat skins and skulls in the Natural History Museum, London , and designated seven F. silvestris subspecies from Europe to Asia Minor , and 25 F. lybica subspecies from Africa , and West to Central Asia . Pocock differentiated the: In 2005, 22 subspecies were recognized by the authors of Mammal Species of

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2176-415: The 19th and 20th centuries, several wildcat type specimens were described and proposed as subspecies , including: As of 2017, two subspecies are recognised as valid taxa : Zoological specimens of cats that originated on Mediterranean islands are not considered native but introduced, including: Phylogenetic analysis of the nuclear DNA in tissue samples from all Felidae species revealed that

2244-648: The Caspian Sea, encompassing Mesopotamia , Israel and Palestine region . In Central Asia, it ranges into Xinjiang and southern Mongolia , and in South Asia into the Thar Desert and arid regions in India . Both wildcat species are largely nocturnal and solitary , except during the breeding period and when females have young. The size of home ranges of females and males varies according to terrain,

2312-572: The Catti so much, that the wildcat became their symbol. The progenitors of Clan Sutherland use the wildcat as symbol on their family crest. The clan's chief bears the title Morair Chat (Great Man of the Cats). The wildcat is considered an icon of Scottish wilderness, and has been used in clan heraldry since the 13th century. The Clan Chattan Association (also known as the Clan of Cats) comprises 12 clans,

2380-411: The European wildcat is predominantly nocturnal , but also active in the daytime when undisturbed by human activities. It preys foremost on small mammals such as lagomorphs and rodents , but also on ground-dwelling birds. Felis (catus) silvestris was the scientific name proposed in 1778 by Johann von Schreber when he described a wild cat based on texts from the early 18th century and before. In

2448-491: The Middle East, giving rise to the steppe wildcat phenotype . Phylogenetic research revealed that the lybica lineage probably diverged from the silvestris lineage about 173,000 years ago. The wildcat has pointed ears, which are moderate in length and broad at the base. Its whiskers are white, number 7 to 16 on each side and reach 5–8 cm (2.0–3.1 in) in length on the muzzle. Whiskers are also present on

2516-776: The Protection of the European Wildcat in Germany was developed in 2009, aiming at doubling the area inhabited by European wildcat and linking populations within Germany and with neighbouring countries until 2019. In 2013, the Scottish Wildcat Conservation Action Group developed the Scottish Wildcat Conservation Action Plan. With this plan, the group set national action priorities and defined responsibilities of agencies and funding priorities for conservation efforts between 2013 and 2019. Its implementation

2584-655: The World , who allocated subspecies largely in line with Pocock's assessment. In 2017, the Cat Classification Task Force revised the taxonomy of the Felidae, and recognized the following as valid taxa: The wildcat is a member of the Felidae, a family that had a common ancestor about 10–15 million years ago. Felis species diverged from the Felidae around 6–7 million years ago. The European wildcat diverged from Felis about 1.09 to 1.4 million years ago. The European wildcat's direct ancestor

2652-407: The age of three months, and blue eyes, which turn amber after five months. Their eyes open after 9–12 days, and their incisors erupt after 14–30 days. The kittens' milk teeth are replaced by their permanent dentition at the age of 160–240 days. The kittens start hunting with their mother at the age of 60 days, and start moving independently after 140–150 days. Lactation lasts 3–4 months, though

2720-745: The availability of food, habitat quality and the age structure of the population. Male and female home ranges overlap, though core areas within territories are avoided by other cats. Females tend to be more sedentary than males, as they require an exclusive hunting area when raising kittens. Wildcats usually spend the day in a hollow tree, a rock crevice or in dense thickets. It is also reported to shelter in abandoned burrows of other species such as of red fox ( Vulpes vulpes ) and in European badger ( Meles meles ) setts in Europe, and of fennec ( Vulpes zerda ) in Africa. When threatened, it retreats into

2788-481: The cats released the previous year gave birth to kittens. Conservationists plan to start a captive breeding programme in 2019 with the aim to reintroduce cats into the wild by 2022. In 2023, it was announced that beginning in 2024 wildcats would be reintroduced in Devon and Cornwall for the first time in 500 years as part of a conservation project. The European wildcat population has been protected since 1963. After

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2856-458: The collected hairs are sorted and analyzed. Out of 655 hair samples, 525 were from cats, including 136 from wild cats. Photos also contribute to the investigation, with 716 portraits, including 268 of wild cats or their look-alikes. These results highlight the challenge of close coexistence between populations of wild cats and domestic cats, and the resulting hybridization. It is estimated that 15 to 20% of Jura cats are hybrids. In mainland France ,

2924-577: The domestic cat. Mortality due to traffic accidents is a threat especially in Europe. The wildcat population in Scotland has declined since the turn of the 20th century due to habitat loss and persecution by landowners. In the former Soviet Union , wildcats were caught accidentally in traps set for European pine marten. In modern times, they are caught in unbaited traps on pathways or at abandoned trails of red fox, European badger, European hare or pheasant. One method of catching wildcats consists of using

2992-504: The establishment of settlements during the Neolithic Revolution , when rodents in grain stores of early farmers attracted wildcats. This association ultimately led to it being tamed and domesticated : the domestic cat is the direct descendant of the African wildcat. It was one of the revered cats in ancient Egypt . The European wildcat has been the subject of mythology and literature . Felis (catus) silvestris

3060-441: The face and legs of sheep , the covering bristles are shorter, stiffer, straighter, and inconspicuously spindled. Bristles are firm, generally long hairs in equids and bovids , some carnivorans, etc., that grow continuously and form manes. The mane often varies by sex, serving to distinguish the sexes ( sexual dimorphism ). For example, male lions have a collar of long, hard outline hair that grows continuously and extends to

3128-508: The forehead, which are broken up into small spots. A dark stripe behind the shoulders expands into a spinal stripe running up to the base of the tail. On the sides, it has irregular dark stripes, which break up on the hind legs, thus forming a blotched pattern. Its tail is bushy with two to three black, transverse rings and rounded at the black tip. The top of the head and the forehead bear four well-developed dark bands that split into small spots. Two short and narrow stripes are usually present in

3196-426: The inner surface of the paw and measure 3–4 cm (1.2–1.6 in). Its eyes are large, with vertical pupils and yellowish-green irises . The eyelashes range from 5–6 cm (2.0–2.4 in) in length, and can number six to eight per side. The European wildcat has a greater skull volume than the domestic cat, a ratio known as Schauenberg's index . Further, its skull is more spherical in shape than that of

3264-454: The kittens disperse to establish their own territories. Their maximum life span is 21 years, though they usually live up to 13–14 years. Generation length of the wildcat is about eight years. Because of its habit of living in areas with rocks and tall trees for refuge, dense thickets and abandoned burrows, wildcats have few natural predators. In Central Europe, many kittens are killed by European pine marten ( Martes martes ), and there

3332-435: The kittens eat meat as early as 1.5 months of age. Sexual maturity is attained at the age of 300 days. Similarly to the domestic cat, the physical development of African wildcat kittens over the first two weeks of their lives is much faster than that of European wildcats. The kittens are largely fully grown by 10 months, though skeletal growth continues for over 18–19 months. The family dissolves after roughly five months, and

3400-637: The largest specimens occurring in cool, northern areas of Europe and Asia such as Mongolia , Manchuria and Siberia . Males measure 43–91 cm (17–36 in) in head to body length, 23–40 cm (9.1–15.7 in) in tail length, and normally weigh 5–8 kg (11–18 lb). Females are slightly smaller, measuring 40–77 cm (16–30 in) in body length and 18–35 cm (7.1–13.8 in) in tail length, and weighing 3–5 kg (6.6–11.0 lb). Both sexes have two thoracic and two abdominal teats . Both sexes have pre- anal glands , consisting of moderately sized sweat and sebaceous glands around

3468-520: The main sources of food for wildcats in the Kuban River delta. Wildcats in the northern Caucasus feed on mouse-like rodents and European edible dormice , as well as birds, young chamois and roe deer on rare occasions. Wildcats on the Black Sea coast are thought to feed on small birds, shrews, and hares. On one occasion, the feathers of a white-tailed eagle and the skull of a kid were found at

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3536-414: The majority of which display the wildcat on their badges. Shakespeare referenced the wildcat three times: Guard hair Guard hair (overhair) is the top or outer layer of the coat. Guard hairs are longer, generally coarser, and have nearly straight shafts that protrude through the layer of softer down hair. The distal end of the guard hair is the visible layer of most mammal coats. The guard hair

3604-651: The population in Eifel and Hunsrück mountains west of the river and populations east of the river, where a six-lane highway hampers dispersal. In Switzerland, European wildcats are present in the Jura Mountains . Three fragmented populations in Italy comprise one in the country's central and southern part, one in the eastern Alps that may be connected to populations in Slovenia and Croatia. The Sicilian population

3672-407: The shoulder region, in front of the dorsal band. Some individuals have a few light spots on the throat, between the forelegs, or in the inguinal region. The dorsal surface of the neck and head are the same colour as that of the trunk, but is lighter grey around the eyes, lips, cheeks, and chin. A slight ochreous shade is visible on the undersides of the flanks. A black and narrow dorsal band starts on

3740-420: The shoulders and forms a mane on the back of the neck. Bristles function as visual signals that augment facial expressions (e.g., lions) or body postures (e.g., horses ). The guard hairs are sometimes modified to form defensive spines . Spines are the stiff, enlarged guard hairs that exhibit definitive growth and form the protective quills of echidnas , hedgehogs and especially porcupines . In porcupines,

3808-496: The shoulders, and runs along the back up to the base of the tail. In some animals, the summer coat is ashen coloured. The patterns on the head and neck are as well-developed as those on the tail, though the patterns on the flanks are almost imperceptible. Guard hairs measure 7 cm (3 in), the tip hairs 5.5–6 cm ( 2 + 1 ⁄ 8 – 2 + 3 ⁄ 8  in), and the underfur 11–14 cm ( 4 + 1 ⁄ 2 – 5 + 1 ⁄ 2  in). Corresponding measurements in

3876-466: The summer are 5–6.7 cm (2– 2 + 5 ⁄ 8  in), 4.5–6 cm ( 1 + 3 ⁄ 4 – 2 + 1 ⁄ 4  in), and 5.3 cm ( 2 + 1 ⁄ 8  in). Large males in Spain reach 65 cm (26 in) in length, with a 34.5 cm ( 13 + 1 ⁄ 2  in) long tail, and weigh up to 7.5 kg (17 lb). They also have a less diffuse stripe pattern, proportionally larger teeth, and feed more often on rabbits than

3944-472: The undercoat and skin in wet or aquatic habitats, and from the sun's ultraviolet radiation. Guard hairs can also reduce the severity of cuts or scratches to the skin. Many mammals, such as the domestic dog and cat , have a pilomotor reflex that raises their guard hairs as part of a threat display when agitated. The three major types of guard hair recognized are awns, spines and bristles, although intermediates between these types are known. Awn hair

4012-541: The wild, it consumes up to 600 g (21 oz) of food daily. The African wildcat preys foremost on murids , to a lesser extent also on birds, small reptiles and invertebrates . The wildcat has two estrus periods, one in December–February and another in May–July. Estrus lasts 5–9 days, with a gestation period lasting 60–68 days. Ovulation is induced through copulation . Spermatogenesis occurs throughout

4080-560: The wildcat species used to be widespread from ancient times until the Middle Ages. However, its populations began to decline during that period. Although it almost disappeared in the 20th century, there has been a slow resurgence in recent years. Wildcat The wildcat is a species complex comprising two small wild cat species : the European wildcat ( Felis silvestris ) and the African wildcat ( F. lybica ). The European wildcat inhabits forests in Europe , Anatolia and

4148-462: The wildcat were used for medicinal purposes; its flesh for treating gout , its fat for dissolving tumours and easing pain, its blood for curing " falling sickness ", and its excrement for treating baldness . The Picts venerated wildcats, having probably named Caithness (Land of the Cats) after them. According to the foundation myth of the Catti tribe, their ancestors were attacked by wildcats upon landing in Scotland. Their ferocity impressed

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4216-960: The wildcat's primary senses when hunting. It lies in wait for prey, then catches it by executing a few leaps, which can span three metres. When hunting near water courses, it waits on trees overhanging the water. It kills small prey by grabbing it in its claws, and piercing the neck or occiput with its fangs. When attacking large prey, it leaps upon the animal's back, and attempts to bite the neck or carotid . It does not persist in attacking if prey manages to escape. The European wildcat primarily preys on small mammals such as European rabbit ( Oryctolagus cuniculus ) and rodents . It also preys on dormice , hares , nutria ( Myocastor coypus ) and birds , especially ducks and other waterfowl , galliformes , pigeons and passerines . It can consume large bone fragments. Although it kills insectivores such as moles and shrews , it rarely eats them. When living close to human settlements, it preys on poultry . In

4284-591: The wildcats north of the Douro-Ebro, which are more dependent on small rodents . The European wildcat is on average bigger and stouter than the domestic cat, has longer fur and a shorter non-tapering bushy tail. It has striped fur and a dark dorsal band. Males average a weight of 5 kg (11 lb) up to 8 kg (18 lb), and females 3.5 kg (8 lb). Their weight fluctuates seasonally up to 2.5 kg (6 lb). European wildcats have proportionately shorter cheek tooth rows with smaller teeth, but

4352-527: The year. During the mating season , males fight viciously, and may congregate around a single female. There are records of male and female wildcats becoming temporarily monogamous. Kittens are usually born between April and May, and up to August. Litter size ranges from 1–7 kittens. Kittens are born with closed eyes and are covered in a fuzzy coat. They weigh 65–163 g (2.3–5.7 oz) at birth, and kittens under 90 g (3.2 oz) usually do not survive. They are born with pink paw pads, which blacken at

4420-487: Was Felis lunensis , which lived in Europe in the late Pliocene and Villafranchian periods. Fossil remains indicate that the transition from lunensis to silvestris was completed by the Holstein interglacial about 340,000 to 325,000 years ago. Craniological differences between the European and African wildcats indicate that the wildcat probably migrated during the Late Pleistocene from Europe into

4488-570: Was commonly kept by ancient Egyptians since at least the Twelfth Dynasty of Egypt . Celtic fables of the Cat Sìth , a fairy creature described as resembling a large white-chested black cat, are thought to have been inspired by the Kellas cat , itself thought to be a free-ranging crossbreed between a European wildcat and a domestic cat. In 1693, William Salmon mentioned how body parts of

4556-447: Was probably at least 10 years old at the time of recapture. In Western Europe, the wildcat feeds on hamsters , brown rats , dormice , water voles , voles , and wood mice . From time to time, it also preys on small carnivores like martens , European polecat , stoat , and least weasel ( Mustela nivalis ), as well as fawns of red deer ( Cervus elaphus ), roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus ), and chamois ( Rupicapra rupicapra ). In

4624-663: Was the scientific name used in 1777 by Johann von Schreber when he described the European wildcat based on descriptions and names proposed by earlier naturalists such as Mathurin Jacques Brisson , Ulisse Aldrovandi and Conrad Gessner . Felis lybica was the name proposed in 1780 by Georg Forster , who described an African wildcat from Gafsa on the Barbary Coast . In subsequent decades, several naturalists and explorers described 40 wildcat specimens collected in European, African and Asian range countries. In

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