Scottish Wild Cat - Felis sylvestris grampia

Despite being native across the country, the Scottish Wild Cat can no longer be found so freely in the wild. However, visitors to our Wild Animal Park in Kent have ample opportunity to view this charming cat as we're home to a pair of Scottish Wild Cats - Sid and Skye and the stud book co-ordinator for the species.
 
HABITAT : Once found across the British Isles, the natural habitat of the Scottish Wildcat now consists of the various terrains across the Grampians and Northern Highlands.
 
DIET : These wild cats were thought to be a pest on Victorian game estates, but it has since been proved that birds make up a very small percentage of the Scottish Wild Cat's diet. The majority of their diet consists of rabbits and small rodents.
 
CHARACTERISTICS : Like most cats they have excellent vision even in the dark, highly developed senses of smell and hearing. They are around 50% larger than the average domestic cat with a thick coat, and a ringed tail with a black tip. This keeps them warm and camouflaged in their harsh rocky habitat.
 
ENDANGERED STATUS & CONSERVATION : With only around 400 of these beautiful cats left in the wild they could be Britain\'s rarest mammal and also as rare as the Siberian tiger. As well as decreasing habitats the main threat to these animals is hybridisation with domestic cats.
 
BREEDING : In the wild these cats come together in pairs once a year in January/February to mate. 3-4 cubs are produced in the spring and raised by the female who will teach them stalking and hunting skills until they are approximately 6 months old when they become independent.
 
CULTURE : Like most wild cat species the Scottish wild cat is mostly nocturnal. They are solitary, except for a few days in mating season.