Wildlife

Scottish Wildcat Conservation and Welfare

The Scottish wildcat is one of Britain's most endangered mammals, with only a handful of genetically pure individuals thought to remain in the wild.

Key Facts

Fewer than 300 wildcats may remain in Scotland and many are hybrids with domestic cats
Hybridisation with domestic cats is the primary threat to pure wildcat genetics
Disease transmission from feral domestic cats poses a significant health risk
The Saving Wildcats project is running a conservation breeding and reintroduction programme
Wildcats require large territories of woodland and moorland with abundant prey

Welfare Considerations

Wildcats in human care require specialist management to maintain wild behaviour appropriate for reintroduction. Stress from human contact can impair welfare and post-release survival. The small population means that genetic management to avoid inbreeding is critical for both population and individual welfare. Reintroduced wildcats face adaptation challenges in finding territories and prey.

What You Can Do

Support the Saving Wildcats project and wildlife trusts involved in reintroduction
Advocate for feral cat neutering programmes to reduce hybridisation pressure
Report wildcat sightings in Scotland to the Saving Wildcats genetic sampling programme
Do not allow domestic cats to roam in wildcat habitat areas of Scotland
Support Highland habitat restoration that provides wildcat territories