Scottish wildcats are critically endangered with fewer than 300 individuals remaining, requiring captive breeding, reintroduction, and hybridisation control.
Individual wildcats in remnant populations experience increased inbreeding stress and reduced fitness. Reintroduction involves capture, transport, and release stress that must be managed carefully. Captive breeding maintains individual welfare through appropriate housing and enrichment while preserving genetics for conservation. The welfare of individual wildcats must be balanced against population-level conservation needs.