The Scottish wildcat is functionally extinct in the wild due to hybridisation with domestic cats and population decline. A captive breeding and reintroduction programme is the last hope for genetic conservation.
Captive wildcats used in breeding programmes require large, complex enclosures with minimal human exposure to maintain wild behaviour appropriate for reintroduction. Animals that become habituated to humans lose the fear response essential for survival after release. Reintroduced animals face unfamiliar territories, competition from resident domestic cats, and road mortality risk. Trapping of hybrid cats for neutering to reduce introgression causes acute stress and is logistically challenging at scale. The welfare costs of the programme are justified by the conservation imperative of preventing extinction.