Native Wild Cats Uk

Wildcats colonised Britain after the Ice Age over 9000 years ago when there was still a land bridge to the Continent.

Native wild cats uk. Many wild cats species are either endangered or threatened. Most wild cat species are proficient climbers often entering the trees either to rest hunt or to seek refuge from predators. They are therefore one of our native cats along with the long-extinct lynx.

Remains of these wildcats have been found at. For a detailed look at alien small cats ASCs in Britain and their potential for interbreeding with the Scottish Wildcat or domestic cats see Domestic X Wildcat Hybrids in Britain. They were last seen in England around 1800 and can now only be found in the wilds of Scotland hence their alternative name the Scottish wildcat.

European wildcats were once widespread in Britain. Now confined to the Scottish highlands wild cats disappeared from southern England in the 16th century with the last one recorded in northern England being shot in 1849. In 1903 the body of a Canadian lynx was donated to Bristol Museum.

A nationwide phenomenon. Wild cats are solitary territorial animals. A number of exotic breeds are being hybridised with domestic cats to create wild-looking pets with docile temperaments eg.

Their territory can range from between 19 to about 55 miles. Domestic cats Felis catus are the most abundant carnivores in Great Britain and their numbers appear to be growing. Of the 40 wild cat species only the lion typically lives and hunts in groups.

These predators are not domestic cats which have become feral. In 1934 a mandible of a young lynx turned up amongst the animal remains excavated from a cave in County Waterford. CLAIMS of big cats roaming wild in the British countryside are on the rise with the Beast of Exmoor just the latest in a long line of sightings.