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The European wildcat (Felis silvestris) is a small wildcat species native to continental Europe, Scotland, Turkey and the Caucasus. It inhabits forests from the Iberian Peninsula , Italy, Central and Eastern Europe to the Caucasus.
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In most European countries, European wildcats have become rare. Although legally protected, they are still shot by people mistaking them for feral cats. In the Scottish Highlands, interbreeding with feral cats is a significant threat to the wild population's distinctiveness. The population in Portugal and Spain are also threatened by interbreeding ...
According to IUCN Red List, the European wildcat is locally widespread throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. However, there are estimated populations in the following areas: 25,600 individuals for the extant area of the Western-Central European metapopulation including 5,000-10,000 individuals in Germany; less than 4...
Wildcats play important role in their native ecosystem because they control populations of rodents and small mammals they prey on. It is this activity that likely led them to domestication.
Sep 14, 2023 · The European wildcat, also known as Felis silvestris, is a small carnivorous mammal native to Europe. This elusive creature shares similarities with domestic cats but exhibits distinct features and behaviors that set it apart.
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Europe is the native home of the European wildcat. Here they can be found across much of the European mainland and in to Turkey along with a population in Scotland. The species is considered extinct in Scandinavia, the Czech Republic, England and Wales.
Aug 26, 2024 · The European wildcat is a solitary, nocturnal animal that preys on birds and small mammals. It breeds once yearly (in spring) in continental Europe and twice (sometimes three times) yearly in Scotland. A litter consists of three to six kittens; the gestation period is 68 days.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
May 27, 2024 · The European wildcat is the ancestor of the modern housecat. The small wildcat subspecies are native to Europe, mainly living in forests. It is the size of a large house cat. Although it evolved 650,000 years ago, it was only discovered in the 18th century.
The wildcat is a species complex comprising two small wild cat species: the European wildcat (Felis silvestris) and the African wildcat (F. lybica). The European wildcat inhabits forests in Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus, while the African wildcat inhabits semi-arid landscapes and steppes in Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, Central Asia, into ...
