Wildcat
Felis silvestris
You can spot two of our wildcats, Fian and Rannoch, in Wildcat Wood.
Scottish wildcats prefer living on the edge of woodlands, in the margins of mountains and moorlands with rough grazing. This varied landscape provides a mix of habitats, from forests and for cover and dens, to open areas for hunting prey small mammals.
Scotland's wildcats are a unique, highly threatened group of the European wildcat. While they might look a little like domesticated pet cats, wildcats have a few unique features. For example, their blunt, bushy tails and fur patterning. Telling the difference between a wildcat, a domestic cat or a hybrid can be very difficult without genetic testing.
We have many other wildcats at the park, but they are being cared for in the Saving Wildcats conservation breeding for release centre. This is part of a large European project our charity is leading to save the species from extinction in Britain.
Population
Unknown
Diet
Carnivore
Habitat
Forest
Fact file
Thanks to their un-broken striped coats, wildcats have earned the nickname 'Highland tigers'
Historically, the wildcat was a vital apex predator, regulating populations of rabbits and voles, thus helping to maintain the health and diversity of Scotland's wild ecosystems
Untameable and fierce, the wildcat became a powerful symbol of Scottish Highland courage, independence, and the untamed spirit of the wilderness itself
Saving Wildcats
Scotland’s wildcats are on the brink of extinction after hundreds of years of persecution and habitat loss, followed by breeding with domestic cats (known as hybridisation). Now critically endangered in Britain, there are barely a handful left and scientific research has confirmed the species will not survive without help.
The last hope for our Highland tigers is the Saving Wildcats project. Based here at the park, the project brings together national and international expertise to prevent the extinction of wildcats in Britain by breeding and releasing them into the wild.
Find out more
Wildcat news
07 Jan 2025
Three minute read
How we're helping
Like all the animals in our care, our wildcats are amazing ambassadors for their relatives in the wild and help hundreds of thousands of people connect with nature every year. They encourage visitors to learn about the threats facing wildlife and the action they can take to help create a world where nature is protected, valued, and loved.
As a wildlife conservation charity, we care for the animals here at the park and work to protect species at risk around the world. From providing expertise in genetics and veterinary health to protecting wild places with local conservation partners, and even restoring threatened species to the wild, we are active where we are needed most.
Find out more about RZSS conservation