A vet said the black & white cat I took in may be a cross between a domestic cat & a wildcat.. Its huge, just under 6kg, & has strange tufts on his ears.. Other people have said he's a Maine coon, but vet says no.. All I know is I have a great cat, who after two months has just grown in confidence & happiness, it's been amazing.. There were wildcats pretty close to me in the outskirts of a wee town called Dalmellington in Ayrshire, but that was when I was young, whether nearly 30 years later they're still there, I couldn't say for sure sadly.. Beautiful creatures..

Thank you for posting this. I've had what I presumed to be a feral cat in my garden, for the past couple of years I've been feeding him 2-3 times a day. He was completely bald to start off with a couple of summers ago, but from the few hairs on his face I thought he would be a beautiful cat. However he's not people friendly, is bigger and chunkier in his bones than my other domestic cats, and single-handedly keeps out other cats and foxes from my garden, so he certainly earns his keep. However, as his fur has grown back I've noticed these distinct markings and that his body certainly is larger than my other cats. who are quite wary of him. Not sure how he managed to get to London, but as he is certainly very beautiful, with the only differing feature being a white bib and socks and slight less bushy tail, I suspect someone thought he was a pretty kitty, piled him into their car and brought him down the motorway, but then changed their mind when they realised he's not people friendly. At present he's got his winter coat on and his fur is more like the 2nd wildcat described in the film, and it certainly explains a lot about his behaviour. From my point of view, I'm happy for him to stay on, have built him a den which he likes but there is a respect that although he's happy to be in our company, he's not keen on being stroked and we keep our hands to ourselves. If he is a hybrid, I don't think he's more than 1 generation away from purity of breed. Not sure if I need to contact anyone about him, but he's doing a useful job so I'm happy for him to stay on.

@michaelgrosvenor4707

9 жыл бұрын

Where do you live? I saw one in my friend's garden in Silvertown a couple of times. It's huge (head is pretty much up to my knee), and it also seems pretty standoffish.

@digeridoo6807

9 жыл бұрын

Near Crystal Palace. No, they're NOT people friendly at all. However, I've noticed that in the last month or so, mine will occasionally let one of us stroke his head, usually my son, as he spends more time with him, and usually when he is inside the kitchen having his food. He seems to consider outside the house as his domain and get quite shirty if we try to touch him.

My cat looks like a hybrid! Been learning about this Scottish wildcat and it's all lining up.

@jewelmarkess

5 жыл бұрын

Unless you live in Scotland, it's highly unlikely if not to say impossible. If you live in Europe, especially near woods, it could be a hybrid with an European wildcat. If you live in the US, how exactly could it be?

@arthurhughes-watts1180

3 жыл бұрын

I think my cat might be a hybrid his build looks quite similar to a European wild cat. Large and stoney with those differently shaped heads. My theory is that wild cats became extinct in England not only from hunting but from breeding with domestic cats making cats to some degree hybrid

@mjacobs8736

3 жыл бұрын

@@jewelmarkess Lol yeah, you're right. It's probably impossible. We got him from a shelter so we don't know his past. But he sure looks like these guys! 25 pounds, same markings, short snout, big-boned, rippling muscle, broad sides. Intense personality. He's a special boy, whatever he is!

@jewelmarkess

3 жыл бұрын

@@mjacobs8736 Watch the video about wildcat identification, you'll notice the difference in markings. It's called "Scottish Wildcat Identification; pure vs hybrid and feral cat." All tabbies look somewhat similar to these guys, but there are differences that this video goes into in detail. The obvious one I remember is the black stripe that goes along the back, it's called the "dorsal stripe". In domestic tabbies it goes till the end of the tail. In wildcats, it doesn't, their tails have clear circles with nothing connecting them. Another difference is their bushy tail. In domestic cats, the tail width diminishes towards the end, in Scottish (and European) wildcats, it doesn't, it's like it's cut off. There is also no spotting at all in Scottish (and all European) wildcats, just stripes. But watch the video. Interestingly, I've watched videos of other wildcats including our cats' ancestor African wildcat. While their markings are different from the European varieties and they can have spotting, their tails still have those clear circles with no line connecting them till the end.

@broughton90

Жыл бұрын

Iv had cats the same colour it's domesticated but they basically look the bang same just smaller

The size difference seems pretty large

fascinating and very informative

They are all beautiful...

Scottish rulling class is apsolute uncapable to tackle this hybrid problems. This cat is a national treasure. Keep it pure and safe!

Very interesting. thank you.

I have a cat that looks unusual- has wide face with ears pointed out, same striped markings and no spots, longer back legs and shorter front, slightly shorter tail than our other cats. I’m thinking maybe he is this type of hybrid? Would be interesting to find out for sure as I am no where near Scotland.

The Scottish wildcat, African wildcat, Middle Eastern wild cat are the same type of cat. Just like there are subspecies of tiger, there are subspecies of Felis Silvestris lybica. If the mating occurs naturally in the wild, then what is the problem? The cats are not bred by humans in captivity.

@WildcatHaven

6 жыл бұрын

Scottish (European), African and Middle Eastern are all different species, not subspecies. The issue for Scottish cats is that they're hybridising with domestic cats which are another species not native in the wild environment.

@si4632

6 жыл бұрын

i think he was dropped on the head as a baby another reason for not having asian africans from interbreeding with europeans lol

@jewelmarkess

5 жыл бұрын

@@WildcatHaven Not exactly. In the previous classification all wildcats were subspecies of Felis Silvestris - Felis Silvestris Silvestris - European wildcat, Felis Silvestris Grampia - Scottish wildcat, Felis Silvestris Lybica - Near Eastern or North African wildcat, Felis Silvestris Cafra - South African (African) wildcat, etc. There are a couple of other varieties - Caucasian, Asian... Recently, they separated out European subspecies from African and Asian, so Scottish, European, Caucasian wildcats were left as subspecies of Felis Silvestris whereas Near Eastern (also called North African), South African, and Asian wildcats became subspecies of Felis Lybica (Felis Lybica Lybica - Near Eastern, Felis Lybica Cafra - South African). BUT... there are still discussion about it just as there are discussions on whether our cats are just another subspecies of Felis Silvestris - Felis Silvestris Catus or a separate species - Felis Catus. Additionally, the biological definition of a species is the ability to interbreed and produce fertile offspring, and this is true about all wildcats as well as domestics.

Cute!!😍😍

Nicely explained but I doubt that those subtle differences are clearly to indentify in the field and from a distance. To tell wildcats and grey domestic cats apart I would mainly rely on the shape of the tail and maybe the bigger and more bulky apparency of wildcats. I imagine it's not easy to clearly recognise crossbreeds in the field. Is crossbreeding really an issue? It may be so in Africa but as far as I know European wildcats are not only rare but also very shy and came seldom close to human settlements. Thus, the chance for the two subspecies to meet each other is not that big I would assume.

@frazzs9012

5 жыл бұрын

There was a pure breed Scottish wildcat found near the city of Aberdeen inbeteeen Scottish cities is vast wilderness and farm land so they can move around freely and come close to humans it's not common but happens plus people live up north where most of the wildcats live in our country so yeah some breeding between a common tabby and a wildcat I would happen imagine happens a fair bit

@jewelmarkess

5 жыл бұрын

Actually, according to conservation websites, there is fewer interbreeding in Africa because the territory is large and there are many remote areas. Scotland is much smaller, so I'd expect more interbreeding. African wildcats are much friendlier btw. - probably the reason they were domesticated in the first place and not European subspecies.

@jewelmarkess

5 жыл бұрын

Just to add re: European wildcat. I found a research paper on the subject, it seems like hybridization rates vary by country I guess because of geography. Hungary like Scotland has a high rate of hybridization, but Italy (Sardinia) and Germany have low rate of hybridization. Interestingly, when they analyzed 14 domestic cats in Sardinia, they found 3 housecats who had a bit of European wildcat blood (if I understood their table correctly). BTW - to tell them apart I try to look at the circles at the end of the tail. You can always see the dorsal stripe they mentioned going till the end of the tail in domestic tabbies, so obvious clear circles means a wildcat. Also, if there is spotting. African wildcats might be a bit more difficult to distinguish as their taller legs and reddish ears aren't obvious, and their tail shape is similar to domestic cats. But they also have clear circles at the end.

Interesting...

my mum sent me this because shes convinced our cats a hybrid 😭

are those taxidermy cats? they look awfully cute the way they are lying there

@WildcatHaven

7 жыл бұрын

They are taxidermy museum samples.

do they only live in Scotland? are their wild cats of any breed in England?

@WildcatHaven

7 жыл бұрын

Sadly wildcats were wiped out in England during the Victorian era, they're only found in the Scottish Highlands now.

@WildcatHaven

6 жыл бұрын

Yes, Moidart is part of the Wildcat Haven region.

@WildcatHaven

6 жыл бұрын

Partly, Victorians persecuted them as pests, but today the problem is more about cross mating with domestic cats, a process called hybridisation which dilutes away the wildcat genes

Can the hybrids offspring reproduce?

@uzairchowdhry4044

3 жыл бұрын

yes making the issue worse

@latifahgordeeva6198

3 жыл бұрын

@@uzairchowdhry4044 That's sad.

Now, i know, lulu from kittysaurus, has genetic from scottish wild

@mjacobs8736

3 жыл бұрын

LOL Lulu likes to think he's a rare tiger.

My cat is like the size of a Scottish wildcat but doesn't look anything like one

@hunterdavis1262

3 жыл бұрын

Ok i think it's just a really big tabby cat

I watched a bbc I think program a while ago that said that they think all wild cats have interbred and there are no more pure breed wild cats is this still the thinking or have they found a genetically pure wild cat?

@mossybark8753

8 жыл бұрын

+Blake.... I Like Beavers.... good to know thank you, I like beavers too haha

@mossybark8753

8 жыл бұрын

+Blake.... I Like Beavers.... thanks I'll have a look

@youtubepolice6914

8 жыл бұрын

i seen one of these at rosyth dockyard i think it was a mix because it was extremely friendly i didnt even know these were a thing i thought it had been eating steroids or somethng

@mossybark8753

8 жыл бұрын

+KZread Police lol

@TheKevzx6r

8 жыл бұрын

They still exist I've seen one.

Beautiful animals. I can't help but want one as a pet but better to leave them to their wildness.

@jewelmarkess

8 жыл бұрын

+69v700 What's the point of having one of them as a pet? They look like tabbies (nobody is going to pay attention to details) and they are very difficult to tame.

@69v700

8 жыл бұрын

+jewelmarkess Like I said they are better to be left in the wild.

@jewelmarkess

8 жыл бұрын

69v700 You did, it's not what I meant. I agree with you on that, I just meant to say that I don't even see why anyone would want one - regular tabby look and not friendly. For example, Black Footed Cat is also better left in the wild, but because it looks so exotic I can see why someone may want it. These guys are adorable, but no more so than many of our tabbies (including mine)

@jayrex690

5 жыл бұрын

@@jewelmarkess In my opinion they are much better looking than tame pet tabbies, there are distinctions and personally I think everything about the Scottish wildcat is better. As has already been stated though, it would be ridiculous and unethical to keep one as a pet.

Very interesting, but a bit misleading, the Scottish Wildcat has no genetic links with the domestic cat, that is a decendent of the African Wild cat, and can be/is quite tame, the Felis Sylvestris is different in its skull formation to the domestic cat, the two are quite different, although they are able to interbreed, as can the Lion and Tiger of course.

@WildcatHaven

8 жыл бұрын

+Englishman French domestic cats come directly from Near Eastern wildcats which, as per African wildcats, are both descended from European wildcats; the key point being made by the experts in the video is that domestic cats are developed from the wildcat family, and all of them are very closely related.

@5mnz7fg

5 жыл бұрын

The ancestor of all domestic cats is the African wildcat (felis sylvestris cafra). In Europe we have the European Wildcat (felis sylvestris sylvestris). Both are subspecies of felis sylvestris. Lions and tigers on the other hand belong both to the genus panthera and thus are closely related but within this genus they are clearly distinct species.

@Reincarnation111

5 жыл бұрын

@@WildcatHaven wow! you guys are so knowledgeable...where can i see a scottish wildcat? i live in new jersey..

@jewelmarkess

5 жыл бұрын

@@5mnz7fg Not quite. The ancestor of all domestic cats is Felis Silvestris Lybica or Near Eastern (North African) wildcat. Felis Silvestris Cafra is the South African wildcat. Also, for some reason they recently changed the classification to separate out European subspecies from African/Asian ones, so they groups European, Scottish, Caucasian wildcats under Felis Silvestris and North African (Near Eastern), South African, and Asian wildcats under Felis Lybica. I am not sure why they did it... There are a couple of other wildcat subspecies, but they fall now either under Felis Silvestris or Felis Lybica. I am not sure why they did it given as all wildcats and domestic cats can interbreed in nature and produce fertile offspring..

Touch not the cat bot a glove! #Mackintosh

Best behaved cats on camera lol

its look just like the African wild cats

@jewelmarkess

5 жыл бұрын

No. African wildcats are taller, can have some spotting, have shorter hair, have reddish backs of the ears.

this is awful...i didn't expect to see a lifeless cat here....or wouldn't have clicked on this video. makes me sick!

@NorthSon

4 жыл бұрын

Grow up.

These sorry people ran out of things to mess with so these started on house cats. These are just feral cats. Scotland doesn’t have that many interesting things around, admit it. 100 years ago you had 50 different wolf species. Turns out there is just one species, that you guys killed off. What’s next Scottish wildhamsters?

@jewelmarkess

5 жыл бұрын

Are you an idiot or just trolling? IDIOT: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildcat Just because you are a complete ignoramus who'd never heard about Felis SIlvestris species doesn't mean it doesn't exist. While at that, look at any domestic tabby and see if you can find one that has these clear circles on the tail they point without dorsal stripe crossing them.

@Kingsaxxy3872

2 жыл бұрын

These Cats are not bloody house Cats. These are real Wild animals idiot, they’ve lived here for centuries

@Royaloakgraham

Жыл бұрын

Sorry - but what the Hell are you on about?

@martytdd1606

Жыл бұрын

Im 48 bud. I used to read about the Scottish Wildcat when I was at school in the late 80s. Theyv'e been around long before you tube.