European wildcat  (Felis silvestris grampia)

Range

In the UK the wildcat is now restricted to Scotland, north of a line drawn between Edinburgh and Glasgow; the current stronghold is northeast Scotland, but the species is uncommon (5). It seems that Scotland's 'industrial belt' is acting as a barrier to the spread of the wildcat to more southerly areas (6). The species was once widespread throughout Britain, and was common until around the end of the 15th century (5). Elsewhere, the species has a fairly broad distribution in Europe (5).

Habitat

In general, the European wildcat is associated with forests (7). In Scotland it seems to prefer areas that have a range of different types of habitats, at the borders of moorland and mountains with pasture, scrub and forest present (6).

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