European Wildcat

Felis silvestris

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Mammalia · Carnivora · Felidae

About

The European wildcat is a small wildcat species native to continental Europe, Great Britain, Ireland, Turkey and the Caucasus. Its fur is brownish to grey with stripes on the forehead and on the sides and has a bushy tail with a black tip. It reaches a head-to-body length of up to 65 cm (26 in) with a 34.5 cm (13.6 in) long tail, and weighs up to 7.5 kg (17 lb).

Fun Fact

European wildcats look remarkably like domestic tabbies but are genetically distinct, and they are so shy that researchers often rely entirely on camera traps — some scientists study them for years without a single direct sighting.

Quick Facts

Habitat

Forests and scrublands

Diet

Carnivore

Lifespan

12-16 years

Threats

Habitat Fragmentation
Deforestation

External Data Sources

Recent sightings on iNaturalist IUCN Red List profile

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