THE SCOTTISH WILDCAT
"TIGER OF THE HIGHLANDS"
Photo is courtesy of Foxfire Gallery/C.Hummel - Image is for sale
This magnificent creature has graced the planet (unique only to Britain) for millions of years, yet sadly less than 400 remain today. Once found across Britain's mainland, they are now exclusively in the Scottish Highlands. "Every inch a cat in every sense of the word the Scottish wildcat epitomises the independent, mysterious and wild spirit of the Highlands like no other creature," states the Scottish Wildcat Association. They are commonly described as looking like a muscular Tabby though it's a cat that has never been tamed.
Straight from The Scottish Wildcat Association website:
"Touch is important for mobility and agility and cats have a highly developed sense of balance remaining from their tree dwelling evolutionary ancestors. The chamber in their brain used like a spirit level to locate themselves physically is far more advanced than in humans, undoubtedly to deal with the complex 3-dimensional lifestyle of tree dwelling predators. Their acute touch sense can also detect minute ground vibrations caused by prey through their paw pads, or minute changes in air currents with their delicate whiskers and a number of other specialised sensory hairs around their body." READ MORE about the wildcat's five senses...
Here are some other informative sites with general Scottish wildcat information:
Scottish Wildcat Association is the home of the new charity set up to help conserve the Scottish wildcat.
WildcatConservation.org (International Society for Endangered Cats Canada - features the Scottish Wildcat)
Scottish Wildcat Association Myspace
Tooth and Claw; Peter Cairns ongoing project exploring man's relationship with predators, already has some good wildcat info and more to come.
Straight from The Scottish Wildcat Association website:
"Touch is important for mobility and agility and cats have a highly developed sense of balance remaining from their tree dwelling evolutionary ancestors. The chamber in their brain used like a spirit level to locate themselves physically is far more advanced than in humans, undoubtedly to deal with the complex 3-dimensional lifestyle of tree dwelling predators. Their acute touch sense can also detect minute ground vibrations caused by prey through their paw pads, or minute changes in air currents with their delicate whiskers and a number of other specialised sensory hairs around their body." READ MORE about the wildcat's five senses...
Here are some other informative sites with general Scottish wildcat information:
Scottish Wildcat Association is the home of the new charity set up to help conserve the Scottish wildcat.
WildcatConservation.org (International Society for Endangered Cats Canada - features the Scottish Wildcat)
Scottish Wildcat Association Myspace
Tooth and Claw; Peter Cairns ongoing project exploring man's relationship with predators, already has some good wildcat info and more to come.
Click to enter coffeefilms.com
LAST OF THE SCOTTISH WILDCATS is a documentary by Coffee Films exploring the imminent extinction of Britain's last native cat. The Coffee website has a lot of good information about these magnificent animals.
Photo Credit:
This beautiful photo of a Scottish wildcat at the top of this page is courtesy of Foxfire Gallery/C.Hummel. Please visit her art gallery for more stunning work. Thank you Foxfire Gallery for the use of your wonderful photograph and for bringing attention to this endangered species! Copies of this picture can be purchased as a greeting card, postcard and various framed or matted prints.
This beautiful photo of a Scottish wildcat at the top of this page is courtesy of Foxfire Gallery/C.Hummel. Please visit her art gallery for more stunning work. Thank you Foxfire Gallery for the use of your wonderful photograph and for bringing attention to this endangered species! Copies of this picture can be purchased as a greeting card, postcard and various framed or matted prints.
Click to enter Foxfire Gallery
