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The Scottish wildcat kitten saving its species from extinction
Last updated at 16:37pm on 25.05.07A rare Scottish wildcat kitten carries the hopes of its species on its tiny shoulders.
The unnamed male kitten was born to two pure bred Scottish wildcats, said to be Britain's rarest mammal, at Wildwood Discovery Park, near Canterbury, Kent.
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The newborn kitten with mother Flora
Its parents, Hamish and Flora, are among only 400 Scottish wildcats left in the world and scientists warn they could become extinct within our lifetime.
Wildcats have been resident in Britain for more than two million years, sharing the land with the mammoth, cave bear and cave lion long before humans found their way through Europe's forests.
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The youngster explores his surroundings
Peter Smith, chief executive of the Wildwood Trust, said that after centuries of persecution, deforestation and competition from introduced species, the numbers of Scottish wildcats plummetted.
He said: "The kitten's birth will help boost the increasingly important captive population in the UK, which could save the species from future extinction.
"The kitten was born earlier this month but it is only now that the proud mother has brought the kitten out to meet the public."
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Mother and son nuzzle together
Originally a forest dweller, the Scottish wildcat is 50 per cent larger than a domestic cat and preys mainly on rodents and small mammals but also on birds, insects, reptiles and fish.
Mr Smith said they live a solitary existence, coming together in pairs to mate for a short period of time in January and February.
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Mother and son stay alert
He added: "With extinction a possibility as soon as this decade, the next few years will be key in deciding whether the Scottish wildcat will survive.
"All wildcat species are endangered for very similar reasons across Europe, Asia and Africa. However, none are as close to extinction as the Scottish form which is Britain's rarest mammal and one of the rarest cats in the world."
The Wildwood Trust is holding a competition to name the kitten, which was born earlier this month.
Reader views (23)
Today i saw two wildcat kittens in my grans garden in Aberdeen! They were so cute!
- Islay, blackpool
my gran lives in the middle for the coutryside we see lost for them i thing we shoud save them i love wildcats
- Islay, blackpool
I have a very large female cat that has the exact markings and characteristics of the scottish wildcat. although i have two other cats she does not mix with them and is very aloof. she is the most gentle of cat with me though i have never known her to catch me in the 12 yrs i have had her. Definitely half wildcat, even the vet asked where i got her from. I love her to bits.Magnificent animals!
- Carole Gowing, clacton on sea
Love those Scottish Wildcats!
- Judith Shipstad, Los Gatos, California
i have a maine coon domestic cat. he looks exactly like this scottish wildcat!! so cute!!
- Jacque Strange, georgetown,in , usa
while i am firstly a dog person, you ca not but fail to be impressed by this wonderful creature and i think every effort should be made to preserve this cat in the wild and make sure it doesnt become extinct
- chris, liverpool
i own a x scottish wild cat mother and she had 4 kittens
- laura, scotland
i think we all need to do our part to help the scottish wildcats, its the same with any endagered animals. i love cats..
long lifes for the scottish wildcats.
- Claire Bassett, usk, wales
I live on the border of Guildford Common and may people have claimed to have seen wildcats roaming in the dense forests here. I bet that they are not as cute as your wildcat kitty with his mum. I think that I have a hybrid wildcat as a pet as he came from a line of wood dwelling cats tamed by local gypsies many years ago. He certainly looks the part and will hunt almost anything that moves around here. I have seen him take on a fox twice his size before without a care in the world as he chased it back into the woods. Is it possible that there is some wildcat in him.
- Toby Franssen, Mytchett, Great Britain
A beautiful animal, I remember watching a mother with two kittens in Allean Forest, near Strathtummel in the 1970's. I watched them for 20minutes, what was most noticeable was that the kittens played in total silence. I will always remember the privilege I was granted.
BBC Spring Watch tonight had some memorable footage from the Cairgorms.
- John E Robertson, Dundee Scotland
I just love cats, esp. tabbies.
The Scottish wildcat is the most beautiful of them.
And yes, I am also involved in Clan McChattan.
Long life to the Scottish wildcat.
- Laurent Krauland, Forbach, France
It's great to know that so much is being done to ensure the survival of these cats. I am involved with Clan Mackintosh in New England, USA.
I am very proud to call these cats the symbol of our Clan as well as the root word of my own surname!
- Ray Mchatton, Massachusetts, USA
I think that the possible demise of the Wildcat is a bit premature. There are numerous forrests in Scotland and these cats are by nature very elusive. I have seen this animal and although there is no doubt that the population is relatively small I think (like the Pine Marten ) it is much more common than people think. I certainly hope so as it is a truly magnificent animal and Scotland would be a much poorer place without it.
- Jack Mcallister Brown, Glasgow, Scotland
These cats are the epitome of freedom and independence. They are the symbol of the untamable highland spirit and Scottish resolve, as well as the symbol of my clan and kinsmen. I hope every effort will be made to preserve their kind so the world will not be robbed of such a rare and indomitable creature.
- Douglas Bean, Great Falls MT, USA
Super. Always glad to see another one of these kittens. My husband is a member of the Board of Directors of Clan Chattan USA. The Scottish wildcat is the Clan Chattan symbol. We've seen the cat at Highland Wildlife Park. It deserves to be preserved from extinction. Thank you Wildwood. We are proud of the Scottish wildcat.
- Julia Knowlton, San Antonio, Texas, USA
My family name is part of the McPherson clan...clan badge has the phrase "Touch not the cat but a glove", in reference to the wildcat listed above. As to why you wouldn't want to bother it "ungloved" (with it's claws 'in'), see the first comment!
This one touches me much more personally then other possible extinctions, for obvious reasons.
- J. Pearson, St. Louis, MO - USA
Thanks for sharing these wonderful photos. Here's hoping Wildwood Discovery Park can be home to many more kittens as handsome as this little guy.
- Elle Valentine, Wellington, New Zealand
Were the ancient Egyptians so wrong to revere such stunning animals? Their eyes behold a world where myth and reality are intertwined.
- Shane Pahara, Ponoka, Alberta, Canada
What a magnificent animal. Please protect forever.
- Malcolm, Warkworth, New Zealand.
What a beautiful animal.
- Judith, San Luis Obispo, CA USA
We had a half scottish wildcat kitten as a pet when I was a child (living in Fort William - Scotland). Some children found him and asked if we wanted him. He was adorable and believe it or not very gentle (although not to the local dogs, he chased them more than vice versa!) - he used to follow my brother to school everyday and wait for him afterwards, how cute is that?
I really hope that this species survives.
- Alan, Brussels, Belgium
My first and only encounter with The Scottish Wildcat, was when my cousin and I cycled from Auchinairn to Inveraray ( 1954 in our teens ). We stopped at a cottage by a Loch,for a drink of water, and the owner told us he had a wildcat barricaded in a shed. He took us to see it, and cautioned us, that these animals were very dangerous. He slowly opened the door to let us see. To this day, I still remember watching, as a " blur " came from inside, and the old man's arm opened up from wrist to elbow, with blood gushing out, as the wildcat paid his thanks to being locked up overnight.
Scared us to death ! The rest of the ride to our destination, was spent watching the side of the roads and the tree line, in case one of the " beasts " decided to have us for lunch !! 
- Dave Miller, Hendersonville.TN
What a magnificent animal. May it thrive and produce many more.
- R M, London, UK
