The oldest cat specie, the European Wild Cat is a beautiful feline. It resides in certain parts of Europe.
Believed to be the oldest amongst wild cats, the European Wild Cat
(Felis Silvestris Silvestris) was once found through major parts of
Europe. Larger than its African cousin, the European cat also has a
more dense fur. Color ranges from gray to brown, with stripes often
running across the body, though not as prominent in some other cat
species. The coat is often marked by light colored patches on trunk.
Skull is broad and tail short and bushy, with a black tip. Body length
ranges from half a meter to one meter. Weight may be between two to
twenty pounds.
The European Wild Cat prefers densely wooded areas
though it is adaptable enough to survive in swamp territories unlike
most other felines. Crepuscular, it often displays activity during day
time as well. Though hunting is largely done on the ground, the cat may
adapt an arboreal style in pursuit of prey. Diet consists largely of
small mammals, birds, reptiles and insects. Fish are seldom taken.
Originally
divided into seven subspecies on the basis of geographical
distribution, only three types are believed to remain today:
Felis Silvestris Grampia (Northern Scotland)
Felis Silvestris Caucasia (Turkey and Caucasus)
Felis Silvestris Silvestris (Central Europe)
Mating
season is around February and March every year and an average of three
kittens are born after a gestational period of just over two months.
They gain independence at five months and sexual maturity at twice that
age.
Largely persecuted in the past for fear of their attacks on
poultry , the European Wild Cats are protected today owing to their
beneficial influence in removing rodents that harm trees. The most
serious threat today is breeding with feral and domestic cats that has
led to large scale dilution of the gene pool. Pure bred variants of the
original specie are hard to find today. Other serious threat is from
disease that spreads from feral cats since the wild cats have little
immunity after thousands of years of isolated existence.
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Tags: beneficial influence, black tip, body length ranges, cat species, caucasia, color ranges, colored patches, dense fur, domestic cats, european cat, fur color, gain independence, gene pool, gestational period, northern scotland, oldest cat, sexual maturity, small mammals, three kittens, wild cats