African Wildcat Day on the 18th of September was started in 2024 by Alley Cat Rescue - a feral cat welfare organisation based in America. Alley Cat Rescue also started a conservation campaign many years ago to help sterilise feral cats in South Africa near national parks, in order to help prevent hybridisation with pure-bed African Wildcats, a serious threat to these small wild cats.
Wildcat v wild cat
There is a lot of confusion between the terms 'wildcat' and 'wild cat' as unfortunately many years ago, the term 'wildcat' was used as a common name for a particular subgroup of 'wild cats' in the Felis genus - you see the confusion :).
As a guideline, when one is referring to the actual species, we use the spelling 'Wildcat' or 'wildcat' - no spaces. However, when referring in general to all wild members of the Felidae cat family, the term 'wild cats' - two separate words, is used.
Some authors nowadays are capitalising common names to help differentiate from other terms. We also follow this format and use the capitalised word to help indicate when we are referring to the Wildcat species. We also try to avoid using 'wild cats' when discussing the Wildcat group and just use the term 'cats' whenever possible!
African Wildcat: The Cat That Domesticated Us by Animalogic
Species and Subspecies of Wildcat
The taxonomy (scientific classification) of the group of Wildcats has often changed over the years. The cats in this group are very closely related and depending on which methodology is used to distinguish species and subspecies, the taxonomy can vary as new methods are applied. In earlier times, animals were primarily classified on morphological (physical) traits such as skull measurements and coat patterns, however in recent years with the advent of genetics, more accurate classification of species can be determined based on genetic data.
Wildcat Taxonomy Changes
According to the 2017 revision of the Felidae cat family, there are six species of cats in the Felis genus. Historically three of these species used to be grouped together under the species Felis silvestris - with the common name of Wildcat, and there were four subspecies - African, Asian, European and the Chinese Mountain Cat. However, the revision proposes that some of these subspecies be classified as species and we now have the Afro-Asiatic Wildcat (Felis lybica), the European Wildcat (Felis silvestris) and the Chinese Mountain Cat (Felis bieti). The Afro-Asiatic Wildcat is divided into three subspecies - Southern African Wildcat (F.l. cafra), North African Wildcat (F.l. lybica) and Asiatic Wildcat (F.l. ornata).
African Wildcat
This regrouping has caused further confusion, as which one of these is now the 'African Wildcat'? Some authors refer to Felis lybica as the African Wildcat, but the more correct term is the Afro-Asiatic Wildcat as Felis lybica includes both the African AND the Asian subspecies and range. Technically the African Wildcat should only refer to the Southern and North African subspecies. Additionally, you will often read that the African Wildcat is the ancestor of domestic cats - with the new taxonomy this would more accurately be the North African Wildcat subspecies Felis lybica lybica.
Scottish Wildcat
You may also have heard of the Scottish Wildcat - historically this population in Scotland was described as a distinct subspecies, however under the new classification they are simply a population of the European Wildcat subspecies (F.s. silvestris).
Well, I hope this hasn't confused you further! And bear in mind other websites and authors may have different names and interpretations, depending on which classification they are following.
One Response
Kendra Renshaw Hodges
The information is wonderful, farmore then I ever thought possible. I contributed to Alley Cat Rescue, have a great TNSR program I Started doing myself because of the Humain Society and ACR. Kind of STUMBLED upon this website by accident. I have a great love for all cats, domestic or wild great or small thanks for all this information and facts.