European Wildcat (Felis silvestris) Classification

In recent decades, the wildcat (Felis silvestris) population has been increasing along the eastern edge of its range in Ukraine, associated with the recolonisation of territories previously inhabited by the species. An essential aspect of analysing this process is studying population dynamics, including sex and age structures. Knowing the individual age of animals is a crucial prerequisite for investigating many aspects of their life cycle and population dynamics. This information is particularly important for Felis silvestris, a rare species included in international and national lists of protected animals, for the conservation and management of its populations. This necessitates the verification of age determination methods in specific Felis silvestris populations, particularly in the south-western regions of Ukraine.

To determine the age of wildcats, we employed both traditional, non-invasive methods—such as analysing suture obliteration and dental morphometric characters—and methods requiring partial tooth destruction, such as studying changes in dentin volume and cementum in the root of the canines. Cementochronology was found to be the only method allowing the wildcat population to be divided into seven year classes. Cement deposition primarily occurs at the apical tip of the canine root, allowing the use of only the lower third of the tooth for analysis. This is particularly important when working with collection materials of rare species. In the first year of life (0+), dentin fills no more than 20% of the pulp cavity width. In subsequent year classes, dentin deposition occupies at least 70% of the pulp cavity volume, enabling a clear division of the wildcat population into two groups: young (0+) and older individuals. The distance between the enamel at the neck of the canine and the edge of its alveolus is an effective tool for distinguishing young and adult individuals.

The analysis of alveolar recession relative to the neck enamel can be considered a promising method for determining age groups in wildcats, including both deceased and living individuals. The use of basicranial sutures of the skull was found to be less informative: the sutures at the skull base ossify late, while the obliteration between the maxilla and premaxilla in the nasal area is only partially expressed.

Yuri, Oleynik. (2024). Age determination of the wildcat (Felis silvestris): a case study of a sample from the North-Eastern Black Sea region (Ukraine). Theriologia Ukrainica. 2024. 69-83. 10.53452/TU2806.

Domestic cats were derived from the Near Eastern wildcat (Felis lybica), after which they dispersed with people into Europe. As they did so, it is possible that they interbred with the indigenous population of European wildcats (Felis silvestris).

Gene flow between incoming domestic animals and closely related indigenous wild species has been previously demonstrated in other taxa, including pigs, sheep, goats, bees, chickens, and cattle. In the case of cats, a lack of nuclear, genome-wide data, particularly from Near Eastern wildcats, has made it difficult to either detect or quantify this possibility.

To address these issues, we generated 75 ancient mitochondrial genomes, 14 ancient nuclear genomes, and 31 modern nuclear genomes from European and Near Eastern wildcats. Our results demonstrate that despite cohabitating for at least 2,000 years on the European mainland and in Britain, most modern domestic cats possessed less than 10% of their ancestry from European wildcats, and ancient European wildcats possessed little to no ancestry from domestic cats.

The antiquity and strength of this reproductive isolation between introduced domestic cats and local wildcats was likely the result of behavioral and ecological differences. Intriguingly, this long-lasting reproductive isolation is currently being eroded in parts of the species' distribution as a result of anthropogenic activities.

Jamieson, A. et al.
Limited historical admixture between European wildcats and domestic cats
2023 Current Biology (33): 4751-4760

In spring 2018, the Scottish Wildcat Conservation Action Plan Steering Group approached the IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group with regard to an evaluation of the situation of the wildcat in Scotland and the implementation of conservation activities so far. We present here a summary of this, which was mainly based on the scientific literature and available reports.

Breitenmoser, U.; Lanz, T.; Breitenmoser-Wuersten, C.
Conservation of the wildcat in Scotland: an evaluation
2019  Cat News (69): 42-43

Camera trapping is a widely used method to study the abundance and population density of elusive terrestrial animals. To make full use of this method, it is necessary to obtain high photographic capture rates of the target species. We examine what characteristics of camera trapping sites are associated with high photographic capture rates of European Wildcat Felis silvestris silvestris.

We measured Wildcat capture rates across 25 camera trapping sites located in a 20km² study area within an unprotected low mountain range forest in central Germany. We measured the distance of each trapping site to the forest boundary, to the next watercourse, and to the next human settlement, and broadly defined the type of forest structure the site was located in. None of these site characteristics, however, predicted wildcat photographic capture success.

We also examined the degree of human disturbance at the site, measured as the photographic capture rate of humans (including vehicles). Wildcats were detected at similar rates on dirt or gravel roads (heavily used by humans) as on soft-surfaced paths or logging trails (less frequently used by humans), and the degree of human disturbance across sites did not affect wildcat capture success. We, therefore, suggest that trail features such as course, curvature and width, or vegetation density along the trail are more important determinants of Wildcat capture success than habitat characteristics.

We conclude that for European Wildcats, as for many larger felids, forest roads provide suitable camera trapping sites and that Wildcats are fairly tolerant towards human traffic on these roads.

Wening, H.; Werner, L.; Waltert, M.; Port, M.
Using camera traps to study the elusive European Wildcat Felis Silvestris Silvestris Schreber, 1777 (Carnivora: Felidae) in central Germany: what makes a good trapping site?
2019  Journal of Threatened Taxa (11): 13421-13431

The European wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris) is a threatened and elusive species that was previously considered to be forest-bound in central Europe. For the first time, we caught and radio-collared wildcats outside heavily forested habitats to investigate their habitat utilization pattern.

We used a generalized linear modelling framework to test our hypotheses that sex and season influence habitat selection in addition to habitat variables. Our results reveal a gender difference in habitat selection: Females were more restricted to areal shelter habitats and avoided the areas near roads more than did males. Males used more linear shelter habitats such as watercourses or hedges and avoided the proximity to settlements more than did females. The probability of wildcat occurrence far from shelter habitats was higher in summer than in winter, probably due to high coverage and shelter provided by crops. The same pattern applied to the proximity to roads.

We concluded that shelter habitats are one of the key factors for the occurrence of wildcats in agriculturally dominated landscapes. We recommend a management strategy that enhances structural heterogeneity in the agricultural landscape by conserving small-scale structures such as copses, hedges and wide field margins. Other species, such as the gray-partridge (Perdix perdix) and the common quail (Coturnix corturnix), can also benefit from these habitat recommendations. Additionally, this management strategy simultaneously creates habitat connectivity.

Jerosch, S.; Kramer-Schadt, S.; Götz, M.; Roth, M.
The importance of small-scale structures in an agriculturally dominated landscape for the European wildcat (Felis silvestirs silvestris) in central Europe and implications for its conservation
2018  Journal for Nature Conservation (41): 88-96