IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Uidl, K. | |
| Wildcat (_Felis silvestris_ Schr.) as a part of the forest zoocenosis in Croatia | |
| 2021 Full Book | |
The wildcat (_Felis silvestris _Schr.) is a predatorial species which can be found in taller, older deciduous forests. It lives alone and secretly. It's active during the night, and it spends it's day in it's hideout (pits, trunks of larger trees). The wildcat mostly feeds on rodents and birds. Today, the _Felis _family counts over 5 living species which are spread all over the world; from the Sahara desert, South Africa, Europe and Turkey, to western Asia and China. It's an exceptionally capable animal with quite developed senses. It's most developed sense is the sense of sight and smell which it uses to hunt. It hunts by sneaking up to and ambushing it's prey. It mates once a year from February untill March after which the female has 4-5 kittens. They are subject to scabies and rabies as well as cat flue and feline leukemia. Mites are the cause of scabies and hair loss on the affected area. The biggest and most dangerous natural enemy of the wildcat is the bobcat (_Lynx lynx_), they often run into each other when their habitats overlap. In Croatia the wildcat is found in almost every area except the Adriatic islands. It favors uninhabited areas with no human contact and abundnat food resources. Northern Velebit and Plitvicka jezera national park suit the wildcat the most. In Croatia today, the wildcat is a protected species which has no hunting season throughout the year. Forest cutting, deforestation, habitat fragmentation and hybridisation affect the abundance of the wildcat. Taking timely and correct protective measures could increase the wildcat's population number. |
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(c) IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group ( IUCN - The World Conservation Union) |