Habitat and Distribution European wildcats are primarily associated with forest, and are found in highest numbers in broad-leaved or mixed forests (Stahl and Leger 1992). Coniferous forest, however, is probably marginal habitat (Parent 1975, Heptner and Sludskii 1972). Wildcats are also found in Mediterranean maquis scrubland (Ragni 1981), riparian forest, marsh boundaries and along sea coasts (Lozan and Korcmar 1965, Heptner and Sludskii 1972, Dimitrijevic and Habijan 1977, Scott et al. 1993). They have never been found in the high Alps (Schauenberg 1970); B. Ragni (in litt. 1991) further states that forest wildcats are not present in areas where snow cover is greater than 50%, is more than 20 cm deep, and remains for more than 100 days of the year. In general, regions occupied by forest wildcats are characterized by low human density, with cultivation typically taking the form of grazing areas divided into small plots. Rocky areas are a preferred micro-habitat (Heptner and Sludskii 1972). Wildcats are generally absent from areas of intensive cultivation (Easterbee et al. 1991, P. Hell in litt. 1993). After the marked decline of the forest wildcat and its eradication from much of Europe between the late 1700s and early 1900s, recolonization has occurred since 1920-1940 in several countries (Belgium, Czech Republic and Slovakia, France, Germany, Switzerland, United Kingdom) (Stahl and Artois 1991 and in litt. 1991, 1993). Populations of wildcats occur on Crete, Corsica, Sardinia, and the Balearic Islands, as well as numerous other small Mediterranean islands. Some authorities consider these populations to be discrete subspecies, related most closely to the lybica group, and among the most endangered populations in Europe (Arrighi and Salotti 1988, Ragni 1988, B. Ragni in litt. 1993). Vigne (1992), on the other hand, considers them to be feral forms of domestic cats introduced centuries before by humans.

© 1996 IUCN - The World Conservation Union