European wildcat

Felis silvestris

A wild cat of European and western Asian forests and grasslands. A thick ringed tail and robust build distinguish it from many domestic cats.

Key facts

European wildcat (Felis silvestris) is a carnivore animal classified as Mammal · Carnivora · Felidae.
Primary habitats are forest · grassland · mountains, with a range across Palearctic.
Activity is nocturnal, sociality is solitary, and conservation status is LC (Least Concern).
A wild cat of European and western Asian forests and grasslands.
European wildcats use deciduous and mixed forest, scrub, and grassland mosaics.

Habitat range map

Native rangeOccasional / Transient

Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)

European wildcats use deciduous and mixed forest, scrub, and grassland mosaics. They need both hunting openings and dense cover.

They are gray-brown with dark stripes, a thick tail with black rings, and a pale throat. The blunt black tail tip is a useful field mark.

They are mostly solitary and active at night or twilight. Hunting is often by stalking or ambush on the ground.

Rodents, rabbits, and birds are major prey. Grasslands and forest edges with high prey density are important foraging sites.

Females give birth in tree hollows, rock crevices, or burrows. Young learn hunting from the mother before establishing their own ranges.

Hybridization with domestic cats is a major conservation issue, and genetic surveys are often needed to assess wild populations.