Scottish Wildcat: The Highlander Cat

With less than 50 in the wild, the Scottish Wildcat is the rarest cat in the world.

Special thanks to:
Chester Zoo

Saving Wildcats

and
University of Aberdeen

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SOCIAL MEDIA

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CREDITS
Animalogic Created by Dylan Dubeau and Andrew Strapp
Executive Producer, Director, and Director of Photography: Dylan Dubeau
Host: Danielle Dufault
Editors: Jim Pitts and Cat Senior
Writer, Researcher, Associate Producer, Camera Operator: Andres Salazar

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Examining the nature of the beast.

#SmallCatsUnknown

[stewartmackay]

Well, I had one of these cats as a 'pet' when I was a boy on the north coast of Sutherland in the highlands. i found him as a kitten, clinging to a fence in the trees beside my fathers house. I didn't know what it was, I thought it was a normal cat. I fed him & looked after him, he lived outside & would only let me pet him. He had the distinctive black rings on his tail. After about two years, the vet came to my fathers house to check some sheep, he saw Tom sitting on the window and couldn't believe it. Thats when I found out what he was. However, nowadays we have a problem with domestic cats breeding with the wildcats. Tom lived for about 15 years. He didn't like other cats or people, but he was affectionate with me (when he felt like it). I also had a pet otter (Jim) and I had to keep Jim & Tom apart, they didn't get on.

[dolphinboi-playmonsterranc]

They aren't grumpy, they're Scottish. That's why they fight everyone.

[popsicle]

it's so strange seeing cat like animals live in the wild cause they look like house cats and they're adorable wild or not

[beckybennett]

I work at a wildlife park and we have 3 beautiful Scottish wildcats. Definitely not as friendly as a domestic cat but find them so fascinating. Really hope we can get their numbers up again. They are worth saving. Also, like she said, please spay or neuter your kitties. It's so important. Our cats have such an impact on wildlife as an invasive species.

[ck]

those kittens are not defenseless, they have deadly levels of adorableness.

[LordBloodraven]

Question: How do you know it's wild?

Answer: "It's Scottish."

[alasdairmackintosh]

A lot of clans display the Scottish wild cat on their crest. Clan MacGillivray's crest features it with the motto "touch not this cat" which was a warning to those who became enemies of the clan not to mess with a MacGillivray. Sending love from Canada to Scotland and Highlanders all over the world. Stay safe people

[Delaney-and-the-Starlight]

“This is not a beast you want to encounter” LIES! I want to encounter and love every single one of them!!!

[LoreCraft]

My cat is part mixed with one of these (I got him in Edinburgh). His behaviour is.... well, this video explained a lot. He's in my videos sometimes, especially my most recent one, if anyone's curious what he looks like. But yes, thank you for doing this video.... it's done me a world of understanding why he is the way he is.

[MegaJacko]

"The Scottish Highlands"
*inserts Irish music*
Scottish people: 🤦‍♀️

[siechamontillado]

"THEY MAY TAKE OUR LIVES, BUT THEY'LL NEVER TAKE OUR

[tarri]

“This is a beast you wouldn’t want to encounter”
Me: sees their fluff, “welp I’m going to the highlands to get scratched by some kitties”

[jillchristensen]

Regarding the sponsor’s product, cat owners really should see their pet’s waste. An irregular or loose stool can be a sign the cat is ill snd in need of medical care.

[JP-ufsh]

My grandma had an european wildcat hybrid litter from her barn cats and she kept one. To this day she keeps telling storys of the insanity level of that cat. It fought strangers out of the door flying at their faces and screaming. It attacked anything that tresspassed the garden. It spit and clawed and destroyed anything that was in a room if she tried to keep him inside. It clawed up the walls and chewed through cables that were running with power getting shocked and then doing it again. He was never tame to the day he died and she had many scars and bites on her arms from him.

[MistarZtv]

me meeting a cat in the middle of my trek: awh its a cute wee thing. shhs its coming over here. hey fell-

cat: ah yiss a sizeable meal.

[ianmacfarlane]

I've never heard the expression "Highland Tiger" .
On a separate note, there's a small wildlife park near me, (Calderglen, in East Kilbride, near Glasgow) with a Wildcat enclosure - whenever I go there it can take 5 - 10 minutes to find them as their camouflage is incredible.

[jackthewinter]

I didn't know this cat existed .
Scotland has some incredibles things to discover.

[Chestermcfly]

There is one place in Europe, where there are lynx wolves and bears, and it’s where I’m from well, my dad was born. It’s called Abruzzi Italy, they still have the Italian wolf. They have eradicated all major predators from Europe, except from where I’m from in Italy they can’t eradicate them because of the mountains they have pockets that they hide in that people can’t get to so the wildlife is still there you should go check it out one day. It is the most beautiful part of Italy. That is the least explored Abruzzi Italy go check it out. You’ll love it and you’ll see the Italian wolf.

[ouchpaw]

We once received a wildcat hybrid at a wildlife rescue I volunteered at years ago. Didn’t have enough wildcat DNA to be released, so he was adopted as a pet, but lemme tell you that he was one spicy little man!

[sankimalu]

I knew that cat was Scottish when it purred with a rolling 'r'...