Saving Wildcats

@saveourwildcats

Wildcat conservation and recovery in Scotland 🐾 Working with communities to bring the Highland tiger back from the brink of extinction 🧡

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Saving Wildcats@saveourwildcats· 11d

To the dedicated firefighters, landowners, our project partners, land managers, gamekeepers, farmers and the wonderful local community, Saving Wildcats wants to say a huge THANK YOU for your tremendous hard work tackling the wildfire in the Cairngorms National Park 🧡 📷 James Shooter

Saving Wildcats@saveourwildcats· 13d

Betty’s bench 🧡 A memorial bench, beautifully carved by Sam Bowsher, has been unveiled at Highland Wildlife Park’s Conservation Den to honour Betty Heath’s legacy to Saving Wildcats.

Saving Wildcats@saveourwildcats· 14d

Oscar is focused… …on saving wildcats in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Oscar is raising kittens that could be released into the wild. His offspring are already roaming the Cairngorms, bringing their species back from the brink of extinction 🌄 Sponsor Oscar and save his species ➡️ savingwildcats.org.uk/sponsor

Saving Wildcats@saveourwildcats· 15d

Fancy a wild chat with the team? 🗣 This summer, join us at one of the following Highland events: Wed 29 Jul - Highland Folk Museum Sat 1 Aug - Newtonmore Highland Games Wed 5 Aug - Highland Folk Museum Fri 7 - Moy Country Fair Thu 13 Aug - Grantown Show 📸 Midas Media

Saving Wildcats@saveourwildcats· 18d

Little mews and the pitter-patter of tiny paws are bringing new life into the conservation breeding for release centre, based at Highland Wildlife Park 🐾 Three healthy kittens have been born to experienced mum, Morag, and dad, Fergus.

Saving Wildcats@saveourwildcats· 20d

It was stoatily amazing to see this not-so-wee family of eight flash before one of the trail cameras 📸 Wildcats share their home with a vast array of other species, many of which are captured across thousands of images collected during annual surveys. Help the team tag wildlife in the photos ⬇️

A family of eight brown stoats are playfully running across a wooden bridge. There is lush green vegetation in the background.

Saving Wildcats@saveourwildcats· 21d

Ghost cats 👻 Wildcats are very well camouflaged, and these elusive felines move seamlessly between a mosaic of habitats, including grassland, scrub, and mixed woodland. They can virtually disappear along habitat edges, which is where they do most of their hunting 🐾

Saving Wildcats@saveourwildcats· 22d

Get the kits out of the house this summer 👩‍👧‍👦 Visit the on-show wildcats at @highlandwpark.bsky.social, and explore the Conservation Den, which offers a panoramic view out to the project's dedicated conservation breeding for release centre. Plan your day ➡️ www.highlandwildlifepark.org.uk 🎫 📸 RZSS

Scenic, grassy hillside interspersed with mixed woodland is sunlit with orange hues. At the top of the hill is a wooden building with large windows and veranda overlooking the view. There are snowcapped mountains in the background and a blue sky.

Adult wildcat with grumpy expression sitting amongst branches on a forest floor. Beside her is a young wildcat kitten with a striped coat playing with a twig. Background is blurry.

Saving Wildcats@saveourwildcats· 26d

Saving Wildcats supports mandatory microchipping 🐾 The Royal Zoological Society, lead partner of Saving Wildcats, has joined Cats Protection and other animal charities to push for compulsory microchipping of pet domestic cats ➡️ www.cats.org.uk/mediacentre/...

Saving Wildcats@saveourwildcats· 28d

We'll just leave these here... 😽

A wildcat with brown fur and black stripes walks along a gravel road on a hillside, with lush, green vegetation either side. Two kittens are playing to her right, with one pouncing on the other.

A wildcat with brown fur and black stripes walks along a gravel road on a hillside with lush, green vegetation either side. Two kittens are striding towards her right.

A wildcat with brown fur and black stripes walks along a gravel road on a hillside, with lush, green vegetation either side. She has a GPS radio tracking collar on. Two stripey kittens walk close beside her.

Saving Wildcats@saveourwildcats· 29d

Not signed up to the project’s newsletter yet? Well, you definitely won’t want to miss the next issue… (it’s due out soon) 😼 Be among the first to read exciting updates directly from the conservation breeding for release centre. Sign up today ➡️ savingwildcats.org.uk/join-us 🧡

A wildcat is standing among lush grass and vegetation, with logs and branches in the background. Its bright yellow eyes are alert and expectant.

Saving Wildcats@saveourwildcats· Jul 8

In touch with their European roots 🇪🇺 Margaret and Oscar were greeting one another with a kiss on each cheek during the breeding season. Be part of their journey as they hope to welcome kittens this summer ➡️ savingwildcats.org.uk/sponsor

Saving Wildcats@saveourwildcats· Jul 7

1/5 What’s the difference between a feral, stray, and pet cat? 🐈‍⬛ While all three are domestic cats (Felis catus), each is managed differently when protecting wildcats (Felis silvestris) in Scotland:

Two domestic cat kittens sit beside one another on a shelf inside an enclosure. The one on the right has long brown, ginger and white fur, whilst the one on the left has short ginger and white fur. Both look alert.

Saving Wildcats@saveourwildcats· Jul 6

Two wildcats have been recorded in the Czech Republic’s Lusatian Mountains - the first found in the region in nearly a century 🐾 This exciting development prompted @mongabay.com to speak to Saving Wildcats’ conservation manager, David Barclay, about wildcat recovery 🗺 Read the insightful article ⬇️

A close-up of a wildcat with striped fur perched on a log and looking up to the right. It appears as if it might jump. The background is dark green vegetation.

Saving Wildcats@saveourwildcats· Jul 2

1/2 There's a wildcat in Glenmore 👀 But this one is a little bigger than what you might expect! A mural has been painted on the Glenmore Visitor Centre & Cafe to celebrate the abundant biodiversity of the Cairngorms National Park, including the first recovering population of wildcats in Britain 🖼️

Saving Wildcats@saveourwildcats· Jul 1

🥈 BIAZA Veterinary Award 2026 Saving Wildcats, led by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, is grateful to have a dedicated veterinary team. BIAZA acknowledged the team’s outstanding work in informing wildcat recovery strategies with thorough disease risk assessment 💉 📸 Rewilding Europe

Three women in veterinary uniforms are working around a table with an anaesthetised wildcat on it. They are in a room with white walls and white cupboards. There is medical equipment and utensils on and around the table, and the wildcat is having a procedure. The atmosphere is calm.

Saving Wildcats@saveourwildcats· Jun 25

Lean into the obsession 😻 If you’re (hopefully) as wildcat-obsessed as the team is, then perhaps you fancy treating yourself to a wildcat-themed gift? Who can really call themselves “a cat person” without a wildcat teddy or feline-fabulous earrings? Shop now ➡️ shop.rzss.org.uk/search?q=wildcat 🛍

A fluffy wildcat kitten is climbing up a branch with its claws clinging to the log. Its bright blue eyes are looking up towards the light, and the blurred background is brown and green. There is an atmosphere of curiosity.

Saving Wildcats@saveourwildcats· Jun 24

Fancy a cat fact? 😻 European wildcats (Felis silvestris) have a larger, more robust, and longer skull with a greater cranial capacity compared to a domestic cat (Felis catus). A broader, flatter forehead is often noticeable when visually comparing the two species 🐾 📸 Matty Gair

Saving Wildcats@saveourwildcats· Jun 23

Dhoon holds the title of the heaviest released wildcat the team have trapped to date, weighing a healthy 5.9kg! He has been recorded feasting on deer carrion through the winter months. Male wildcats are typically heavier than females, and often at their heaviest ahead of the breeding season 🧡

Saving Wildcats@saveourwildcats· Jun 22

Restoring wildcats for generations to come 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The team had a wonderful time at Boat of Garten Community Hall's Family Fun Day over the weekend. It was a pleasure to catch up with members of the community and update them on the wildcats in their area 🏡 Upcoming events ➡️ bit.ly/SW-events-da...

Two smiling women stand under a gazebo on a grassy field beside tables laden with animal artefacts. There is a flag with a wildcat's green eye on it, and the signs on the tablecloths read 'RZSS' and 'Saving Wildcats'. It is a sunny day, and the atmosphere is welcoming.

A woman in a black top is talking to children in colourful clothes and pointing at items on a table. Images in the background are of wildcats. They are under a gazebo with a clear window in a field.

Three children are colouring in decorations and pictures of wildcats on tables with green tablecloths. The activity is in a gazebo outside, and the children are kneeling on grass. A sign says 'Find out more about wildcat restoration in your local area'

Saving Wildcats@saveourwildcats· Jun 18

pspspsps 🖐 Cute? Yes. Touch? No 🚫 If you’re lucky enough to spot a potential wildcat kitten in the Cairngorms National Park, please give them space. Mothers may leave their kittens for a period of time to hunt for food. Find out what to do next ➡️ savingwildcats.org.uk/haveyouseenawildcat

Saving Wildcats@saveourwildcats· Jun 17

What's more Scottish than a wildcat in Scotland? 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 A feisty, red-headed wildcat in Scotland ❤️‍🔥 Sponsor Margaret to receive exclusive updates about this fiery feline and her family ➡️ savingwildcats.org.uk/sponsor

A wildcat with large, expressive green eyes and flattened ears. Its fur is a mix of browns and tans with distinctive stripes, and it has raised one paw off the ground. The cat stands on grass with branches in the background.

Saving Wildcats@saveourwildcats· Jun 16

Recollaring success 🎉 Earlier this year, the team successfully recollared seven of the released wildcats for further monitoring. These key individuals can offer greater insight into wildcat ecology. Interestingly, two of them re-entered the traps for the third year running 🧡

Saving Wildcats@saveourwildcats· Jun 12

⚽️ Let's hope Scotland play more confidently than this Scottish wildcat at the weekend! 'Mon the boys 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 #WeAre26 #FWC26 #FIFAWorldCup

Saving Wildcats@saveourwildcats· Jun 11

📣Job alert ‼️ Join the team as a full-time wildcat keeper - your responsibilities will include: 🔸 Delivering the highest standard of animal husbandry 🔸 Behavioural monitoring 🔸 Contributing to enclosure design, maintenance, and enrichment Interested? Apply NOW ➡️ bit.ly/wildcat-keep...

A wildcat is lying on grass with its paws out front, staring intently with bright green eyes. The cat appears playful and ready to pounce.

Saving Wildcats@saveourwildcats· Jun 10

Oscar plans to spend his Father's Day relaxing in a quiet, shady spot 💤 Make your dad's Day even more special this year by giving him the gift of wildcat sponsorship. Order before 14 June to ensure your loved one receives his bespoke sponsor pack ➡️ savingwildcats.org.uk/sponsor 🧡

Saving Wildcats@saveourwildcats· Jun 8

Kittens born in the wild 🧡 For a third year in a row, wildcat kittens have been born in the wild to released females 🐾 Find out more about what this means for Scotland's wildcats ➡️ savingwildcats.org.uk/thirdyearwildbirths

A brown striped cat wearing a reflective collar walks along a gravel path, carrying a small grey striped kitten by the scruff of its neck. Grass and low vegetation line the path in the background. The image is slightly blurred, emphasizing the motion of the adult cat as it transports the kitten.

Saving Wildcats@saveourwildcats· Jun 2

Although language may be changing a wee bit, the messaging isn’t… 🧡 Consider sponsoring Skye, Margaret or Oscar, and you'll be directly supporting the wildcat’s return to Scotland ➡️ savingwildcats.org.uk/sponsor 🐾

Humorous comparison of communication styles: left, a detailed description about Saving Wildcats under a wildcat image and the heading of ‘Millennial communications team’; right, a casual, emoji-filled caption beneath the same image and the heading ‘Gen Z Socials Team’.

Saving Wildcats@saveourwildcats· Jun 1

Behavioural monitoring💡 Using a remote CCTV system in the conservation breeding for release centre, the Saving Wildcats team can closely monitor wildcats that are eligible for release without disturbing them 🎦 Here's one of the males in a pre-release enclosure for you to observe for 30 seconds 🧡

Saving Wildcats@saveourwildcats· May 28

Earlier this year, the project conducted the sixth consecutive winter survey focusing on wild-living cats within the project area 📸 Using an extensive network of trail cameras, the team were able to identify at least 17 wildcats, and that doesn't account for those who may be camera-shy... 🐾