A wildcat is a small to medium-sized felid that ranges across much of Europe, Asia and Africa. The term “wildcat” refers to cats living in the wild, as opposed to domestic cats or captive felines. Wildcats vary greatly in size and appearance, but typically have short fur, pointed ears and long tails.
There are several different species of wildcats, including the European wildcat (Felis silvestris), which is the largest and most widespread; the Asiatic wildcat (F. bieti); the African wildcat (F. lybica); and the Chinese mountain cat (F. Silvestris bieti). Wildcats are generally shy and solitary animals, although they will sometimes form small groups or pairs. They live in a variety of habitats, including forests, woodlands, scrubland, grassland and rocky areas.
Wildcats are carnivores, feeding on small mammals such as rodents and rabbits. They use their sharp claws and teeth to kill their prey before eating it whole. In some areas,wildcats may also hunt birds or reptiles.
Wildcats are threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation due to human activity such as agriculture, urbanisation and road-building. They are also at risk from persecution due to their perceived threat to livestock，and from being caught in traps set for other animals such as foxes . However ,the biggest threat towildcats is hybridisation with domestic cats . This occurs when domestic cats stray into wildcat territoryand breed with them . The offspring of these unions are often sterile , but can still mate with either parent species , causing further genetic contamination . As a result , many populations of purebred wildcats now exist only in captivity .