Yes, indeed, honey, it is! European wildcats, please let us not forget the Felis silvestris that has also mistakenly been referred to as the `Hirzen '. They are as different from domestic cats in appearance and behavior as can be imagined.
Here are some interesting facts about these remarkable creatures:
Appearance: European Wildcats are generally a little larger and certainly bulkier than domestic cats are in the same region. They have a bushy tail with the tip often being black; their fur is a sort of grey speckled over with dark stripes which serves to blend them against the woodland background.
Habitat:
European Wildcats' preferred haunts are dense woods. They can also be found in grasslands and even something like the Syrian steppe. At present they are found in parts of Europe, including Spain, northern France, the Balkans and Germany.
Behavior:
As solitary and territorial animals, they are somewhat like the common domestic cat. But they do keep a low profile and are less likely to come into close contact with man .They are skillful hunters who mostly prey on small mammals, birds, insects.
Conservation Status:
European Wild cats are threatened by loss of habitat, hunting and hybridization with domestic cats. Conservation efforts are being made to protect the sites in which they live as well as ensure their continued existence.
Domestication Connection:
European Wildcats belong to one of the ancestors of domestic cats. The domestication of cats is considered to have originated from the African Wildcat (Felis lybica), but European Wildcats have a very close genetic relationship with domestic cats.
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