The wildcat (Felis silvestris) finally recorded in the Netherlands Kees J. Canters1, Johan B.M. Thissen2, Annemarie (M.A.J.) van Diepenbeek3, Hugh A.H. Jansman4 & Kor Goutbeek5 1 Zuiderkerkstraat 12, NL-8011 HG Zwolle, The Netherlands, e-mail:
[email protected] 2 Mansberg 7, NL-6562 MA Groesbeek, The Netherlands 3 Plevierdonk 3, NL-5467 CT Veghel, The Netherlands 4 Alterra, Centre for Ecosystem Studies, P.O. Box 47, NL-6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands 5 Willemsweg 178, NL-6531 DR Nijmegen, The Netherlands Abstract: Over recent years in the Netherlands a few cats have been found or seen in the field that showed char- acteristics of the wildcat. These observations are critically analysed here. Firstly a short overview is presented of the internal and external differences between the wildcat (Felis silvestris) and the domestic cat (Felis catus), and of the taxonomy and distribution of the wildcat. Important internal differences are the length of the intestinal tract (wildcat: <170 cm; domestic cat: >155 cm) and the intracranial volume (wildcat: >31 cm3; domestic cat: <38 cm3). The most distinguishing external differences are outlined. There are four recognisable groups of Felis silvestris: a. the thickset, heavily furred forest cats of Europe – the silvestris group; b. the light-bodied steppe cats of Asia – the ornata group; c. the slim, long-legged cats from Africa – the lybica group; and d. the domestic cat which can be found all over the world – the catus group. The closest wildcat habitats to the Netherlands lie to the south (in the Eifel hills, Germany, and the Ardennes, Belgium) and the east (in the area between the river Weser and the Harz mountains, Germany).