User blog:SmudgyHollz/True Facts About Wildcats!

Okay, so in this case, these wildcats may be Scottish, but who really cares?... They can't be too different from other wildcats!

1. Wildcats are not afraid of water. Ever thought that RiverClan cats were weird? Well, in actual fact they are quite normal. Apparently, a rare wildcat was sighted on the island of Mull. It can't have stowed away on a ferry, as they are terrified of humans and, obviously, it can't have just appeared there. So, how did it get there? Experts are saying it swum 1 mile from the mainland to the island. If this is true, then that proves that wildcats are more than pretty decent swimmers.

2. Wildcats are said to be the only animal that are untameable to the human hand. Even if you raise one from birth, it will always wild at heart. This means that Pinestar, going to live with twolegs, would be extremely unlikely in real life.

3. 92% of their deaths are caused or related to humans. Yes, this is true. Some of the main causes are wildcats being killed on the roadside or trapped in snares. Another reason is that because some people don't spay or neuter their cat, they hybridise with wildcats, thus wiping out all of the pure ones.

4. Wildcats are terrified of humans. Do you really find this surprising now that you've read the above? The worst thing that a wildcat wants to do to you, is touch you. They do anything to keep out of your way. If they attack you, that would only be under extreme circumstances - and it would be likely that you got very very hurt.

5. Some hybrids are pure black in colour and have become known as Kellas cats after the village in the Highlands where they were discovered in modern times. At first considered a new species research showed them to be hybrids, though one of the cats studied appeared to be the first recorded melanistic wildcat; the same process that causes some leopards to be completely black (and commonly known as black panthers). Interestingly, Celtic legends include a fairy cat known as the Cait Sith; a large black beast that Highlanders believed was the reincarnation of a witch that only appeared when bad things were about to happen!

Appearance

The wildcat looks like a very muscular domestic cat. They have well-defined tabby markings and fur of a shade of grey-brown. Males usually weigh between 6-9kg and females 5-7kg. Fossil examples measuring 4 feet from nose to tail have been found; such a cat could have weighed around 14kg.

Wildcats have the body of perfection; they have eighteen razor-sharp, retractable claws and rotating wrists used to grip prey and to climb trees. They have incredibly powerful hind legs as they can sprint to the speed of 30mph. They are able to fall from the top of the highest pine tree in the forest and still be able to walk away unscathed. Can you believe that with all of the stealth, balance and agility all wrapped up in one thick coat, they are still able to remain highly camouflaged and protect themselves from the rain and cold?

Diet and Hunting

Wildcats are pure carnivores; they only eat meat and consume almost every part of any kill they make. The coat provides roughage, bones calcium and meat everything else. They prefer to eat rabbits, but will eat any type of rodent or small mammal.

As for hunting, wildcats use a number of different strategies, stealth, speed and strength being key points with each. No matter what they are doing, however, they will use their claws to catch and pull down their unfortunate prey. To kill it, usually a simple nip on the neck would result the neck breaking the spine or crushing the spinal cord. If not, a wound to the throat would suffocate any larger animals.

As well as catching land animals, wildcats also fish. They do not dive in to catch them, but as the RiverClan cats do, they scoop their paws into shallow lochs or burns to catch passing fish. They can also eat eels, lizards and frogs.

Wildcats were often shot a while back for killing lambs, although these days most farmers are proud to share their land with such creature. Mountain hares, certain species of deer and ground nesting birds also play a main part in the wildcat’s diet. Other birds are rarely hunted.

Reproduction

Mating season, once a year, is the only time when wildcats come together. This happens between January and March. She-cats in heat will scent-marking and caterwauling at night. This caterwauling, funnily enough, has often been mistaken for screaming banshees. If a tomcat is nearby, they will come together for a brief period before parting forever. The she-cat shall carry the kits for around 63 to 68 days.

The mother will give birth to 1 to 8 kits in early spring and raise them all on their own. For their first few weeks, the kits will survive off of their mother's milk before she begins to bring her catches back to the den. After learning the skills that they will need to use to survive in the wildcats, the kits will leave to find their own territory by the time they are 5-6 months old.

Right, so I may have gone a little over the top with this... I just found this so interesting! I hope that these true and proper facts will help you with your fanfics! I'm sure I'll be looking back to this when I get started with writing again! :) Green Eyes  You are a rock, upon which I stand