Wildcat Haven was initially designed by a team of experts in 2008/09. Since then, it has evolved to incorporate experiences from the fieldwork, emerging science and feedback from the local community. Designed to have the flexibility to evolve over time, the project can ensure we are always delivering the most well informed and practical conservation actions and animal welfare standards.

Our work includes a wide range of actions and ambitious aims including:

• Saving the genetically pure Scottish wildcat

• Removing all feral cats from the region

• Using humane, neutering-based feral cat controls

• Establishing buffer zones to prevent feral cats returning to the area

• Testing for and removing feline diseases from the entire haven

• Developing a genetic test for wildcat purity

• Establishing project-owned wildcat reserves across the region

• Documenting every individual cat in the area

• Conducting unique research into cat behaviour, genetics and diseases

• Building wildcat education and awareness worldwide

• Encouraging reforesting to enhance natural habitat

• Working alongside local communities and landowners

• Advising locally owned, low impact, pro-wildcat tourism

• Creating new jobs in the local community

Most importantly, Wildcat Haven seeks to create and then protect a naturally sustainable population of up to 500 pure Scottish wildcats across the West Highlands region of Scotland.

We have identified hybridisation as the primary threat to the Scottish wildcat. Research suggests that feral domestic cats outnumber wildcats by a ratio of at least 500:1, and perhaps by as much as 2500:1* across the Highlands.

This places the feral cat population at approximately 100,000, and the pure wildcat population between 35 and 200.

In a landscape which is home to a large, multi-generational feral cat population that is regularly supplemented by abandoned cats, town strays and farm cats, we surmised that the most practical way to save the wildcat was by focusing on establishing a small Wildcat Haven areas where all domestic cats had been neutered, local community support has been sought in ensuring all pet cats are neutered, and it is possible to protect against feral cats migrating back in.

With such a “beachhead” established, the project can then simply expand in incremental stages.

*(Harris et al 1995, Yamaguchi et al 2004, Scottish Wildcat Association 2012 unpublished)

We identified a location in Lochaber in the West Highlands: specifically, a peninsula with a small bottleneck landbridge, a resident pure wildcat population and relatively few feral cats.

In order to build support for the project and obtain valuable local knowledge, we engaged with the local community which has proved invaluable in the evolution of our action plan.

Domestic cats – being the primary threat to the survival of the wildcat – had to be neutered in the region as a priority. With evidence from across the globe showing that lethal-control projects often failed, we made the decision to trial a non-lethal neutering approach.

We use live trapping methods to humanely capture domestic cats in the area, which are subsequently health-checked and neutered by a vet.

We identified potential locations in the Highlands based on credible, reported sightings of wildcats to the Scottish Wildcat Association.

Of the potential locations, we decided that the remote peninsula of Ardnamurchan in West Lochaber was an outstanding choice from which to begin.

Arnamurchan is accessed via a small bottleneck landbridge, so if feral cats could be removed it should be relatively straightforward to keep them out simply by monitoring the bottleneck. Ardnamurchan has a resident pure wildcat population and relatively few feral cats.

Ardnamurchan, the remote peninsula identified as an ideal start point for Wildcat Haven.

It also benefits from a low human population, a relatively low pet cat population, limited development, few roads and a high level of awareness and concern for nature and conservation amongst the local community.

We were aware that feral cats were present in the region, living as solitary individuals and in feral cat colonies, but they appeared to be at a comparably low density.

Scottish wildcats also appeared at a low density from previous research (Scott et al 1993, unpublished) and initial surveys suggested the 2008 population lived in much the same vast territories as those measured previously.

Forestry is limited in the area but of a high quality: this is a patch of native Ardnamurchan oakwood

The large territory sizes (up to 40 square miles) appeared to be a response to low prey density, particularly rabbits, and limited forest habitat, an observation supported by local reports of unusual wildcat behaviour such as beach-combing for carrion.

Previous research into wildcat habitat and prey requirements have often been conflicting or based on unreliable data sets which featured both wildcats and hybrids. It is also plausible that behaviour varies regionally according to what is available.

Further research is ongoing to best understand wildcat requirements and any opportunities for habitat enhancement in the area. In the meantime, various re-foresting projects by local landowners and charitable organisations are already active.

This is helping to recreate the natural state of the landscape, which will dramatically improve prospects for the wildcat.

Ardnamurchan, Sunart, Morvern and Moidart: the ‘inland islands’ envisioned as a feral-free Scottish Wildcat Haven

The neighbouring regions of Sunart, Morvern and Moidart offered a similar geography and natural expansion opportunities. Once the success of the methodology had been confirmed (and assuming continued support from the landowners and local communities across the region), this would create a combined safe-haven of almost 1,000 square miles.

Engagement with the local community is a critical feature of the project.

It provides much more than access to land. It brings a great deal of local knowledge on the local ecosystem which can save years of research.

Local knowledge has led us to many of the local wildcats, hybrids and ferals, and provided insight into the kind of habitats they appeared to frequent, what kind of prey they took and so on.

We began by contacting local landowners, community councils, organisations and businesses. We have spent time in the area getting to know people, explaining our ideas for the project and listening to their responses and thoughts. As a result, we were subsequently able to update the action plan with the things we learned.

Many individuals raised examples of previous conservation projects by other organisations which were poorly planned, had failed to deliver positive outcomes and had made locals feel dictated to and ignored in the process.

We decided to avoid the traditional lecture-at-the-town-hall approach and looked to engage with people face-to-face; chatting with people we met along the roads or on the hill, getting coffee at the local pubs and cafes, going door-to-door to talk about the project, answering questions and taking on new information and ideas.

It was also important to work closely with animal welfare groups, pet cat owners and feral cat feeders in the area who were concerned about potential use of lethal controls on the feral cats.

We sought to assure these cat-lovers of our non-lethal approach and offered free pet cat neutering, microchipping and health checks from our field vets to help build relationships.

This approach had many benefits as feral cat feeders could very easily trap ferals that knew and trusted them. Local cat welfare groups had a detailed knowledge of local pet and feral cats which are dotted around the place. This assisted us in targetting locations for live trapping.

Recently we’ve begun working with local schools to help teach the next generation about the Scottish wildcats they’re growing up alongside. Here our Chief Scientific Adviser, Dr Paul O’Donoghue, is explaining how we use live traps to get a close up look at the various cats.

We hope the project can become a permanent fixture of the locality, and that it both supports the wildcats and the people that live alongside them.

Word of mouth has gradually spread, helping to build many close partnerships and relationships with the local community. Several members of the local community have offered their resources and expertise to the project, other have sought advice on running eco-tourism operations in wildcat-friendly ways.