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Saving Wildcats @saveourwildcats.bsky.social · 2h

We are aiming to make the film more widely available in 2026. To be kept up to date with information about future screenings, please sign up to receive our e-newsletter ➡️ savingwildcats.org.uk/join-us 🧡

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Saving Wildcats @saveourwildcats.bsky.social · 2h

And CUT 🎥

We've been thrilled to share the feature-length film, 'Clinging by a Claw' with audiences in Aviemore, Inverness and Edinburgh 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Produced by @scotlandtbp.bsky.social and supported by The European Nature Trust, this heart-warming documentary follows the wildcats' return to Scotland.

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Saving Wildcats @saveourwildcats.bsky.social · 1d

Since 2023, we've been very grateful to those living alongside the released wildcats, as they adjust to a new life in the wild.

Wildcat-friendly businesses, such as Inshriach House and Glenmore Campsite, have engaged with us about wildcats on their land 🧡

📸 David Stothard

A female wildcat with a striped coat and alert expression stands amid tall green grass and scattered purple wildflowers, conveying a sense of alertness.

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Saving Wildcats @saveourwildcats.bsky.social · 2d

When it's been a really long day of parenting...

You're doing a great job, Mama 🧡

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Saving Wildcats @saveourwildcats.bsky.social · 3d

It is vital to have landowner permission to install cameras, so we're very grateful to have their support 🧡

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Saving Wildcats @saveourwildcats.bsky.social · 3d

Camera traps have been crucial for monitoring the released wildcats 📸

Over 100 cameras, provided by @naturespy.bsky.social, are distributed across the project area. Not only do the images further our understanding of wildcat ecology, they give us deeper insight into other species too 🐾

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Saving Wildcats @saveourwildcats.bsky.social · 5d

Happy International Zookeeper Day to Estelle, Rachel, Alex and Ben 🐾

These experienced, professional and dedicated individuals ensure that released wildcats are prepared for the challenges of life in the wild.

Thank you for everything that you do 🧡

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Saving Wildcats @saveourwildcats.bsky.social · 6d

Wildcats have thick, dense winter coats to support them through challenging weather. Their outer layer of fur acts as a "raincoat", with a finer layer of "fleece" underneath 🧥

In cold weather, they can curl up and tuck their faces under their bushy tails to keep warm 😻

📸 Alan Sabatino

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Saving Wildcats @saveourwildcats.bsky.social · 7d

Wildcats and the sport of shinty are both culturally important in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

And the Highland town of Newtonmore has a strong connection to both of them.

So, we are very proud to be sponsoring the match balls for the Newtonmore Camanachd Club's under 17s final this Saturday 🏑

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Saving Wildcats @saveourwildcats.bsky.social · 7d

We're thrilled so many people came to see the film, and the team continue to be extremely grateful to the local community for their support of wildcat restoration in their area 🧡

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Saving Wildcats @saveourwildcats.bsky.social · 8d

We want to say a huge THANK YOU to our local community for attending the premiere of 'Clinging by a Claw' in Aviemore last night 📽

As the feature-length film highlights, this approach to wildcat restoration in the Cairngorms National Park is only made possible by your incredible support 🎉

A full audience in a dimly lit theater listens attentively to a speaker on stage. The room is large, with purple walls and bright overhead lights.

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Saving Wildcats @saveourwildcats.bsky.social · 9d

Is she a wildcat or a kangaroo? 🦘

Wildcat mothers nurse their young for around eight weeks, and the kittens may start to show interest in solid food as young as four weeks old.

That said, these little ones seem in no rush to move away from their mother's milk 🍼

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Saving Wildcats @saveourwildcats.bsky.social · 10d

Like most cat species, wildcats are excellent climbers 🪵

Unsurprisingly (given her name), Skye spends much of her time off the ground in the conservation breeding for release centre ⛅️

Sponsor Skye to receive exclusive, behind-the-scenes updates ➡️ savingwildcats.org.uk/sponsor

Female wildcat with striped coat and distinctly-ringed tail stands alert on a tree branch in the conservation breeding for release centre. She is surrounded by purple flowers and intertwined branches.

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Saving Wildcats @saveourwildcats.bsky.social · 14d

How is it nearly October?!

This year has been so busy that it's disappearing as quickly as the leaves are falling off the trees 🍂

Make sure you don’t miss a thing. Sign up to our e-newsletter, issued every two months ➡️ savingwildcats.org.uk/join-us

📸 David Stothard

Female wildcat with a distinctly-ringed tail stands on a lichen-covered log, surrounded by branches and greenery. Its alert eyes gaze back over it’s shoulder with a calm, curious expression.

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Saving Wildcats @saveourwildcats.bsky.social · 15d

Saving Wildcats is collaboration between the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), @naturescot.bsky.social, Forestry and Land Scotland, @cairngormsnews.bsky.social, Nordens Ark, Junta de Andaluciá, @cairngormsconnect.bsky.social, and @catsprotection.bsky.social 🧡

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Saving Wildcats @saveourwildcats.bsky.social · 15d

You’ve been so patient… 😻

And now, we’re super excited to announce that there are kittens in the conservation breeding for release centre, based at @highlandwpark.bsky.social ‼️

Find out how they’re doing ➡️ savingwildcats.org.uk/caught-on-camera 🧡

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Saving Wildcats @saveourwildcats.bsky.social · 16d

Delayed release enclosures are more than a useful tool for wildcat releases 🌄

The new neighbours have been enjoying the temporary constructions as climbing frames!

Once the releases have ended, the structures can be removed (and the pine martens can go back to climbing trees) 🧡

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Saving Wildcats @saveourwildcats.bsky.social · 17d

Wildcats are notoriously hard to spot in the wild 👀

They are rare, naturally elusive, and typically most active at dusk and dawn 💤

With the added bonus of some rather effective camouflage, even the team in the conservation breeding centre find locating them tricky!

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Saving Wildcats @saveourwildcats.bsky.social · 17d

Domestic cats (Felis silvestris) were introduced by the Romans, approximately 2000 years ago. Hybridisation between the two species began in Scotland around 70 years ago, once wildcats were so few and far between that they had little option but to interbreed 🐾

Saving Wildcats @saveourwildcats.bsky.social · 17d

Hi Kris, European wildcats (Felis silvestris) crossed the land bridge to Britain at the end of the last ice age, approximately 9000 years ago. They were found throughout England, Wales and Scotland up until the late 1800s, when persecution reduced them to small fragments in the Scottish Highlands.

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Saving Wildcats @saveourwildcats.bsky.social · 20d

[Alt text: A curious wildcat kitten with fluffy striped fur looks forward, tilting its head to the side. The kitten stands beside it's wildcat mother, who is sniffing the ground.]

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Saving Wildcats @saveourwildcats.bsky.social · 20d

Oh, this is just too much – we can't cope 😻

Say ‘hello’ to @highlandwpark.bsky.social's newest addition, Tay 🧡

Born to Fian and Rannoch, this curious wee kitten is part of the UK conservation breeding programme for wildcats, and is supporting the recovery of the species in the wild.

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Saving Wildcats @saveourwildcats.bsky.social · 20d

2/2 It could have been an unusual domestic cat breed, or even another small cat species that escaped from a zoo or private collection? Either way, we really appreciate you sharing your story with us.

Here's the key characteristics of a wildcat ➡️ savingwildcats.org.uk/haveyouseenawildcat 🧡

Have you seen a wildcat?

savingwildcats.org.uk

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Saving Wildcats @saveourwildcats.bsky.social · 20d

1/2 Hi Caroline, thank you for getting in touch. What a lovely memory!

Given your description, it's unlikely to have been a European wildcat (Felis silvestris), as they don't have tufted ears or spots. As you've mentioned, to the best of our knowledge, wildcats have never been present in Ireland.

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Saving Wildcats @saveourwildcats.bsky.social · 21d

Where’s Willie the wildcat?

savingwildcats.org.uk

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