Could I have spotted a wildcat on the South Downs?

[hoops]

While out on the mountain bike on the South Downs (Sussex) early today I spotted what looked exactly like a wildcat. It was slightly larger than a normal cat, stocky, bushy fur and a stubby tail... dark tabby like colouring.
When it made off across the field of foot high crops, it bounded in a classic feline manner.

There were no houses or dwellings for at least a 3 mile radius from where I saw it so I think it's unlikely to be a domestic cat out for a roam.

Surely it must be a Feral cat?

[ron1863]

Hi Hoops and a warm welcome to WAB. I doubt very much that it was a true "Wildcat", as you say, probably a feral cat.

[The Woodman]

I'd be happy to go along with Ron with your description of a feral cat, especially with a stubby tail. The South Downs are not noted for the habitat of the true Wild Cat.

[Maverick47]

I agree, some of the feral cats can be quite large, there is also a phenomenon known as gigantism, which means that some domestic/feral cats can grow to almost twice the size they should be.

Its possible that some of the "panther" sightings could also be down to this.

This one could be just adept at rabbit catching

True wildcats are becoming increasing difficult to identify, they will mate with feral cats but retain most of their characteristics, which seems to be one of the main threats to their long term survival.

The final possibility of course is that a scottish wild cat escaped/was released from a small zoo or private collection in the area, the beast lives

[larachmor]

Earlier in the year I was watching what I thought was a wildcat. This was a large cat with tabby-like markings hunting near our local woods. I didn't have my bins with me at the time, but on sighting it again a few days later I was able to identify it as a domestic tabby. Unless you get a chance to study them fairly closely, it is difficult, but there are key identifiying features. This tabby could very easily been mis-identified, and understandably so.
Last year I managed to photograph a true Scottish wildcat (below) which was later featured on Springwatch: Simon King, by freeze-framing his supa-doopa HD camera, went through the various points of identification to identify it as over 99% pure Scottish wildcat, and as pure as you'r likely to get, though he thought there was evidence of a feral in the family line in the distant past.
However, there are all sorts of the smaller wild cats that could well be wandering as escapees in places such as the South Downs.
As for the Scottish Wildcat - Here is an identity aid, courtesy of the Scottish Wildcat website, which highlights those key identifying features:

http://www.highlandtiger.co.uk/pdf/D...ngWildcats.pdf

[The Woodman]

What a cracking shot Bill. Was a chance shot or did you have an inkling it was in that area?

[ron1863]

A beautiful shot Bill. I remember Simon King saying something that it was just by chance that they got to film it.
I think the tail is the most descriptive part of the Wildcat

[larachmor]

Originally Posted by The Woodman

What a cracking shot Bill. Was a chance shot or did you have an inkling it was in that area?

The cat was an occasional visitor to a croft owned by a friend of ours, and, in the days of spring before the grass started growing too long she could see it from the house. She got into the routine of sending me a simple text "cat in field" whenever she was around. This was followed by a 15 minute dash in the car. There were of course many failed visits, but in April of last year I got lucky, and managed to take a series of shots.
A few weeks later BBC's Springwatch came to the area. They telephoned me regarding filming local capercaillie, and whilst speaking to one of the producers he mentioned that the wildcat was their primary target for their visit. I knew that our friend was none too keen on any disturbance (for the cat not for her personally) but I told the producer that I would try and persuade her to contact them, and passed on the BBC's assurance that disturbance would be minimal. He called me a few days later to say she had been in touch, and the rest they say is history, resulting in the superb footage they acquired. The camera crew could not have had a more comfortable "hide" at the rear of the farmhouse with regular supplies of tea and coffee. The number of hours they put in to obtain the footage was quite astonishing, though, unusually most of the footage was obtained on their first day. When it was all over, Simon paid the family a visit, and needless to say, the four young children thoroughly enjoyed their celebrity status.
The cat was seen again earlier this year, but worringly she has not been seen for a few weeks now. The local estate have certainly been out shooting foxes, but we are trying to be optimistic in hoping that she may simply be raising a young family, so it's fingers crossed.

[The Woodman]

Very interesting and thanks for your tale.

I'm always amazed by how much time film crews put into a few minutes film. I don't recall the wildcat scenes but will watch out for them if they're ever repeated. I think Simon King is one of the most natural presenters on TV, he has a very good style of communicating with the audience.

A few years ago when Bill Oddie was filming the Lake District pieces for his round Britain series, my wife was filmed inspecting bat boxes. The shot comprised her descending a ladder holding a "bat" in a cloth bag and the next shot was of her removing a real bat from the bag to inspect it. The ladder scene had to be done a good number of times due to all sorts of problems and with the welfare of the bat in mind, it was soon replaced by a pair of pliers to give the impression of something in the bag!

That particular scene ended after reply to Bill's question, "What's in the bag, XXXX?" my wife would reply, "A noctule, Bill". After one aborted shot due an overhead airplane, the question was still asked and my wife replied with deadpan face, "A pair of pliers, Bill".

It was funny at the time and the next shot was the winner.

I'm wandering from the thread again so I'll shut up.

[tufftie]

I saw one in my old garden which backs onto a woodland leading onto the Downs. Yes I have seen them in the wild before and a wildlife place near Canterbury - there was no doubt what it was. There were quite a few positive reportings about that time and my understanding was that it/they were escapees from a captive breeding programme...not sure the ins and outs of this. So, it is possible that this was a true wildcat - where abouts did you see it?