How to Protect the Scottish Wildcat
- 1). Educate yourself about the Scottish Wildcat. This beautiful cat has been a symbol of freedom and the Scottish fighting spirit for hundreds of years. Ancient clans went to war under the wildcat banner; fireside stories praised the cat's willingness to fight to the death rather than be captured. Highland Tiger.com relates that this animal is said to be completely untameable: it remains wild even when raised in captivity.
- 2). Understand the threats to the Scottish Wildcat's survival. According to the Scottish Wildcat Association, these include dilution of its gene pool through mating with feral cats, disease, the use of traps and poison, road crossing accidents and loss of habitat.
- 3). Discover the various plans for saving the Scottish Wildcat. Many conservation groups have projects underway to address the wildcat's dwindling numbers, including captive breeding programs, wildcat sanctuary areas and a push to make traps illegal in Scotland, to name a few.
- 4). Participate in the crusade to save the Scottish Wildcat. Donate money; link to a wildcat conservation site from your Facebook page; place a banner ad on your blog. Write a letter to your local newspaper educating others about the plight of the Scottish wildcat. If you live in the UK, buy the Scottish Wildcat commemorative stamp to help publicize the cause and join the movement to make snares illegal (see Resources).
