MORE THAN 100 feral cats have been trapped during a recent neutering and vaccinating campaign carried out by Scottish Wildcat Action in a bid to preserve the native species.

The 'Trap Neuter Vaccinate Return' programme has been targetted at priority areas Morvern, Strathpeffer, Strathbogie, northern Strathspey and the Angus glens, which represent a total of 676 square miles of wildcat habitat.

Feral cats present a threat to wildcats by hybridising with them – which is why, since November last year, three wildcat project officers, contractors and dozens of local volunteers have helped to catch a total of 115 non-pure cats.

Of these, 82 were taken to a veterinary surgeon for treatment and later returned to the wild, 12 feral kittens were rehomed, seven cats were either pet cats or had been neutered previously and so were all released, and two were possible wildcats that were released without neutering.

The remaining 12 feral cats sadly tested positive for disease or were in such poor condition that they had to be put down on welfare grounds.

Scottish Wildcat Action is a national project supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, which aims to halt the decline of this native species by 2020. It is led by Scottish Natural Heritage and is a partnership of 20 organisations.

SWA's Dr Roo Campbell said: “Cross-breeding is diluting the wildcat gene pool and, as a result, they are losing their distinct adaptations to the harsh Scottish environment.

“Neutering and vaccinating domestic cats is the best way to protect them and we are very proud of our success this year. Eighty-two of the cats trapped were in the Strathbogie Wildcat Priority Area and catching such a high number will have an immediate impact on the risks to the wildcats there. But we are committed to this work and we have a lot more work to do before the wildcat is truly safe.”

Neutered domestic cats are released rather than culled because this may help wildcat populations recover in the long-term.

Dr Campbell added: “If a wild-living cat is neutered and returned to the wild, it maintains a territory and keeps other feral cats from moving into the area. This allows wildcats to breed only with other wildcats.”