The excessive recent rains have provided the perfect nutrients needed for the grass to flourish and with that a number of animals can too. On our way home, tracker Ray Mabilane spotted glowing eyes through the long grass, our excitement levels skyrocketed! My immediate instinct was mongoose, specifically a white-tailed mongoose as this is a fairly common nocturnal animal to see. But, I was wrong and never have I been so pleasantly wrong! Out of the grass and across the road slinked a beautiful African wildcat, my first sighting of one since my assessment drive! And that got me talking…

An African wildcat which has vertical slit-shaped eyes, notice how small it is compared to a leopard (with circular pupils)

African wildcats are amazing animals and one that we do not get to see too often. So where and how do African wildcats fit into the bigger picture out here.

“In ancient times, cats were worshipped as gods. They have not forgotten this…” ~ Terry Pratchett

Domestic Cats vs Wild Cats

A cat stretched out on the best seat in the house, lazing in the sun, is the very picture of domestication. Yet every cat owner knows, there are times when these cats stalk their surroundings, teeth and claws at the ready, and it’s in these moments, domestic cats don’t appear particularly domesticated.

Their instincts are a throwback to a time when their ancestors stalked Africa and Asia, preying on any number of small mammals, birds, amphibians, and arthropods. Some of these cat ancestors were drawn to human settlements and abandoned their wild existence. Yet others remained wild and, to this day, African wildcats continue to live as they have for thousands of years.

In many ways, African wildcats are to cats what wolves are to dogs, with some important differences.

The process of cat domestication was a complex one making piecing the events together somewhat tricky. The generally accepted theory is that domestic cats went through domestication in Egypt about 3500 years ago. Essentially, the wildcats (initially in Egypt) would have been attracted to human settlements for warmth and increased food availability due to mice and the likes being attracted to food and grains stored by humans. Over time, people then realized the benefits of keeping cats for pest control and gradually a shift took place and the relationship extended to companionship.

However, unlike dogs, modern cats have retained more genetic and behavioural similarities with their wild relatives, most likely because, while domestic dogs have been largely isolated from their ancestral wolf populations, domestic cats have continued to breed with their wild cousins.

African Wildcat, felis silvestris lybica, Adult standing on Branch

Is it a ‘Wildcat’?

While an African wildcat could look for all the world like a slim domestic cat, there are however subtle differences between the two. African wildcats are slightly taller than the average domestic cat, and their legs are proportionately longer, which gives them a more upright posture, particularly when sitting. Their walking gait is more like that of a serval or cheetah than the average domestic cat.

An African wild cat (Felis silvestris lybica), Kalahari desert, South Africa.

The variety seen in domestic cat coat colours is a product of selective breeding, and this variety is not reflected in the coat colours of the African wildcat. Instead, their almost uniform colour ranges from red to sandy and brown to grey, with very faint stripes. The end of their tails is ringed with black, the backs of their ears are characteristically russet, and the underside of their paws are pitch-black.

Behaviour

Largely considered some of the most successful feline hunters, African wildcats have proved to be extremely adaptable and, as a result, occupy a wide number of different habitats. Their diets are varied and unselective – anything, including small mammals, birds, reptiles, and arthropods are all targeted. They are reliant on keen senses, particularly their hearing, to identify prey, use a well-honed ambush approach,  and demonstrate extraordinary patience in stalking – often biding their time for hours at a time.

These cats are generally solitary creatures, meaning that they live and hunt alone. However, they do mark their territories with scent markings and will defend them fiercely against any intruders. These territories can range from just a few hectares to several square kilometres, depending on the availability of food and resources in the area. For the most part, African wildcats are somewhat underappreciated – they look so similar to feral cats that they are often dismissed as such. But don’t let that fool you, these remarkable creatures are well worth every second spent with them!