Research overview: genetic structure of the European wildcat

The European wildcat, Felis silvestris, persists in fragmented populations from Iberia and Scotland through central and eastern Europe to the Caucasus. This overview surveys studies of its genetic structure, which reveal regional populations shaped by glacial refugia and post-glacial recolonization, with notable differentiation among Iberian, central European, and other groups. It discusses how hybridization with domestic cats varies by region, threatening genetic integrity most severely in Scotland and parts of central Europe. The piece explains why understanding this structure matters for conservation, including decisions about translocation and the definition of management units. It connects to taxonomy by clarifying that the European wildcat is a single species with internal geographic structure rather than multiple species, even as some historical subspecies names persist for regional forms.