Listen to the European wildcat
Tip: press play to see the sound's live frequency spectrum in blue over the waveform.
About the European wildcat
The European wildcat is a mammal in the family Felidae (order Carnivora). Its conservation status on the IUCN Red List is “least concern”.
What does the European wildcat sound like?
Mammals produce sound with their larynx, from deep roars and rumbles to squeaks, barks, howls and – in bats, whales and dolphins – ultrasonic clicks used for echolocation.
From Wikipedia
The European wildcat (Felis silvestris) is a small wildcat species that was described in the late 18th century. Its fur is brownish to grey with stripes on the forehead and on the sides. It has a bushy tail with a black tip. Its head-to-body length reaches up to 65 cm (26 in) with a 34.5 cm (13.6 in) long tail, and it weighs up to 7.5 kg (17 lb).
The European wildcat is native to continental Europe, Scotland, Turkey and the Caucasus. It primarily inhabits broad-leaved and mixed forests. In France and Italy, it is predominantly nocturnal, but also active in the daytime when undisturbed by human activities. It preys foremost on small mammals such as lagomorphs and rodents, but also on ground-dwelling birds.
Related mammals in the genus Felis
More from the family Felidae
Frequently asked questions
What does an European wildcat sound like?
You can hear 5 recordings of the European wildcat on this page. Mammals produce sound with their larynx, from deep roars and rumbles to squeaks, barks, howls and – in bats, whales and dolphins – ultrasonic clicks used for echolocation.
Is the European wildcat endangered?
The IUCN Red List classifies the European wildcat as “least concern”.
What family does the European wildcat belong to?
The European wildcat (Felis silvestris) belongs to the family Felidae in the order Carnivora.
Sources & credits
- Felis silvestris catus, aggressie, 2023-08-19 02h06, d by JMK – CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Felis silvestris catus, aanval, 2023-08-28 04h39, a by JMK – CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Felis silvestris catus, aggressie, 2023-08-19 02h06, b by JMK – CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Felis silvestris catus, aggressie, 2023-08-19 02h06, c by JMK – CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Felis silvestris catus, aggressie, 2023-08-19 02h06, a by JMK – CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Wikidata Q43576 – CC0
- Wikipedia: European wildcat – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo by Lviatour – CC BY-SA 3.0