The History and Evolution of Europe’s Wild Cats

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When you think about Europe, images of large wildcats are not what first comes to mind. Thousands of years ago, however, the story was different. Leopards, lions, and even cheetahs were once thought to roam throughout much of the continent. The ancestors of these modern felines are thought to have evolved just under 10 million years ago.

Believed to be larger than the species we recognize today, Europe’s cats would have inhabited large expanses of both forest and grassland. Today, however, much of this natural habitat has completely disappeared, along with the largest of the cats. There are currently three wild species of felines living on the continent.

European Wildcat

The European wildcat is the smallest of Europe’s cats and is a subspecies of the African wildcat, which is thought to be the ancestor of domestic breeds. European wildcats are found in the forests throughout mainland Europe with isolated populations also found in Scotland, Turkey, and on many Mediterranean islands. They have large, bulky bodies and thick fur.

Eurasian Lynx

The Eurasian lynx is the largest of the lynx species and is natively found in the dense forests of both Europe and Siberia. The Eurasian lynx has been wiped out from much of Western Europe but is being reintroduced. It is one of Europe’s most dominant predators but does not tend to be found in areas where other large predators, such as wolves, are in high numbers.

Iberian Lynx

The Iberian lynx is native to the Iberian Peninsula in Southern Europe and is well known to be one of the most endangered cat species in the world. Listed as Critically Endangered they are confined to small pockets of their once vast natural habitat, the primary reason for the demise of the species.