IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Bir¢, Z.; Szemethy, L.; Heltai, M. | |
| Home range sizes of wildcats (_Felis silvestris_) and feral domestic cats (_Felis silvestris_ f. catus) in a hilly region of Hungary | |
| 2004 Mammal Biology (69): 302-310 | |
The most important factor concerning wild cat populations is the loss of habitat. Therefore, it is necessary to assess the size of the home ranges of wild and domestic cats along with the features of these areas (vegetation,elevation, proximity to human settlement, etc.) A total of 16 wildcats and 19 domestic cats were caught and fitted with radio collars within the period between 1989-1993. It was possible to analyze the radiotelemetry data of 4 wildcats and 3 domestic cats. It resulted that the wildcats occupied larger home ranges than the domestic cats, however, there were exceptions. Home range size variability was extensive in both species. The males occupied larger areas than the females. This was most likely due to the reproductional wandering of males into female home ranges. Also the overlap between the home ranges of males was larger than that of females. However, there were very small overlaps between the core areas. No cats used the same sites at the same time. This indicates that the home ranges of cats exist only in space and time as well. Although these animals are solitary, there was some indication that hierarchy exists between males. |
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