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Nussberger, B.; Weber, D.; Hefti-Gautschi, B.; Lps, P.
Update on the detection and distribution of the forest cat (Felis silvestris) in Switzerland
2009 Mitteilungen der Naturforschenden Gesellschaft in Bern (64): 67-80
We evaluated the classification of 95 _Felis silvestris__ _specimen from Natural History Museums, other collections and private taxidermists. The investigated specimen were both of recent and historical origin (e.g. fur, skull, bone) and had been classified as certain or possible wildcats _(Felis s. silvestris). _The following criteria were used to evaluate classification: brain-skull-index, intestine-index and mitochondrial DNA haplotype. In total, 38 of the specimen could be verified as certain wildcats of Swiss origin. The previous classification of 15 specimen as being wildcats was refuted. The certain wildcats of Swiss origin suggest a re-colonization of the former historical wildcat area in the Jura mountains during the second half of the 20th century.
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