Our cat’s cousin has returned to the Netherlands!

Our cat’s cousin has returned to the Netherlands!

The Netherlands, one of the smallest countries in Europe, is getting wilder! A few days ago, I came across an intriguing news report on Jeugdjournaal. It stated that the European wildcat has been spotted in the southern part of the Netherlands, with signs that a few have made it their permanent home. This discovery sparked immediate excitement, as it marks the second carnivore to reclaim Dutch landscapes in a short time. But alongside this excitement, a nagging concern lingered in the back of my mind: could the European wildcat face similar human-wildlife conflicts that have tarnished the reputation of the wolf?

So far, wildcats have only been reported in the province of Limburg and are described as elusive. They generally avoid urban areas, but in a densely populated country like the Netherlands, this can become impossible. Across Europe, the distribution of wildcats has been shaped by urban expansion and habitat fragmentation. Though they were once widespread, their populations severely declined. The wildcat’s return to the Netherlands is likely due to the creation of “green corridors.” Municipalities have connected multiple natural areas with these corridors, allowing the wildcat to disperse across the province of Limburg.

Most people view this new feline as a welcome addition to Dutch wildlife. However, concerns about the European wildcat have already been raised. Wildcats generally feed on rodents, but a study in Italy showed that their diets vary depending on the region and available food sources. As a result, farmers raising chickens are concerned that wildcats may prey on their chicks. This skepticism is not new and is influenced by the fierce debates surrounding the wolf’s return to the Netherlands. Many people remain hesitant to accept this new carnivore due to the past conflicts we have had with the wolf.

Other organizations, such as Vogelbescherming Nederland and hunting associations, fear that the wildcat may increase hunting pressures on small birds and other quarry. However, ecologist Hettie Meertens argues that this is unlikely. The number of wildcats in the Netherlands is still too small, and even as their population increases, their impact will be negligible. This is largely due to their large hunting territories, which means the number of individuals that could potentially live in the Netherlands decreases. Furthermore, wildcats are known to avoid human settlements and will only cross these areas when it deems this necessary.

If we truly want to address the decline in diversity and abundance of small birds, we should not focus on this new feline. Instead, we should look closer to home. It’s important to understand that the real pressure on our native wildlife does not come from wildcats, but from the millions of domesticated and feral cats in the Netherlands. These pets, much more numerous than wildcats, are responsible for the deaths of millions of small birds and mammals each year. This ongoing issue is a significant factor in the decline of small wildlife populations, yet it often goes unnoticed in discussions about predation.

If we truly want to address the decline in prey species, the solution isn’t to resist the return of the European wildcat. In fact, its presence is an indicator that some of our natural areas are recovering. Instead, we should focus on managing feral cat populations through neutering or capture programs and keeping pet cats indoors or under supervision. So, rather than worrying about the European wildcat, perhaps it’s time to rethink our relationship with our own fluffy pets. Maybe walking our cats on a leash isn’t such a strange idea after all.

Sources:

• Smit, C., & Trouwborst, A. (2020, September 13). Kat grijpt jaarlijks miljoenen beschermde vogels en moet voortaan aangelijnd. NOS Nieuwsuur. https://nos.nl/nieuwsuur/artikel/2348023-kat-grijpt-jaarlijks-miljoenen-beschermde-vogels-en-moet-voortaan-aangelijnd
• Timmer, E. (2025, March 10). Superschuwe wilde kat al met ‘tientallen’ in Nederland, met dank aan groene loper. nl. https://www.ad.nl/binnenland/superschuwe-wilde-kat-al-met-tientallen-in-nederland-met-dank-aan-groene-loper~a10652ea/
• Apostolico, F., Vercillo, F., La Porta, G., & Ragni, B. (2016). Long-term changes in diet and trophic niche of the European wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris) in Italy. Mammal Research, 61, 109-119.
• Trouwborst, A., & Somsen, H. (2020). Domestic cats (Felis catus) and European nature conservation law—Applying the EU Birds and Habitats Directives to a significant but neglected threat to wildlife. Journal of Environmental Law, 32(3), 391-415.