About the Scottish Wildcat Association
Friends and Supporters | Volunteers

We are a new charitable organisation with the aim of conserving the unique Scottish wildcat. We hope to acheive this through an ongoing series of awareness campaigns about this charismatic feline, support of the official captive breeding-for-release program, in-the-field conservation work and through liaison and support of other organisations carrying out research and work condusive to the future of the wildcat in Scotland.

Our beautiful cat has never had a dedicated organisation to champion it's cause as one of the UK's most exciting wildlife species; only a disappointing fraction of the UK population outside of the Highlands are even aware of their existence. We aim to change that and involve people of all ages and interests in saving and protecting our last large land predator forever.

We are currently in the process of launching a series of conservation campaigns in association with some wonderful partners, sponsors and world leading experts; we're excited about the future now that the people of Scotland, the UK and the wider world finally have a voice and a direct say in the conservation of a species the world is far richer with than without.

Us, you and thousands more people, organisations and businesses all over the world; together we can save the Scottish wildcat!

Our Trustees

Steve Piper
Wildlife filmmaker Steve Piper became involved with Scottish wildcats whilst filming the documentary Last of the Scottish Wildcats. Steve has a background in corporate marketing and directs a media company specialising in wildlife, music and dramatic films, music management and design. He is currently working on documentary projects in Mongolia, Botswana, South Africa and Scotland focusing on small cat species for which he has a particular fondness.

Pat Tomlin
Management consultant and business troubleshooter Pat Tomlin has a lifelong love of natural history and has supported Scottish wildcat conservation for many years through her company Wildcat One; financing enclosure improvements at wildlife parks, the set up of this Association and the recent documentary film.

Our Patron

Mike Tomkies, FRZS
We are honoured to be supported by legendary naturalist Mike Tomkies as our patron. Mike was the first person to popularise the Scottish wildcat as an outstanding example of wildlife to be admired and protected, and was warning the world about hybridisation as far back as the 1970's. He spent 10 years breeding wildcats in the Scottish wilderness and wrote about his experiences in the remarkable book Wildcat Haven (pick up a copy in our shop).

Our Online Volunteers

Claire Chambers, Bebo manager
Gina Yates, Web shop manager / Flickr manager
Jacquie Hookey, Flickr manager
Maryanne Heard, Twitter and Myspace manager
Quentin Jones, Facebook manager

The Charity

The Scottish Wildcat Association is a charity registered in Scotland number SC040397; you can download a copy of our official constitution in PDF format by clicking here.

Our wonderful solicitors are Shepherd and Wedderburn in Edinburgh, all our banking is provided by Royal Bank of Scotland and all publicity and marketing services come free of charge from Coffee Artists.

Our History

The Association was established online in 2007 and registered as a Scottish charity in 2009, but it had been building in spirit for some time; perhaps as far back as Mike Tomkies' books in the 1970's that first identified the wildcat not as some hissing demon, but as an inspiring survivor and emblem of the wildest lands in Britain.

In 2000 Highland meteorologist Allan Paul and his wife, inspired by the books of Mike Tomkies, began to breed wildcats in captivity. Finding no formal structure for breeding the cats Allan took up the duty as studbook keeper and inherited a rather out of date and poorly kept set of records, as well as several suspect looking wildcats.

It quickly became clear that the captive breeding population was heavily hybridised with domestic cat genes and Allan began working with Dr Andrew Kitchener of the National Museums of Scotland, a recognised expert and devotee to the wildcat species, to identify the wildcats actually fit for breeding to start rebuilding the captive population. Sadly, only about 20% of the 50 strong population were considered suitable and none were considered pure, some parks and breeders simply ignored Allan's requests for information and it became clear that helping these cats would always be an uphill struggle.

Seven years later the studbook stood close to perfect with interested wildlife parks actively keeping records to date, and Allan had successfully bred a number of cats all to breeding standard, his last litter included the first two cats to be graded as a "1" in the studbook; museum standard pure wildcat in all respects.

Early in 2007 Allan decided to retire from wildcat duties handing over the studbook to the excellent captive breeding program at Howlett's Wildlife Parks in England. One of his last acts was to put together the basis of this charity with the wildlife filmmaker Steve Piper who had become involved in the cause shooting a documentary on the threatened extinction of the species.

Steve continued to develop the association and rapidly drew interest from wildlife photographers, filmmakers, writers, naturalists, hobbyists and scientists keen for a formal structure to move along conservation efforts before it became too late. Joined by friend Pat Tomlin the Association quickly established an online presence and media around the world became aware of the story, thrusting the cause into public attention with articles and debate appearing in national newspapers, magazines and website forums every month.

In 2009, as it became clear that we really were down to the very last of the species, the Association was recognised as a Scottish charity and began an ambitious set of plans designed to save the Scottish wildcat forever.