Teeger, Teeger Burning Bricht

However the difference lies in the tail. Moggy’s tail tapers towards the end while the wild cat’s tail is more cylindrical. The Scottish naturalist MacGillivray noted that ‘the wild cat’s tail is marked with nine bands - the first five are small and do not meet beneath; the rest are annular and enlarging.’ So much for a lifeless taxidermist’s specimen.

The real difference between the beasts is in personality. If one is fortunate to come across an unsuspecting wild cat the likeness to a fireside pussy is so marked that one is tempted to approach. Once inside the animal’s personal space transmogrification is immediate and alarming. Ears flattened, eyes narrowed and jaws snarling to reveal very dangerous teeth the cat becomes the epitome of malevolence as if saying; “come any nearer and I’ll have you.”

In the Stone Age, when fewer than 2,500 people lived in Britain, there would have been several hundred thousand wild cats; by right of tenure they are more Scottish than man. They have been called ‘Cat o’mountain, will cat, wullcat’ and possibly ‘teeger’ and were plentiful in the Highlands.

In the Old Statistical Account for Lochlee the minister noted: ‘There are many wild cats also in the rocks and cairns’ While in the NSA for Kildonan, Sutherland: ‘The wild cat is occasionally met with, and is a particularly fierce and desperate animal; so much so that it has been known to spring at an unarmed assailant, who could not instantly kill it, when excluded from other means of escape.’

In the Transactions of the Perth Natural History Society of 1898: ‘The wild cat seems to be on the increase throughout the county. I have seen several specimens from the Aberfeldy district. Another specimen was killed in the Crieff district after attacking a man.’

Charles St John wrote in 1919 ‘the true wild cat is gradually becoming extirpated, owing to the increasing preservation of game ... I have heard their wild and unearthly cry echo far in the quiet night as they answer and call to each other. I do not know a more harsh and unpleasant cry than that of the wild cat.’

To which Stephen, a 20th century naturalist, adds: ‘to hear the wild pibroch of him - scream, sob and skelloch - is to know the spirit of the wild places which he shares with the eagle and the mountain fox, the raven and the red deer.’

Persecuted because of its effect on game the wild cat is now of little threat to man; its predation of birds is totally insignificant compared with the millions of domestic cats which cull so many British song birds.

There are several records of wild cat on the community owned land at Dùn Coillich. Geordie McLaren remembered them: “I’ll tell you what there was at Litigan Farm, up in the wood, wild cats… I think they’ll be there yet.”

Ian Campbell remembered them as a boy. “We had a wild cat at Whitebridge in a case. My father caught it, I expect it was shot, and the Laird, sent it to Perth to have it stuffed.

“I remember one time fishing on the Allt Mor, I was in a tangle. I was working on it and I must have been sitting there for ages and I happened to look up and here was a wild cat sitting on a stone in the middle of the burn and it didn’t see me and I just watched it… absolutely beautiful.”

And Bill Scott saw wild cats twice during the five years he was at Tom Phubil. So they are probably still there and we hope they will remain there as part of Scotland’s wild heritage.

©Robin Hull