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Officially Britain's only native wildcat is Felis sylvestris grampia, the Scottish Wildcat, which resembles a large, mean tabby cat. It is a sub-species of the European Wildcat (F silvestris) which is now only found in Scotland, although it was once widespread throughout Scotland, England and Wales.It is now extending its range in Scotland and a few out of place wildcats have been reported in England and Wales.A number of big cats, including the lynx, vanished from Britain in prehistoric times.t is now extending its range in Scotland and a few out of place wildcats have been reported in England and Wales. A number of big cats, including the lynx, vanished from Britain in prehistoric times.
Skulls of cats found in Egyptian cat burial grounds (called Mau by the Egyptians) have been identified as mainly being of the species Felis sylvestris lybica (the African wildcat) and it is this wild cat living in Asia and North Africa that is now thought to have been the major ancestor of the modern-day Felis catus.