1 Dec 2013

Fund the Future of Small Cats

by Wanda Angermeyer | posted in: Cats in the wild, Cats of Africa, Endangered Cats, wild cat conservation | 0

Wild cats don’t have nine lives – their conservation begins with you!

100% of donations are sent directly to small wild cat conservation programs around the world.

Wildlife habitat is rapidly disappearing all over the world. Persecution, the bush meat trade, poisoning and the Asian medicine trade are also taking their toll on small wild cats. Field researchers are learning what these little cats need to survive, but equipment is costly, and they need your help. The African Golden Cat is one of the small cat species in need of your help.

The African Golden Cat Profelis aurata remains an enigma in the cat world. About twice the size of a domestic cat, they are very sturdy, powerful animals, with stout, relatively short legs and large paws. There are two colour phases: chestnut-red/fawn and silvery/dark slate-grey, of which the grey phase is often called the silver cat. Both red and grey phases occur in the same areas, and a few melanistic specimens have been recorded. Learn more

Thank you for your support!

22 Nov 2013

Contribute Now to Save Small Cats

by Wanda Angermeyer | posted in: Cats in the wild, Cats of Asia, Endangered Cats, wild cat conservation | 0

Wild cats like the Flat-headed Cat are in danger of disappearing all over the world. Habitat loss, persecution, poaching, illegal fur, food and pet trades, increased roads and other human interference in their habitats are taking their toll. So how do scientists and conservationists save wild cats?

The first step is to learn about their lives in the native habitat. Where are the cats located? What kind of habitat do they need? What do they eat? How large is the population? These and many other questions must be answered before suitable areas can be set aside and conservation plans put in motion.

100% of donations received go directly to wild cats

Your donations help field researchers purchase radio collars, cameras and other equipment to study the small wild cats. Join our growing list of small wild cat heroes. Please donate today.

Flat-headed Cats Prionailurus planiceps are the most unusual members of the cat family, with their long, narrow head and flattened forehead. In appearance, they bear a strong resemblance to the civets, which are not cats, but members of the Viverridae family. Learn more

Thank you for your support!

14 Nov 2013

Donate Today to Wild Cat Conservation

by Wanda Angermeyer | posted in: Cats in the wild, Cats of Europe, Endangered Cats, wild cat conservation | 0

Wild cats are in danger of disappearing all over the world. ISEC Canada was created as a conservation body totally dedicated to saving the 28 small wild cat species from extinction. One example of a wild cat species in need of your help is the Eurasian Lynx.

The Eurasian Lynx Lynx lynx is the largest lynx species, and has one of the widest ranges of any wild cat. Their fur has a usual ground colour of a yellowish-grey to greyish-brown, with white underparts. The soft, thick pelage is thickest on the back, and can be variably marked with more or less distinct dark spots, and sometimes small stripes. Learn more

100% of donations received go directly to wild cats

The increasing urbanization of western Europe, and the resulting loss of habitat and diminished prey base, have led to a severe reduction of the Eurasian Lynx population there. The first step is to learn about their lives in the native habitat. Where are the cats located? What kind of habitat do they need? What do they eat? How large is the population? These and many other questions must be answered before suitable areas can be set aside and conservation plans put in motion.

Your donations help field researchers purchase radio collars, cameras and other equipment to study the small wild cats.

Thank you for your support!

6 Nov 2013

Buy More Time for Small Wild Cats

by Wanda Angermeyer | posted in: Cats in the wild, Cats of South America, Endangered Cats, wild cat conservation | 0

Wild cats are in danger of disappearing all over the world. Habitat loss, persecution, poaching, illegal fur, food and pet trades, increased roads and other human interference in their habitats are taking their toll. So how do scientists and conservationists save wild cats?

Your donations help field researchers purchase radio collars, cameras and other equipment to study the small wild cats. Join our growing list of small wild cat heroes. Please donate today.

100% of donations received go directly to wild cats

One species that has been helped through research made possible by your support is the Andean Cat.

Andean Cats Leopardus jacobita are one of the most beautiful of all wild cats. The fur is mainly ash grey with brown-yellowish blotches that are distributed as vertical lines at both sides of the body, giving the appearance of continuous stripes. Extremely thick, plush fur of silvery grey is very fine and soft, up to 5 cm long on the back, and the underside is pale with dark spots. Prominent dark grey bars also run across the chest and forelegs. The backs of the large, rounded ears are dark grey, and the nose is black. Learn more

15 Jul 2013

Celebrating Another Success for the Iberian Lynx Recovery Plan!

by Wanda Angermeyer | posted in: Cats in the wild, Cats of Europe, wild cat conservation | 0

A news article on June 27, 2013 from Portugal News Online reported that two Iberian Lynx born last year at the Silves Reproduction Centre in Portugal were recently released in to the Guarrizas Valley in Spain. Eleven of nineteen Iberian Lynx released into the wild so far this year were born at the Algarve-based CNRLI reproduction centre, in Silves. The cat’s first few days of freedom were monitored by radio and satellite.

So far this year 17 cubs have been born at the CNRLI centre in Silves, 15 of which are currently also being taught to live in the wild, in preparation for their release next year.

The Iberian, or Spanish, Lynx is currently the most endangered wild cat species in the world. The situation of the Iberian Lynx is so grave that it is the only felid species in which the costly and risky process of captive breeding and reintroduction is essential. The lynx is threatened by the collapse of its main prey, the European rabbit, whose population now numbers only about 5% of 1950 levels due mainly to the introduction of exotic diseases.

1 Jun 2013

Ocelittle

by Pat Bumstead | posted in: Cats of North America, Cats of South America, wild cat conservation, Zoo cats | 1

On December 31, 2012, an ocelot was born at the Cincinnati Zoo.

The mother was impregnated using a new laparoscopic oviductal artificial insemination technique.

Now five months old, Reveillon is enjoining romping with her mother, Sala.

That is, when she can find her.

6 May 2013

Serval: Doing What They Do Best

by Pat Bumstead | posted in: Cats of Africa, wild cat conservation | 0

ISEC Canada member Phil Perry was fortunate to watch this beautiful Serval hunting. It managed to catch three rodents in half an hour. Photo taken in the Shamwari Game Reserve, South Africa.

These long-legged cats are found in well-watered savannah grass habitats of sub Saharan Africa. The serval specializes in small mammals, with 90% of their diet weighing less than 200 grams. They have a characteristic high pounce when hunting which can reach heights of up to two meters high and 4 metres long.

One study found they have a hunting success rate of 49% in almost 2000 pounces. They killed 15-16 times in 24 hours, making 0.8 kills per hour.

That’s a lot of rodents that could have been destroying crops or invading villages. Another very important reason to protect small wild cats!

4 Jan 2013

The Number 1 Email Question

by Pat Bumstead | posted in: wild cat conservation | 0

ocelot with radio collar During the course of a year, we get a huge variety of questions via email. People send us cat pictures for identification, researchers are seeking funding, children ask about school projects and many inquire about our membership and programs.

In 2012, the most common query was from people seeking a job on a biological field research project. We received mail and resumes from around the world, and unfortunately had to turn them all away.

ISEC Canada does not hire researchers for any project. We send financial support to projects that have been initiated by researchers who hire their own staff. Many of these projects are associated with universities, and the work is part of the course taken by students.

We heard from some truly amazing and enthusiastic people the past year. Wildlife biology is a noble field to get into and many wild species owe their very survival to these dedicated researchers. It is also an extremely difficult field to find work in, and we wish we could accommodate everyone who took the incentive to contact us. In reality, all we can do is wish them luck in their search, and thank them for their concern about wildlife.

3 Jan 2013

Small Wild Cat Calendar

by Pat Bumstead | posted in: wild cat conservation | 0

Wouldn’t you love a gorgeous small wild cat gracing your wall every month? We have only a few of these remaining in stock so now would be a great time to order! Calendar is 8 1/2″ x 11″ when closed. (*8 1/2″ x 22″ when hanging).

small wild cats calendar Thirteen gorgeous small wild cats are featured in this 2013 wall calendar, including photos taken in the wild and in zoos. There are some exceptionally rare photos in here this year! An ISEC Canada exclusive product.

$19.95 Cdn includes all shipping costs. Proceeds to Black-footed Cat Research.

Buy It Now

2 Jan 2013

Happy New Year!

by Pat Bumstead | posted in: wild cat conservation | 0

It’s the start of another busy year in small wild cat conservation.

This website will be undergoing a few changes over the next few weeks, as we work to adjust this temporary site into a stunning new showcase for small wild cats. We have to start with the boring technical bits in the background, but we’ll soon be adding photos and content.

While we’re working away on the website, you can always follow the cats in the social media world:

Felids Blog

Small Wild Cats on Facebook

Small Wild Cats Tweeting

We would love to hear from you on what you would like us to include – just drop a line in the comments below.