ECOLOGICAL AND HUNTING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE EUROPEAN WILDCAT (FELIS SILVESTRIS)

Divlja mačka (Felis silvestris, Schreber, 1775) je sitna dlakava divljač unutar porodice mačaka koja je široko rasprostranjena po Europi, zapadnoj Aziji i Africi. Na teritoriju RH nalazimo je u gotovo svim staništima. U lov kreće u sumrak, okončava ga pred zoru, a lovi sve životinje koje može savladati. Živi asocijalno, samotnjački sve do vremena parenja. Sva osjetila su joj vrlo dobro razvijena, a posebice vid. Zahvaljujući tome dobro se snalazi i u gotovo potpunom mraku. Tijelo joj je zbijenije i dugo 80 - 90 cm te visoko 35 – 45 cm. Tjelesne mase je do 10 kg. Divlje mačke se pare jednom godišnje, u vremenu od veljače do ožujka, postoje i odstupanja od tog razdoblja pa parenje može biti i kasnije. Ženka mlade nosi 63 dana te u vremenu od travnja do svibnja omaci 4 – 5 mačića. Iako je u Hrvatskoj na popisu divljači, ulaskom u Europsku uniju, divlja mačka proglašena je zaštićenom životinjskom vrstom.The wild cat (Felis silvestris) is a small furry venison within the cat family that is widespread in Europe, West Asia and Africa. On the territory of the Republic of Croatia it is found in almost all habitats. The hunt starts at dusk, ends before dawn and it catches all the animals that can be mastered. It lives antisocial and solitary until the mating time comes. All its senses are very well developed, especially vision. Thanks to that, it is able to see in almost complete darkness. Its body is more compact and 80 - 90 cm long and 35 - 45 cm high. Its body weight is 10 kg. Wild cats mate once a year, in times from February to March, but there are exceptions from this period, and mating may also be at a later time. Female youth carries 63 days and in the time from April to May, four to five little kittens are born. Although in Croatia it is listed as venison, by joining the European Union it is declared as a protected species