Wildcat offspring at the Oberrabenstein game reserve
Around eight-week-old wild kittens can currently be seen again at the Oberrabenstein wildlife enclosure. The breeding pair of European wildcats, who have been living together since the end of 2019, have given birth for the fifth time. On 15 April, the keepers spotted four kittens next to their mother in the enclosure's whelping box.
After nine weeks of gestation, the cat can give birth to three to five kittens. This takes place in a safe hiding place, as the kittens are blind for around nine days. In the first few weeks, the chance of discovering the kittens outside the whelping box is rather small. The main activity period of wildcats only begins after sunset. However, with a bit of luck, the kittens can now also be observed outside during the day.
Incidentally, the European wildcat is not the ancestral form of our domestic cats. These are originally descended from the African wildcat (hawkcat). European wildcats are larger than domestic cats. A wild cat (male) can weigh up to 8 kilograms. Another distinguishing feature is the bushy tail, about 30 centimetres long, which has three distinct black rings and ends in a blunt black tip. In the distribution area of the wild cat, however, cross-breeding with domestic cats - known as "dazzlers" - can occur. However, these have little chance of survival under the living conditions in the wild.
Opening hours in summer:
Zoo: 9 am to 7 pm, last admission 6 pm
Game enclosure: 9 am to 6 pm, last admission 5 pm