Assessment of spatial and temporal overlap between wildcats (Felis silvestris) and domestic cats (Felis catus) in northeastern Iberia.

Abstract

Presence of domestic species can cause multiple impacts on natural ecosystems, especially when wild close relatives are also present. The European Wildcat is an excellent example, facing major conservation threats due to the presence of domestic cats in natural environments. Their interactions can result in varying levels of hybridization, disease transmission, and ecological competition across different regions. Here, we studied spatiotemporal overlap of both species using over 300 camera traps located in more than 30 plots across Catalonia (NE Spain). Occupancy and detectability of the wildcat were not significantly influenced by the relative abundance of domestic cats. However, we observed a high spatial segregation between both species, which could help to explain the relatively low hybridization rate in this area. Daily activity patterns of the 2 cat species showed higher overlap during the mating period than during the non-mating period. Domestic cat activity patterns shifted in those areas with presence of wildcats only during the non-mating period, while the presence of domestic cats had no effect on wildcat activity. Thus, wildcat estrus could influence the activity times of domestic cats, whose active hours show increased overlap with those of wildcats during the mating period. Wildcat conservation measures could focus on enhancing spatial segregation in those regions where hybridization is more persistent, reducing domestic cat incursions in natural areas, while monitoring wildcat distribution and range expansion into areas with a high risk of encounters with domestic cats.