HI All

Thank you to every who has supported Finlay’s crowd funder so far. We are nearly two thirds of the way to our target. With a last push we can hopefully make it. Here is the link:

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/help-us-get-finlay-back-into-the-wild

Despite the snow and bad weather we have had construction teams on site, making plans to start building as soon as the weather permits. Of course we don’t yet know the total amount we will raise so plans are flexible, but the more funds then the bigger the enclosure we can create. A large rehabilitation enclosure will allow him to learn to hunt, use den sites and gradually lose his reliance on humans. Without this it will be impossible for him to learn and develop the vital skills he will need to survive in the wild.

He is getting stronger by the day and catching up his growth after a very difficult and traumatic start to life. He is spending increasing amounts of time outdoors and his eyesight and reactions are incredible. As he is getting older he is quickly becoming more independent and there is now only one person who looks after him, so that he trusts only that person and no one else. This is of course vital for his survival in the wild.

As you can see in the video he is playful, healthy and ready for the next phase of his journey back to the wild. His tail is thickening up nicely and is beautifully ringed and you can see his lovely body striping and clear head and nape stripes. He is real bundle of energy  and is literally chewing everything at the moment (as you can see form the video above).

Successful rehabilitation is not just about releasing an animal. No chances will be taken with Finlay’s return to the wild and comprehensive preparation will take place beforehand. This requires extensive survey work to check for existing wildcat populations and also to neuter any domestic cats in the area, to avoid future hybridisation. The great thing is that all this work not only helps Finlay but also really helps the remaining wildcat populations,  so it’s a real win: win.

Of course, the enclosure and the release sites will help any future orphaned wildcat kittens that are found, so there will be a real legacy to this work.

Building a large scale enclosure is a major undertaking but after all that he has been through and the bravery he has shown, Finlay deserves to be given the best chance of returning to the wild.  

If you want to help Finlay and future kittens like him, please support our crowd funder at:

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/help-us-get-finlay-back-into-the-wild

Thank you, your support is hugely appreciated.

The Wildcat Haven Team ( and Finlay)