Hi Everyone

According to when Finlay was first found, it is likely that his birthday would have been this week and so we wanted to share with you some special memories and give an overview of his life so far. He is so special and means the world to us and we know that you all the feel the same. We cannot thank you enough for all the kind messages of support and encouragement that so many of you send us. 

Finlay would have born a year ago this week and would have been happily tucked up in a den, looked after by his fiercely protective mother. However unfortunately at 3 weeks old his life was turned upside down and in circumstances that are unknown, his mother must have been killed and he was made an orphan. Driven by hunger and with his eyes barely open, he made the decision to leave the safety of his den and try and find his mother. His journey coincided with a stormy period of torrential rain. We don't know how long he had spent out in the storms but he was found, completely sodden and close to death in the Highlands. Luckily, John and Angela who found him, gave him much needed care and warmth, got him to the vets the next day and started the full time job of bottle feeding and monitoring him. John and Angela knew straight away that the kitten they had found had the tell tale signs of a Scottish wildcat and thankfully they got in touch with us. We immediately went to see him and he was passed into our care so that his long process of rehabilitation could start, with the ultimate goal of getting him back to the wild where he belongs.

It was a very tense first few weeks as rearing any orphaned animal is always tricky, but the pressure is really on when the orphan is one of the rarest animals in the world. No chances were taken and every aspect of his development was closely monitored. However, we needn't have worried because what has been clear since we first met Finlay, is that he is a real fighter. He has a steely determination to survive, he never gives up and that has made our task a lot easier.

He spent the early days in the house in a large room that had been furnished with branches, trees and leaves. His own indoor forest. As he grew and thanks entirely to your generosity, we built him an extremely large and naturalistic rehabilitation enclosure, that has now become his territory. He has developed wonderfully well and we plan to release him next spring when he is fully grown and has experienced his first winter. We believe that this will be the optimal time to maximise his chances of survival. 

None of us know what the future holds for Finlay, or what adventures he will have in his new life in the wild, but rest assured we will be keep you fully updated and it means so much to have your encouragement behind us. The below link will take you to a timeline in pictures of Finlay's life so far. What a mesmerizingly beautiful creature he really is:

www.wildcathaven.com/news/happy-birthday-finlay-his-story-so-far

To support our work, you can purchase a Finlay adoption pack as a thoughtful gift for someone special or indeed yourself, at the following link:

https://www.wildcathaven.com/wildcat-adoption/adopt-a-scottish-wildcat

The adoption packs cost a one off donation of £25, equivalent to $33. As you go through the online process you can nominate whose name you want on the gift certificate. The pack can either be delivered to you, so that you can give the gift pack in person, or it can be delivered directly to the intended recipient. The packs are processed within 48 hours.

The adoption pack contains the following:

1.     A personalised certificate

2.     A wildcat print 

3.     A wildcat pin badge

4.      Information about the Scottish wildcat

5.     The knowledge that you are helping save this beautiful wild animal

Please email us at admin@wildcathaven.co.uk if you have any questions.

We really appreciate your support

Many thanks in advance

The Wildcat Haven Team