Table 1.
Summary of the analysis results for each dataset. Cats with an LBQ_35 ≥ 0.75 are deemed to be wildcats for management purposes
| Dataset | N | N (with pelage) | Dates of sample collection (mean of known dates) | Sample locality summary | Wildcat (LBQ ≥ 0.75) | Hybrid | Domestic (UBQ ≤ 0.25) | Mean 7PS pelage score (range) | Collection bias |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35SNP_historical_cats | 60 | 51 | 1895–1987 (1937) | Scotland wide (N of Highland Boundary fault) | 54 | 5 | 1 | 18 (10.5–21) | Shot cats given to and purchased by museums—possibly biased towards cats that look like wildcats |
| 35SNP_wildliving_dead_cats | 125 | 33 | 1989–2016 (2007) | Scotland wide roadside (mostly N of Highland Boundary Fault) | 21 | 87 | 17 | 12 (8–17) | Predominantly roadkill—bias difficult to determine (see discussion) |
| 35SNP_wildliving_survey_cats | 19 | 18 | 2013–2014 (2014) | SNH Priority Area Survey targeting wildcats | 0 | 19 | 0 | 13 (7–20) | Survey of supposed wildcat areas—biased towards higher pelage score |
| 35SNP_captive_cats | 72 | 28 | 2017 | Living captive wildcats | 63 | 9 | 0 | 17 (11–20.5) | Captive cats—founders biased towards higher pelage score cats |
| 35SNP_domestic_cats | 19 | n/a | 2014 | Edinburgh City Region | 0 | 0 | 19 | n/a | n/a |
| 3097SNP_dataset | 76 | n/a | Subset of 68 cats from above data and eight additional cats collected across the UK | 26 | 39 | 11 | n/a | n/a |