94 The Irish Naturalist. Majr 
WILD CATS IN IRELAND. 
BY ROBERT WARREN. 
In the Irish Naturalist for April {supra, p. 84), Dr. 
vScharff refers to some notes of mine in the Irish Naturalist 
for 191 1 (vol. XX., p. 50), on the supposed existence 
of the Wild Cat (Felis catus) in Ireland. He says — " Mr. 
Warren's criticism of the veracity of country people is 
rather severe." I still adhere to the opinion that the 
stories of Wild Cats by the country people should not be 
credited, as referring to the true Wild Cat, but to the 
domestic cat run wild, and wild-bred for many years among 
the woods and rabbit warrens throughout the country. 
Living this wild life, and feeding on their natural food of 
birds and small quadrupeds — after the lapse of many 
generations of this wild life, they attain to a size and 
strength far beyond that of the tame house cat. When 
I first came to reside at Moyview, Co. Sligo, in 1851, there 
were some rabbits about the place, but no care was taken 
of them, and none were trapped, so there was no check 
put to the increase of the wild-bred cats living in the 
woods and plantations. I frequently came across them, 
but, on being disturbed, they always took refuge in rabbit 
holes. 
Having some friends pheasant-shooting, one day as 
we were beating some thick bushes and briars, an immense 
grey cat bolted, and was knocked over by one of the guns, 
but so tenacious of life was the brute, that it took a second 
barrel to finish him. He was an old male, of the true 
Wild Cat colour, having a thick coat of coarse fur. All 
present were surprised at his size, which was at least a 
third larger than that of a house cat, and when I lifted 
the carcase from the ground, its weight astonished me. 
Afterwards I regretted that I did not take his measurements 
and weight to show to what a size and weight these wild- 
bred cats attain. 
