Nothing more enshrines a lingering last bastion of the truly wild more than the Scottish Wildcat. It’s a living legend, but only just as it is unfortunately far from untainted by the modern world, its precious purity corrupted by the genes of moggies, its habitat poorly managed or gone. This icon is hemmed in and imperiled and the need to effectively conserve it cannot be understated. The Highland Tiger’s future will not be burning bright without your help, so please do what you can.

As a vet I understand the important role that neutering plays with our pets – and this project shows how vital neutering is for the conservation of wild species such as a the wonderful Scottish wildcat. I would urge everyone who owns a cat and is not intending to breed from it to have it neutered, especially if you live in the realm of the Scottish wildcat.

The Scottish wildcat is not only a potent symbol for the wild spirit of its homeland but also a beacon of hope for collaboration between the different groups who have the opportunity to secure its future. Will this opportunity be seized? I for one hope so, for the loss of this cultural icon is unthinkable.

"The Scottish wildcat is one of Scotland's most charismatic species but unfortunately, also one of our most threatened. While smaller than the big cats found elsewhere they have the heart of a lion and are the tigers of our Highlands. I feel passionately about conserving them for the benefit of future generations.

"It would be tragic to lose wildcats when their demise is preventable. However, there is hope for these fantastic animals if we take action now and utilise the experience and expertise that partnership working can offer. I fervently hope that by doing so the fortunes of the wildcat can be reversed."

I saw my first wildcat in the Angus Glens when I was about 7 years old when the cat majestically crossed the road and quietly merged into the long flowing grasses and woodland. I was not to see another for 35 years. I knew they were rare and I knew a little about their habitat and behaviour but was amazed that nothing had really been done to conserve this species even when I worked for the government agency SNH. Surely if we are to be respected and taken seriously across the world as a society, we must safeguard this species, our top predator and give real hope to safeguarding our whole ecosystem before it breaks down irrecoverably.

I see the wildcat, along with the golden eagle, as real spirits of the Scottish wilderness. Despite shameful human persecution of these and other predators over the years we are lucky enough to be getting another - possibly a last - chance to ensure that the wildcat survives for future generations. We must ensure that the enlightened attitude of most 21st century land and game managers, combined with more responsible domestic cat ownership, give our highland tiger a secure future.

The true Scottish wildcat plays an important role in our rich rural culture, and gamekeepers are well aware of its importance. For 200 years our profession has been helping save the animal’s gene pool by culling feral cats as part of our job of maintaining a balance of all wildlife in the countryside.

The rich variety of life in the Scottish landscape is a treasure beyond price. To lose any species would be bad enough but to lose such a special animal as the Highland Tiger would be disastrous. Whatever it takes, we must work together to rescue the Scottish Wildcat from the threat of extinction.

The future of our Scottish wildcat is far from certain. We need more information about
them and that's why SNH launched the Scottish Wildcat Survey last year.

Wildcats are one of our least known and most threatened species. They are shy creatures and their survival partly depends on educating future generations about this magnificent predator.

I'm absolutely delighted there is to be a well organised campaign to raise public awareness of the Highland Tiger - we don't have many creatures that are unique to Scotland and we should do everything we can to preserve those that are left. I'm also a little concerned that even within the small world of "naturalists" there are many who would claim there is no such thing as a "pure" Scottish wild cat. We simply have to know more about these shy, elusive creatures, and we need to make the public aware of their dangerously small numbers.

We once had a wildcat living close to our home on Scotland’s west coast. She was a really beautiful cat, thick-furred in the winter with her tail rings very bold. I remember her white whiskers, the dark fur between her toes, her pink nose; above all her extreme wildness. Domestic cats have an air of wildness about them but this was the real thing; self-reliance and no surrender. She set our hearts racing every time we saw her.
Anyone who sees a wildcat must count themselves lucky but the thought that it might become impossible to do so, and that we might not even notice as it happens, fills me with dread.

In my books I write about Angus a half Scottish wildcat I had as a teenager. He has become a legend to my readers as the best, wildest, insanely courageous 'pet' a person could have. I used to keep him on a lead, but he ate it.
And now amazingly I have found his wild family exist, but only just, there are only 4oo of the wildcats left.
These wildcats are the most gloriously wild creatures; they are our very own indigenous tigers. They're Viking cats not your normal kittykatty creatures from the Med, they wear horned helmets and ...no actually they don't, but I bet they could if they wanted to. They have been here since the mammoths. We must save them. And we can.

As a wildlife artist I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to observe and sketch the Scottish wildcat in the wild in Scotland, nearly 17 years ago. I will never forget the moment I first spotted a thick bottle-brush tail in the undergrowth after many many days of watching and waiting - and was finally able to capture this beautiful cat in my sketchpad. It is sobering to think that the last remaining large mammal predator in the British Isles is so perilously close to extinction, and it's vital to preserve this beautiful creature, which is part of our natural heritage, while we still have a window of opportunity. I hope very much that the Tiger of the Highlands will continue to roam the wilds of Scotland as it has for centuries.

"The wildcat is of great significance to all members of Clan Macpherson, since it is has for centuries been the Crest of the Chief and the emblem used to mark membership of our Macpherson heritage and Clan. Long may this wild creature of the Highlands be preserved!"