Public shown rare wildcat kitten

Flora gave birth to kitten Macavity last year (picture by Keith Marshall)

A rare kitten born at a wildlife park in Kent has been shown to the public for the first time.

The Scottish wildcat was born to a pair of pure bred cats at Wildwood Discovery park, near Canterbury, last month.

His mother Flora, who is among just 400 Scottish wildcats thought to be left in the world, brought the kitten out to meet the public last week.

Scientists say the species is nearly extinct because of interbreeding with domestic cats.

Once the kitten can fend for itself its parents Hamish and Flora will be re-housed in a special retirement enclosure away from public view.

Macavity, a male wildcat that was born to the pair last year, will be matched with another pure bred female in the hope that they will mate.

Scottish wildcats are the last wild feline in Britain, where they have lived for over two million years.

They are an average of 50% larger than a domestic cat, have a two to three sq mile territory and are unique to Britain.