The residents of the island of Corsica in the Mediterranean have known for generations that the cats here are unlike any other species.
Legend has it that on Corsica, a French island situated in the Mediterranean, residents have passed down many tales about a mysterious breed of cat. Externally resembling a wild cat, these felines are cleverer and target the udders of female goats and sheep to attack, subsequently taking the “trophies” from farmers. This notorious group of cats is referred to by the islanders as Ghjattu volpe.
Corsica – the discovery site of the strange cat breed. (Photo: Daily Mail, TravelTourXP)
“We believe that the fox cat has been sighted, but it has never been recognized as a species scientifically due to its rarity and nocturnal nature,” said Pierre Benedetti, an expert from ONCFS.
Not only are these cats mysterious in their behavior, but they are also quite skilled in camouflage. They are adorned with a striped coat from their front legs to their tail, with black hind legs and a belly that is reddish. Their thick fur protects them from attacks by ticks and fleas.
The mysterious cat breed in Corsican legends.
For a decade, zoologists have sought to study the cats of Corsica, but they had no specimens to examine. It wasn’t until 2008 that they joyfully captured a strange cat that was… breaking into a local’s chicken coop!
The mystery of the Corsican cat began to unravel in 2012, four years after the first specimen was captured and sent for DNA testing. Researcher Benedetti stated, “The Corsican cat is completely distinct from the European wildcat (scientific name: Felis silvestris silvestris). In fact, it is more closely related to the African wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica), but it is a separate species.”
The impressive demeanor of the fox cat, though they can no longer “preserve” their mystery.
In 2016, scientists captured the first fox cat and subsequently found 16 more. They fitted them with tracking chips to monitor their behavior, schedules, and habits. Results indicated that the range of these cats is extensive, covering an area of up to 3,000 hectares and altitudes of up to 2,500 meters.
Initial examinations revealed that these cats have inhabited Corsica for over 6,500 years, dating back to the second wave of human conquest of the island. If this result is accurate, it strongly suggests that their origins are from the Middle East.
The local government has dedicated over 10 years to gathering more information about this animal. They used infrared traps to collect fur, which indicated that the DNA of the “fox cat” differs from that of the European wildcat on the mainland. RFI reported that ONCFS was able to trap 16 living beings in the Asco Valley at elevations reaching 2,500 meters above sea level.
These fox cats were then fitted with electronic chips so that the center could monitor their movements; many of them have formed the basis for research presented to the public.
Despite the name “hybrid,” this breed of cat has no relation to foxes, nor is it a hybrid between two species as they belong to entirely different families (foxes are related to dogs). Rather, they share many differences from domestic cats. Fox cats are larger – they can be nearly 1 meter long (while domestic cats are about 76 cm long), have wider ears, shorter whiskers, and longer fangs.
From now on, let’s call them fox cats (also known as cat foxes).
According to Pierre Bendetti, the Technical Director of ONCFS, “We believe that the fox cat is a wild animal that has been known but not scientifically identified.” He also indicated that these fox cats primarily inhabit the Asco forest. They reside in areas with water and trees to evade predators. While their preferred food, breeding habits, or personalities remain unclear, scientists have determined that they exhibit nocturnal behavior.
Scientists have installed more professional cameras and tracking chips to conduct studies on the fox cats. However, the images they have captured are still not enough to answer the mysteries surrounding this species. For instance, how did they come to inhabit the island of Corsica? Moreover, due to the increasingly severe deforestation, gathering new information about the fox cats has become even more challenging.
