Kellas cat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kellas cat |
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| Mounted zoological specimen of a Kellas cat | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Suborder: | Feliformia |
| Family: | Felidae |
| Subfamily: | Felinae |
| Genus: | Felis |
| Species: | |
The Kellas cat is a large, black cat found in Scotland. It is a special kind of hybrid animal, meaning it's a mix between two different types of cats: the Scottish wildcat and the domestic cat.
For a long time, people thought the Kellas cat was just a myth or a made-up story. Sightings were often dismissed as hoaxes. However, in 1984, a real specimen was found, proving these unique cats truly exist.
What is a Kellas Cat?
The Kellas cat is not a formal cat breed like a Siamese or a Persian. Instead, it's a natural mix, or a "landrace," of felid hybrids. This means they are a group of animals that have developed naturally in a certain area.
The name "Kellas cat" comes from the village of Kellas, Moray in Scotland, where the first known specimen was found.
Discovery and Appearance
The first Kellas cat that proved their existence was caught by a gamekeeper in 1984. This cat was found to be a mix of a Scottish wildcat and a domestic cat.
Historian Charles Thomas thought that an old Pictish stone in Golspie might even show a Kellas cat. This stone shows a cat-like creature standing on a salmon. This might hint at stories that Kellas cats could catch fish while swimming.
Kellas cats are usually described as being about 60 to 90 centimeters (24 to 36 inches) long. They have strong, long back legs and a tail that can be around 30 centimeters (12 inches) long. Their weight can vary from about 2.3 to 6.8 kilograms (5 to 15 pounds). The cat found in 1984 was about 38 centimeters (15 inches) tall at the shoulder and 109 centimeters (43 inches) long.
Studying Kellas Cats
Researchers have studied several Kellas cat specimens to learn more about them. One researcher at the National Museum of Scotland looked at eight different Kellas cats.
One of these cats was a young male Scottish wildcat that was completely black. This was the first time a black wildcat had ever been recorded in Scotland! Most of the other cats examined were hybrids, meaning they were a mix of wildcat and domestic cat. Many of these hybrids were more like a Scottish wildcat, but one was more like a domestic cat.
You can see a specimen of a Kellas cat in a museum in Elgin. The Zoology Museum at the University of Aberdeen also has a mounted specimen. This one was found in 2002 in the Insch area of Aberdeenshire.
See also
In Spanish: Gato de Kellas para niños
