Cat owners' perceptions of domestic cats and implications for European wildcat ( <i>Felis silvestris</i> ) restoration

Abstract Cat owners are key stakeholders and influencers in discourses around cat management. While research has examined cat impacts on wildlife, there is limited understanding of cat owners' perspectives on management responsibilities, particularly in regions where European wildcats Felis silvestris are threatened by hybridization with domestic cats Felis catus . To address this gap, we conducted semi‐structured interviews with rural‐living cat owners within two regions of the UK where wildcat reintroductions are being contemplated. Interviewees were asked about their perspectives on the impacts of, and responsibility for, owned and unowned domestic cats and wildcats. We also explored cat owners' present knowledge of wildcats. We find a lack of consensus over who is, or should be, responsible for unowned cats to be a significant barrier to effective cat management. This is highlighted by the shifting perceptions of unowned cats between domesticated and wild. Moreover, the lack of cognizance of wildcats among cat owners is a primary challenge facing wildcat restoration and unowned cat management. We propose collaboration among a broad group of stakeholders to develop management strategies for unowned cats in the context of wildcat restoration and suggest a focus on cat welfare. The challenges of domestic cat management provide insight useful to wildlife restoration projects where there is a need to engage and highlight co‐benefits with stakeholders who are interested but not necessarily engaged in conservation issues or practices.