Cats in Australia

.1 Hum That Feral f'al from We [tattle t'ul the Hpiniles .u'r'ir'r in Ku'ri' Kr iris-:4. (?voter irttuitu'lr't- .ti'rvrt llu r?im'i' Pt?l H-ir AWN in I Aphiirui All" HF . I: 31' HAL Li" ?aw-MW? Cats Weir's are found in most habitats across mainland Australia. and on many islands. They are very adaptable animals that live in all environments from the arid Lles'et'ls to tropical Iiirests. alpine and urban garbage tips. They can survive in extremely dry et?ntditions a ithout water other than the moisture they get t'rotn their prey. Cats probably arrived in some parts of Australia bel'ore European settlers. The first European esplorers found cats in large numbers in parts ot'the Northern Territory. it is possible that they were introduced to northem Australia b} Tvlaez?man [l?ittlL?I'H? or that the}.- survived Dutch ship'tvreelts. Cats were prohabl} released from the [Endeavour when it v. as grounded along the northern Queensland enaxtliue: Captain Cook is known to have releast eats onto 'l'ahili. Whatever their origins. eats have become one of our most successful. widespread feral introductions. It iv. dit'l?ieuh to estimate tlte numbers of eats in Australia due to lack of research. (Jne estimate suggested that the l'eral population could be between 5.6 million and 18.4 million with an average of IE million. Feral eat densities would var} wider ilL?l'ttss different environmental regions. but this of total lilill?lbe?l?s is believable. considering the LTSA has an estimated 44 million total eats ()tber estimates of feral eat? in parts of are: Jill} in - (tilt) in Victoria - 25 tilt? in South Australia to million in Queensland. 720w Jae/m Ihc mud numlwr is Elii?l'c? :irc i'lcl'iniluly ul' lirrul cub Huron we]! as l'cml um lhui'u are about 3 million mm. Alisii'uliu. Tlii~ lizm'il nn suidicx which limit] lhul: - one in [hr-cc llilh ;11 [Is-ml uni? L'Lll in them are .ihuul (Hill iliimcaiic L'Lllh - In \"iL'InI'iu lilCi'L? uric :ll?IULli (Jill: Limits-?lit - in uri- :ilmui lL? L?Lllk. The Impact ul' ('an on Native Wildlife "1 hr Spa-cits Pi?ugriim NEW 41! ilw Niilinnul Purl? :iml kaNl?W?f?ii rcuugniacii L?ulx air. Ehrcuh 10 Ihc nl' unitingch nuiiu? allilTluli. Lillhuuigli IllL?l'L? um? lililc piil?rlixlicil impurl. Thu ESP linslcil ii ii l'il'ls'hl'll'il'l m1 l'hi.? Impact nl'flils mi Nulix'c ?i?v?ilillil'c in Mu} drawi- inguthcr ?hut wua knmin :ilmui L'Lll?u shun.- upiniunx :ilmui ul?l'm'h um :ll'L' having mm wilLIIiI'c unit devulnp 1i liuiimml L'lilth?IthN un he LlUllL? uhi'iul cub. in NW Thi- pi'nrccilingh ul' lnnu Iii-vii puhliuliud 1. Feral ?muesli: l'IiL'i'i- Ll hunts-n: living l'ei'ul :iml le [vim l'crul .ippliw ill 111. w: iinl law 'l'hui'c il'l'L? aim wini- dunk-mu mix iiIlLl ulm urlmr'I Llill\ v. lilth I'imL- mmu iluigi'cu ill ll?? im'nlrii cab [in whim.- mimi till lt?lilil ?wlh?llcl' pi'm h} an mqu mum null L'Lll?i l'ur' nil Lill'- mi. 11ml Lii'l?izili ali'ufw. Hm- ul [ll-c mint mun I?L?lillL'li H1 the iiniiziui and u] L'als. us. l?reduluru CHIN Lll'i" lii hum um! inll my] apt-um nt' 5H mammal.? 5H replilm. l'rngw unil imam-1.x. Tlicir pm} pinkish Hamil}- nl' 11.: ii'iuliun'. \l/L?il grimmldim-Hill;1 I'eplilm including mm and cmluiiguruil upcrics. 'I'liia lihi. prim mun- i~c lczii'm I'mm Auwimllu ruhl'inx InLlle' up IllL? lurguai pri'rpuriinri Hi this l'crul cm tilL?l by weight millu? up grvalcr pt'npnr'iimi liy iiLimlwr. fin-a in JIM. .H In! mum: ?It'i'ir'i'i'i' l-?ih?hriirt m. I: H'rii an." ?mgr ?if: If .fhi- LVN la. in?! H. HM .i'x ..rI'.'rlI Film-i: 1 mid 11.1mm um lr. ilic brim-viz mum-ll .iml Lulw. hi my mug Pl Luii'a Nialle i~ Hui hm um.- ll?i'LLl. v. {.15 Hill}. Liming; mum n'i \x liL?li lung: Hu'Lll'u; ll i~ tiL?l aui'l'iucni in mini. mil} mu 'uLiL Ll'ici': in thy In um 'i'a =ll liILz Dunk-am; . 111'. mini ?h l'Hl 1 all'il?A ii ik?i?ni?t?li lL?i'Lil .tlhl ull?v i! in i'ii-ucwir} 1H lilliix Mm] mi.? .le muiiziyunciil alum H1111 lH. can iiml In can nulii li~ maln- iip lliu ~warm: hulk .iw :i liq-u. 1mg; militiila. {Ella illw pm im ulhui? aliuli Ll?i whirling. [Ella were i'CImwd min mum urcm iil' Australia Ill Lilicmpix In L?Hllil'lil ullk?l' :l?w Fill'llillH. mix illhl ?l'liL-y Imu- nuI cummiun ul' i'Lll?ll?Ill pupiilulimhui'1hc l'r'cqucnl iiliiguc? in rural ill'EilN. Ruhliila Ullil I'uilunh mil}, hi: in ?up Ull'lL?l' Ii} (nix Ih-pruduclimi in 1?;in Luis liciw guiwniml Iii!" f'Lli?Jltl :ii 1hr} um limc [ll'L'z' innit 1i?. 0 par lilIL-i'. mm in -. ill in nil l?ill minil} tinii?. in leai-c leliL'll?? aim-vii right a i 'L'ilN ?i?il'lljl'l ilii?j'. uhl. liluplil i-l in .?isi?n? ?rm) [.1in [I'ml ill'k' lime. h} xwl?ii'v k?Ll'L'li rhiniplc. ;i lL'aIMl-q hump; l-uii kin-m? :1 cm: will. in mi liu l?a'??nf'lkll?lu 1m I'L'nmli' Cats are 'I?hreuts In Endangered Species ("ins kill 't'ihlL'll up in tltcir ttl' mmninuls. hil?dh and ruptilcn urc in [Ilia sire cuicgur'y. Cutw threaten the und continucil or mini}- hpccicx. For example. t'crnl cub; kill-3d minty til the Ruthua Hurc-wulluhicx: rclemcrl in lht.? Tunumi Dch'cl't ut' the 'l'erritm?y during and I?m . Calls are [nujur ul' in lhu nnly remainingI pupulzition at the Bandicnul in Victnriu. Plagues nt' I'cl'ul can. urc ~?uri?itrul nt' lltt.? it-iltl populntitin {If Bilhlt?h {Ul? RuhhiI-curcd Buildinth in 1hr: Diumunlinu rcgiun Ul' A singlc I'L?rul Urns l'nuntl I'u he reducing the ul' walluhich in HUIEHURI ct'llnn} in lrnnical Fur many years him til? cula calming Ilic dcclinc and calincliun iil' nntit'c unintnh on lhliilltl?a. On St nl't' suum Austritliuii waist cuts C?ilL'l'll'liI'ltllELl till the nulit'c It?li?lunil Ilitll]. - Ftrrul cuts cuuwtl cxlinctitin tit Mucqtnu?ic IHJLIIHI Purukcct. I ('qu ill?t." tit-night tn Eran-c cutnctinn nl' titc Slicctuclml [lurc- n'ulluh} (in inliltld ullf \k't?ilcl?n Australia. BCcumc ihi?lld?x are isolated the preacntie und itnpucl nl' can: in nuiclt more Ul'H'il]Uh. The nt' uthcr PI?L'ditltH'H anch ua l'rm?x unti Llingtk?h cun mulu.? it cuxicr In tlnpucl til'cntn. the impact ul' cuts wiliilili: it. ulm cuntpliculctl by threats aucli as: - Itcthimrca likc rathhih which with nutii'c titlitnuls for fund and hitcllul': und - huhittlt hm. cullacd cleaning. grinning pnllulitin ill'ltl urban [t {Huttll} mmhintlliun nl' 1Which cuth ttl'n upccich. Pram] i Zuni Unmeslic arc Predators Tnu It is nut only the Nptc?t'lti?h ill'e hi cut?. 'l?hnnaintilrt til' Inurc ntni'ic hpCL?iL?n ill'L? Lillcti in urn-in. I13: Lininestic L?utx ouch yuur. 'l?hcxe include: - mammals. L.uclt us Ringtuil Hrushluil Sugar untl Gliders. huts. murmpiul mice. native rutr? and - birds such u~t parrots. riigcunh. I'nhinn. quuilx. Iii-lI'tlilitllL'h. finch-:5. pccwits. magmas and :tntl - rcnlilcs MlL?h ua tor-lea? lizards. hluc? tungucd liml?dh. nkinks. anal-tea. brown makes- tiger snake.?- and Cu s. Thu uvcrtigc dt'll't'lt'hlit' czu kill-t about 25 ntllitc animals :1 year. It has [mun extimutcd ll?tut (Wet titres: months hS native animals u'crc caught by (liuncslic utld cut." in Hub-art zircu in 'l'nhmunizt. Wlicn th?h'L? kinds of figures urc scaled up in the numhcr nl? tliintc?ttic L'th in lhcy indicate that ulmul 75 million native nuimuls. urn: cuts cuch ycur. NIH h. uur My mitt.? in. r'i hm tun'a-Hrr' mt'tmui'ri'u' :i'm Iii-4.1: Jr-?rmu?urn u; .ir'm huh-rut. 41 With r?m?rhm :Htrl' hr .F- mu triti'fj'i'r'tt." u'im? Him-r. Kr'h? runny-ii r_ f'ummtinfnri it} {Irv H. hurt in?; h: fill-W" In"? "le?ll'm?f? hurt-Ht Burr-m! Hurm'z'r aura tit with cm?. rim: tin ccli than f'ri'ct'em'. in t'n- .J'mntt-rrt'c flu-u! rm ring? Hymn-m:th nt? 'Hmu :?mtmr: mu! .lzrti'trunmm.? haw Hm! I at? irnrr amt clam-r! animals Harm. t"ur1lKn.rm Feral [Tat Fund An average feral cat weighs about fitur kilograms and needs artiuntl grants of Flesh each day to survive. ll'tt eat ate only native animals it wnult'l need ahuut ten animals a du} . :1 week or 3 {all} a year. Feral cats (in not eat this many native animals in many parts ii-le'm; (fats as Disease 'I?ransmitters Cats are not only a problem :15 predators. They are alsn fur the transmission at infective diseases suL?lt as lt'Jittiplustnusis and saretispnritlitisis. These diseases can :tl'l'cct humans and livestock as well as native tnarsupials. Althnugh the impact all these diseases in Australia is not great. they hath the pntenlial to becnnte serious threats tn native wildlife. As eats are essential trusts in the life cycle 01' these disease urganisnts. cat control is an impurtanl wag. at reducing their occurrence. Because at the widespread distribution til?t'ttls they are puterttial transmitters nt?the disease rabies? which t'ertunateljr dun-s net meter in this country - tel. Cats also spread a nurnher ni' nther diseases such as eat?scratch lever and Cats suffer from at least seven feline viral diseases that affect nn ether animal. includingl l'eline herpes. feline leukaemia and feline AIDS. Vaccines are available I'nr I'nttr i?l? these diseases. and many Cats are vaccinated. til" Australia because the bulk 01? their diet is rabbit. so. in these areas each feral cat still pruhahly kills at least Hill! native animals a yea-tr. If there are 12 Inillittn feral cats in Australia the} are killing a staggering 1'3 native animals each year! minim". l'r?d' Muffin-t" littlt'utn me in mm in . pr: l?ltutu Hair.? I nuts A Nalinnal Approach tut?at Research and {Tuntml An inerease til' 3' .5 tnillitm in Federal funding In the ANPWS for fund animal projects during means that can he dune tilt the cal Nets pruiects tsill: - incrcasc kittiwietlge {ll I'eral cal it] tit'del? lU l?ietter understand Iniw In t'tintl'ttl them. and - develop cat techniques I?nr dil'l'et'ent ctindiliuns the cuntincnt. we Alma It: fire}. .11: more Ham rpr't'r'es til t?trl'l'lh? PIIHFUJ rufllc'rf?t' Pam-1' wiit use any manhole-jinn} source. particular): in the arid and semi-arid :um-s where prey can be nun-c. Wits forge feral rat is scat-engine on the carcass of" Red Kangaroo. Photo: Ford Kristo Control Methods Most current funding is being Used to improve cat control techniques such as baiting. trapping and shooting on a local scale. The development of biological control techniques which could be used on a national scale may be considered in the future. It is impossible to eradicate feral cats on the mainland using conventional methods of control. Eradication ot'cats from islands using trapping. baiting and shooting is achievable. This is being attempted on a number of Australian islands. such as Macquarie island. Traditional methods of control are also useful for reducing cat numbers for the short term in restricted .l roaming cont-lit it r'ctat' in non'wmi pork. h't't?l?lflt'tli ilumr'stir mm min mum and him! taitivr animals in "than bushland ut'cus miles.? they are kept or home. Photo Ut'fntr'mtr'm of In mid 'l't'r'rm'itt mainland areas. such as national parks or the habitats of endangered species. However. to control cats across the whole continent biological control agents would be needed. Biological control is particularly necessary in the vast arid and tropical regions and for long term management of the national feral cat problem. At present CSIRO scientists are attempting to develop a biological control for foxes. It is intended to use a modi?ed virus to immunise foses against their own sperm or eggs and effectively sterilisc them. If successful. this type of biological sterilisation would be a humane means of control which may be suitable for cats. Responsible Cat Ownership Responsible cat ownership is one way that you can help reduce the cat problem in Australia. It involves taking the following actions: - desesing your cats unless they are to be used for commercial breeding: - limiting the number ol?cats you keep: keeping your cats at home. either inside the house or shed or in an outside run: and - identifying your calls by microchip. collar and tag. or tattoo. Responsible cat ownership bene?ts cats. cat owners and neighbours as welt as wildlife. - Deserted cats are better and more docile pets. - Cats kept in at night are less likely to be hurt in lights. pick up diseases. be hit by cars or annoy neighbours. - Dumped and stray cats are often sick and in bad condition. Animal welfare agencies have to put down thousands of unwanted cats each year. Cat welfare agencies such as the RSPCA and the Cat Protection Societies encourage responsible cat ownership. Evidence from recent surveys indicates that being well fed does not stop domestic cats from hurtling. The best way to stop cats I?rom hunting is to stop them from roaming. Keeping cats in at night reduces the number of nocturnal The Domestic Connection There is little point spending a great deal of time. money and energy trying to control feral cats if nothing is done about managing domestic cats. Domestic cats continually feed into the stray and feral populations. This chain must be broken if feral cat control is to be effective. Because domestic cats kill wildlife responsible cat ownership is for consen'alion of urban wildlife. Control of cats begins at home. tL- .. Large mmthers t'ttrs' fire in urban m'rns, They have t'?llfi'? and other diseases. (in u'elfitre my?! 1? .f . -. 0 '34" - agencies pm dun thousands rtf'st'nl' out! mm tmn?d run mwj.? your. Responsible nu! :?tm huff) rt'o?tu't' the numbers oratory rats. Photo: Department amt Emit-mmth DASETT LIBRARY animals particularly mammals killed. but cats still prey on animals that are active during the day. such as birds and lizards. it is necessary to restrict the movement of cats during both day and night in order to stop them from hurtling native animals. Wearing a hell does not stop cats from hunting. as they can stall: their prey without the bell ringing until the moment they pounce and then il is too late for the victim. A number of bells wom together so that they ring against each other may he a more effective warning to nalive wildlife. [.?arrunn: .l'ulm Allister Show about petfbod pf I. The Shire of Sherhrooke in Victoria was the first shire in Australia to introduce a local law to control cats. This was done to try to reduce the impact ofcats on local wildlife. particularly lyrebirds. Slterbrool-te's 199] Animal Welfare Local Law was developed by a community?based committee. It relies very much on the willingness of pet owners to undertake responsible pet ownership rather thtut on the Council having to enforce lhe law. Responsible cat ownership is Working in This shire's example is now being considered by other local and State governments around Australia. AE006330 Further Reading ANPWS 199] The Inmate on Native Wildlife Proceedings of a workshop held on 8-9 May 199]. Department of Conservation and Environment Victoria 1992} The Car Kit Paton DC l990l Domestic Cats and Wildlife. S. dust. Ora. l3}: South Australian Cat Working Party 1 ?992] Smith Catt Party Report Department of Environment and Planning SA For further information contact: and Wildlife Service GPO Box 631?: Canberra ACT loUl Phone [that 25? ?285 The Endangered Species Unit nastralian National Parks 0 6, - Primed NH t't't y't'h'tl putter f. from: (il'tt?ftlt'