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Roaming cats kill hundreds of millions of native animals in Australia each year.
Australian wildlife has evolved without the presence of predators such as wild cats. Cats arrived in Australia with the beginning of European settlement in the 18th century. While a few cats may have arrived earlier with Malaysian fishermen or as survivors of shipwrecks, today's feral cats are descendants of the cats brought along by settlers. In less than one hundred years after their arrival cats had succeeded in spreading throughout most of the country.
During the same period wildlife numbers went into serious decline. Over two dozen small mammal species have since become extinct. Cats have been a major contributor in wiping out species of potoroos, hopping mice and bettongs. Other wildlife, such as Gilbert's Potoroo and the Western Ground Parrot / Kyloring, is on the brink of disappearing forever, unless the impact of cats can be reduced.
Western Ringtail Possum(© Geocatch)
Honey Possum (© Tania Meuzelaar)
Western Ground Parrot(© Alan Danks)
Gilbert's Potoroo(© Dick Walker)
Pet cats that are allowed to roam freely are also contributing towards the decline of wildlife in both urban and rural settings. Many cat owners are often unaware that their pet hunts as only a small fraction of the animals killed are brought back. Only about a third of the hunted animals are introduced species such as house mice and rabbits; the majority of the animals killed consists of small mammals, reptiles and birds. In other words, our possums, skinks and fairy-wrens are at risk when pet cats are allowed to roam where they live.
Cat Laws and Wildlife Survival Working GroupPO Box 118, Mount Barker, WA 6324
© 2024 C L A W S (formerly Albany and Surrounds Feral Cat Working Group)
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