Making a killing: photographic evidence of predation of a Tasmanian pademelon (Thylogale billardierii) by a feral cat (Felis catus)

2015 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bronwyn A. Fancourt
Keyword(s):  
Predation Risk ◽  
Adult Female ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
Direct Evidence ◽  
Felis Catus ◽  
Compelling Evidence ◽  
Feral Cat ◽  
Feral Cats ◽  
Major Threat ◽  
Photographic Evidence

Feral cats (Felis catus) have contributed to the extinction of numerous Australian mammals and are a major threat to many species of conservation significance. Small mammals are considered to be those at greatest risk of cat predation, with risk typically inferred from dietary studies. However, dietary studies may provide only weak inference as to the risk of cat predation for some species. The most compelling evidence of predation risk comes from direct observation of killing events; however, such observations are rare and photographic evidence is even rarer. I present photographic evidence of a feral cat killing and consuming an adult female Tasmanian pademelon (Thylogale billardierii). This observation provides direct evidence that feral cats can kill prey up to 4 kg in body mass, with potential implications for the conservation of medium-sized mammals.

Biology of the Feral Cat, Felis Catus (L.), On Macquarie Island.

1985 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 425 ◽  
Author(s):  
NP Brothers ◽  
IJ Skira ◽  
GR Copson
Keyword(s):  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Felis Catus ◽  
Feral Cat ◽  
Feral Cats ◽  
Macquarie Island ◽  
Pregnant Females

246 feral cats were shot on Macquarie Island, Australia, between Dec. 1976 and Feb. 1981. The sex ratio ( males : females ) was 1:0.8. The percentages of animals with tabby, orange and black coats were 74, 26 and 2 resp. [sic]. Of the 64 orange cats, 56 were males . The breeding season was Oct.-Mar., with a peak in Nov.-Dec. The number of embryos in the 14 pregnant females averaged 4.7 (range = 1-9). The size of the 23 litters that were observed averaged 3 (range = 1-8). Kitten survival to 6 months of age was estimated to be <43%.

Videographic evidence of endangered species depredation by feral cat.

2012 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seth Judge ◽  
Jill S Lippert ◽  
Kathleen Misajon ◽  
Darcy Hu ◽  
Steven C Hess
Keyword(s):  
Direct Evidence ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Feral Cat ◽  
Feral Cats ◽  
Video Cameras ◽  
Infrared Video ◽  
Available Technology ◽  
Visual Confirmation ◽  
Breeding Seasons

Feral cats (Felis catus) have long been implicated as nest predators of endangered ‘Ua‘u (Hawaiian Petrel; Pterodroma sandwichensis) on Hawai‘i Island, but until recently, visual confirmation has been limited by available technology. ‘Ua‘u nest out of view, deep inside small cavities, on alpine lava flows. During the breeding seasons of 2007 and 2008, we monitored known burrows within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Digital infrared video cameras assisted in determining the breeding behaviour and nesting success at the most isolated of burrows. With 7 cameras, we collected a total of 819 videos and 89 still photographs of adult and nestling ‘Ua‘u at 14 burrows. Videos also confirmed the presence of rats (Rattus spp.) at 2 burrows, ‘Ôma‘o (Myadestes obscurus) at 8 burrows, and feral cats at 6 burrows. A sequence of videos showed a feral cat taking a downy ‘Ua‘u chick from its burrow, representing the first direct evidence of ‘Ua‘u depredation by feral cat in Hawai‘i. This technique provides greater understanding of feral cat behaviour in ‘Ua’u colonies, which may assist in the development of more targeted management strategies to reduce nest predation on endangered insular bird species.

Diet of the Feral Cat (Felis catus) in Central Australia

1997 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Paltridge ◽  
David Gibson ◽  
Glenn Edwards
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Northern Territory ◽  
Felis Catus ◽  
Feral Cat ◽  
Feral Cats ◽  
Important Prey ◽  
Southern Half ◽  
Central Australia

Feral cats (Felis catus) occur throughout central Australia. In this study, we analysed the stomach contents of 390 feral cats collected between 1990 and 1994 from the southern half of the Northern Territory. Cats fed on a wide variety of invertebrates, reptiles, birds and mammals, including animals up to their own body mass in size. Mammals were the most important prey but reptiles were regularly eaten in summer and birds were important in winter. Invertebrates were present in the diet in all seasons. Carrion appeared in stomach samples during dry winters only and this has implications for future control of feral cats.

scholarly journals Status of urban feral cats Felis catus in England: A comparative study

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas P. Askew ◽  
Flavie Vial ◽  
Graham C. Smith
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Colony Size ◽  
Felis Catus ◽  
Turn Of The Century ◽  
Urban Landscapes ◽  
Feral Cat ◽  
Feral Cats ◽  
Rabies Control ◽  
Contingency Plans ◽  
Control Order

AbstractThis study sought to determine whether a change in the abundance of feral cats (Felis catus) in three areas of England had occurred between the completion of a survey undertaken by the Ministry for Agriculture Fisheries and Food in 1986/7 and the turn of the century. In the event of a rabies outbreak occurring in Britain, feral cats would be one vector of the disease that would need to be controlled under the Rabies (control) Order 1974. A total of 741 “high risk sites”, found to provide appropriate conditions for feral cats, were surveyed between 1999 and 2000. The total number of feral cat colonies located within the survey areas was found to have fallen by 37% from 68 in 1986 to 43 in 1999/2000, translating to an estimated 212-247 fewer individual feral cats. Factories/trading estates and industrial premises continued to be the most common sites associated with urban feral cat colonies. However, the closing down of many traditional industries, such as mills and dockyards, and their replacement by more secure and insulated modern buildings, less amenable to feral cats finding warmth and food, had assisted the observed fall in numbers along with the effectiveness of neutering programs which are now taking place on many sites. Through this study information regarding feral cat colonies’ in urban landscapes as well colony size was gathered and fed into rabies contingency plans to help keep Britain rabies free into the future.

scholarly journals ANALISIS PERILAKU MASYARAKAT PASAR MENGENAI PENGGUNAAN RODENTISIDA DAN DAMPAKNYA TERHADAP KUCING LIAR

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 108-113
Author(s):  
Nurul Fadhilatunnisa ◽  
Sudarti Sudarti ◽  
Wachju Subchan
Keyword(s):  
Felis Catus ◽  
Moderate Level ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Feral Cat ◽  
Feral Cats ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Inappropriate Use ◽  
Knowledge And Attitudes ◽  
Level Of Knowledge ◽  
High Level

Inappropriate use of rodenticides by most market communities has resulted in a reduction in the population of feral cats (Felis catus) found in the market. If this continues, it can lead to the extinction of feral cat species in the area. This study aims to describe the level of knowledge and attitudes of the market community regarding the use of rodenticides and their impact on feral cats (Felis catus). This study used a survey method, namely interviews and observations of 28 respondents who claimed to have used rodenticides. The results showed that 35.7% of respondents had a low level of knowledge, 39.3% had a moderate level of knowledge, and 25% had a high level of knowledge. As for the attitude aspect, the majority of the community obtained quite good criteria with an average of 68.

Amplified predation after fire suppresses rodent populations in Australia’s tropical savannas

2015 ◽  
Vol 42 (8) ◽  
pp. 705 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lily Leahy ◽  
Sarah M. Legge ◽  
Katherine Tuft ◽  
Hugh W. McGregor ◽  
Leon A. Barmuta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Small Mammals ◽  
High Intensity ◽  
Direct Evidence ◽  
Population Decline ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Ground Vegetation ◽  
Northern Australia ◽  
Feral Cats ◽  
Live Trapping ◽  
Rodent Populations

Context Changes in abundance following fire are commonly reported for vertebrate species, but the mechanisms causing these changes are rarely tested. Currently, many species of small mammals are declining in the savannas of northern Australia. These declines have been linked to intense and frequent fires in the late dry season; however, why such fires cause declines of small mammals is unknown. Aims We aimed to discover the mechanisms causing decline in abundance of two species of small mammals, the pale field rat, Rattus tunneyi, and the western chestnut mouse, Pseudomys nanus, in response to fire. Candidate mechanisms were (1) direct mortality because of fire itself, (2) mortality after fire because of removal of food by fire, (3) reduced reproductive success, (4) emigration, and (5) increased mortality because of predation following fire. Methods We used live trapping to monitor populations of these two species under the following three experimental fire treatments: high-intensity fire that removed all ground vegetation, low-intensity fire that produced a patchy burn, and an unburnt control. We also radio-tracked 38 R. tunneyi individuals to discover the fates of individual animals. Key results Abundance of both species declined after fire, and especially following the high-intensity burn. There was no support for any of the first four mechanisms of population decline, but mortality owing to predation increased after fire. This was related to loss of ground cover (which was greater in the high-intensity fire treatment), which evidently left animals exposed to predators. Also, local activity of two predators, feral cats and dingoes, increased after the burns, and we found direct evidence of predation by feral cats and snakes. Conclusions Fire in the northern savannas has little direct effect on populations of these small mammals, but it causes declines by amplifying the impacts of predators. These effects are most severe for high-intensity burns that remove a high proportion of vegetation cover. Implications To prevent further declines in northern Australia, fire should be managed in ways that limit the effects of increased predation. This could be achieved by setting cool fires that produce patchy burns, avoiding hot fires, and minimising the total area burnt.

Reduction of feral cat (Felis catus Linnaeus 1758) colony size following hysterectomy of adult female cats

2011 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 436-440 ◽  
Author(s):  
Flavya Mendes-de-Almeida ◽  
Gabriella L. Remy ◽  
Liza C. Gershony ◽  
Daniela P. Rodrigues ◽  
Marcia Chame ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adult Female ◽  
Colony Size ◽  
Felis Catus ◽  
Feral Cat

Increasing the target-specificity of ERADICAT® for feral cat (Felis catus) control by encapsulating a toxicant

2007 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 467 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheryl A. Hetherington ◽  
David Algar ◽  
Harriet Mills ◽  
Roberta Bencini
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Felis Catus ◽  
Ball Bearings ◽  
Target Specificity ◽  
Target Species ◽  
Feral Cat ◽  
Selective Method ◽  
Feral Cats ◽  
Potential Exposure ◽  
Significant Difference

ERADICAT®, a sausage-type meat bait, has been developed for use in managing feral cat (Felis catus) populations throughout Western Australia. However, concern about potential exposure of non-target species to bait-delivered toxicants has led to the development of a technique to more specifically target feral cats using a pellet. Research into the consumption, by cats and native animals, of toxic pellets implanted within the ERADICAT® bait has been simulated using ball bearings as a substitute pellet. Results from our work indicate that encapsulating the toxicant may pose less risk of poisoning to chuditch (Dasyurus geoffroii), woylies (Bettongia pencillata) and southern brown bandicoots (Isoodon obesulus) as they consumed significantly fewer ball bearings (P = 0.003, <0.001, <0.001) than semi-feral cats (P = 0.07). Theoretically, a toxic pellet will not reduce the effectiveness of the ERADICAT® bait as there was no significant difference between consumption of baits and the consumption of ball bearings in feral cats (P = 0.07). Therefore, baits containing a toxic pellet have the potential to be a more selective method to control feral cats.

Feral cat predation on Leadbeater’s possum (Gymobelideus leadbeateri) and observations of arboreal hunting at nest boxes

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leo B. McComb ◽  
Pia E. Lentini ◽  
Dan K. P. Harley ◽  
Lindy F. Lumsden ◽  
Joanne S. Antrobus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Camera Trap ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Surrounding Area ◽  
Feral Cat ◽  
Feral Cats ◽  
Major Threat ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Leadbeater's Possum

Feral cats have been identified as a major threat to Australian wildlife; however, their impacts on the critically endangered Leadbeater’s possum (Gymobelideus leadbeateri) are unknown. Here, we describe camera trap observations of a feral cat hunting at nest boxes occupied by Leadbeater’s possum. Seven feral cats were subsequently captured within the surrounding area: two had Leadbeater’s possum remains in their stomachs. The prevalence of cat predation on this species, particularly at nest boxes, and how this can be mitigated warrants further investigation.

Introduced cats eating a continental fauna: invertebrate consumption by feral cats (Felis catus) in Australia

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (8) ◽  
pp. 610 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leigh-Ann Woolley ◽  
Brett P. Murphy ◽  
Hayley M. Geyle ◽  
Sarah M. Legge ◽  
Russell A. Palmer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Felis Catus ◽  
Tree Cover ◽  
Mean Annual Temperature ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
Feral Cat ◽  
Feral Cats ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Invertebrate Population ◽  
The Impact

Abstract ContextRecent global concern over invertebrate declines has drawn attention to the causes and consequences of this loss of biodiversity. Feral cats, Felis catus, pose a major threat to many vertebrate species in Australia, but their effect on invertebrates has not previously been assessed. AimsThe objectives of our study were to (1) assess the frequency of occurrence (FOO) of invertebrates in feral cat diets across Australia and the environmental and geographic factors associated with this variation, (2) estimate the number of invertebrates consumed by feral cats annually and the spatial variation of this consumption, and (3) interpret the conservation implications of these results. MethodsFrom 87 Australian cat-diet studies, we modelled the factors associated with variation in invertebrate FOO in feral cat-diet samples. We used these modelled relationships to predict the number of invertebrates consumed by feral cats in largely natural and highly modified environments. Key resultsIn largely natural environments, the mean invertebrate FOO in feral cat dietary samples was 39% (95% CI: 31–43.5%), with Orthoptera being the most frequently recorded order, at 30.3% (95% CI: 21.2–38.3%). The highest invertebrate FOO occurred in lower-rainfall areas with a lower mean annual temperature, and in areas of greater tree cover. Mean annual invertebrate consumption by feral cats in largely natural environments was estimated to be 769 million individuals (95% CI: 422–1763 million) and in modified environments (with mean FOO of 27.8%) 317 million invertebrates year−1, giving a total estimate of 1086 million invertebrates year−1 consumed by feral cats across the continent. ConclusionsThe number of invertebrates consumed by feral cats in Australia is greater than estimates for vertebrate taxa, although the biomass (and, hence, importance for cat diet) of invertebrates taken would be appreciably less. The impact of predation by cats on invertebrates is difficult to assess because of the lack of invertebrate population and distribution estimates, but cats may pose a threat to some large-bodied narrowly restricted invertebrate species. ImplicationsFurther empirical studies of local and continental invertebrate diversity, distribution and population trends are required to adequately contextualise the conservation threat posed by feral cats to invertebrates across Australia.

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