Home range and movements of male feral cats (Felis catus) in a semiarid woodland environment in central Australia

The activity patterns of a resident population of 15 feral cats (Felis catus L.) on New Zealand farmland were investigated from March 1984 until February 1987 by radiotelemetry. Females could be divided into two separate groups: (1) those denning in barns and (2) those denning in the swamp and willows. Females denning in barns were mainly nocturnal except in spring and summer when rearing kittens. Barn cats moved significantly further between dusk and dawn, except in autumn-winter, than those denning in swamp and willows which were active over 24 h. When not breeding, related females occupied the same barn. In both groups, the home range of female relatives overlapped. Males ranged over all habitats, and dominant adult males moved significantly further and had larger home ranges than other males in all seasons, except in summer when they rested, avoiding hot summer days. Only adult males were active during the day in spring and autumn-winter. The importance of a Zeitgeber in synchronising cat activity with that of the prey is examined. The significance of female den site is discussed in relation to proximity of food, predators, social behaviour and male defence.

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

Wildlife Research ◽

10.1071/wr96023 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

pp. 67 ◽

Cited By ~ 59

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.

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Analysis of the Summer Season Home Range of Domestic Feral Cats (Felis catus) - Focused on the Surroundings of Rural and Suburban Areas

Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity ◽

10.7229/jkn.2013.6.3.391 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. 391-396 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Oun-Kyong Moon ◽

Han-soo Lee ◽

In-kyu Kim ◽

Tae-han Kang ◽

Hae-jin Cho ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Home Range ◽

Summer Season ◽

Felis Catus ◽

Feral Cats ◽

Suburban Areas

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Home Range Estimates of Feral Cats (Felis catus) on Rota Island and Determining Asymptotic Convergence

Pacific Science ◽

10.2984/70.3.4 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 70 (3) ◽

pp. 323-331 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Brian T. Leo ◽

James J. Anderson ◽

Reese Brand Phillips ◽

Renee R. Ha

Keyword(s):

Home Range ◽

Felis Catus ◽

Asymptotic Convergence ◽

Feral Cats

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Home Range and Movements of Feral Cats on Mauna Kea, Hawai?i

Pacific Conservation Biology ◽

10.1071/pc080177 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 14 (3) ◽

pp. 177 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Daniel M. Goltz ◽

Steven C. Hess ◽

Kevin W. Brinck ◽

Paul C. Banko ◽

Raymond M. Danner

Keyword(s):

Home Range ◽

Felis Catus ◽

Home Ranges ◽

Conservation Areas ◽

Buffer Zones ◽

Feral Cats ◽

Daily Movement ◽

Movement Rates ◽

Major Threat ◽

The Pacific

Feral cats Felis catus in dry subalpine woodland of Mauna Kea, Hawai?i, live in low density and exhibit some of the largest reported home ranges in the literature. While 95% fixed kernel home range estimates for three females averaged 772 ha, four males averaged 1 418 ha, and one male maintained a home range of 2 050 ha. Mean daily movement rates between sexes overlapped widely and did not differ significantly (P = 0.083). Log-transformed 95% kernel home ranges for males were significantly larger than those of females (P = 0.024), but 25% kernel home ranges for females were larger than those of males (P = 0.017). Moreover, log-transformed home ranges of males were also significantly larger than those of females in this and seven other studies from the Pacific region (P = 0.044). Feral cats present a major threat to endangered Hawaiian birds, but knowledge of their ecology can be used for management by optimizing trap spacing and creating buffer zones around conservation areas.

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Field Evaluation of Olfactory Lures for Feral Cats (Felis catus L.) in Central Australia

Wildlife Research ◽

10.1071/wr96013 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 24 (2) ◽

pp. 173 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

G. P. Edwards ◽

K. C. Piddington ◽

R. M. Paltridge

Keyword(s):

Field Evaluation ◽

Field Trials ◽

Felis Catus ◽

Anal Gland ◽

Ecological Studies ◽

Male And Female ◽

Feral Cats ◽

Visitation Rates ◽

Control Programmes ◽

Central Australia

Field trials were conducted in central Australia to evaluate the ability of various olfactory lures to attract feral cats (Felis catus L.). Ten food-based lures, one plant extract and two scent-based lures (anal-gland preparations from male and female cats) were evaluated on the basis of visitation rates and elicited behavioural responses. A visual lure composed of bird feathers was also tested in conjunction with the scent-based lures. One food-based lure (sun-rendered prawn) and both of the scent-based lures were found to attract feral cats. The visual lure did not enhance the attractiveness of the scent-based lures. The possible uses and relative advantages of these lures in control programmes and in ecological studies of cats are discussed.

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Eradicating Feral Cats to protect Galapagos Land Iguanas: methods and strategies

Pacific Conservation Biology ◽

10.1071/pc050257 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 257 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

R. B. Phillips ◽

B. D. Cooke ◽

K. Campbell ◽

V. Carrion ◽

C. Marouez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Home Range ◽

Mus Musculus ◽

Rattus Rattus ◽

Felis Catus ◽

Direct Result ◽

House Mice ◽

Feral Cats ◽

Galapagos Archipelago ◽

Rodent Populations ◽

Black Rats

A three-year programme to eradicate Feral Cats Felis catus from the island of Baltra in the Galapagos archipelago achieved good results by initially poisoning with sodium monofluoroacetate (compound 1080) then trapping or shooting the remaining cats. The poisoning campaign removed 90% of the cats, its success being attributable to pre-baiting with unpolsoned baits to accustom cats to eating baits and placing enough baits to ensure that all cats encountered several baits within their home range. This, together with the use of metaclopromide (Pileran) as an anti-emetic, overcame a problem associated with poor retention of 1080 in thawed fish baits that limited the dose available to 1 mg 1080/bait, a quality insufficient to kill large cats. Removal of the remaining cats was delayed by a weather-induced irruption of Black Rats Rattus rattus and House Mice Mus musculus that enabled recruitment of kittens in 2002, but made cats more susceptible to trapping and shooting in 2003 when rodent populations collapsed. Since July 2003 no sign of a cat has been detected on Baltra despite extensive searching and monitoring throughout 2004. As cat abundance has decreased there have been more locally-bred Juvenile iguanas (Conolophus subcristatus) seen during annual censuses. However, such recruitment may reflect the increasing maturity and higher fecundity of iguanas repatriated from 1991 onwards rather than being a direct result of reduced cat predation alone. More time is necessary to determine the benefits of reduced cat predation on the Iguana population.

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Feral Cats (Felis Catus L.) On New Zealand Farmland. I. Home Range.

Wildlife Research ◽

10.1071/wr9910741 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 18 (6) ◽

pp. 741 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

NPE Langham ◽

RER Porter

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Home Range ◽

Home Range Size ◽

Average Density ◽

Felis Catus ◽

Dominant Male ◽

Home Ranges ◽

Adult Males ◽

Feral Cats ◽

Consistent Change

The movements of a population of feral cats (Felis catus) were monitored on New Zealand farmland over three years by means of radiotelemetry. The number of resident males on the 5.2-km2 study area varied from 5 to 9, averaging 1.34 per km2, compared with 10-13 females, averaging 2.19 per km2. The average density over three years was 3.47 cats per km2. The nocturnal home range was significantly larger than the diurnal home range in both sexes. Adult female's home ranges overlapped considerably; adult males tended to occupy exclusive home ranges or territories with little overlap, but including those of several females. Adult males and females that used barns as den sites were mainly nocturnal and had larger home ranges than females denning in vegetation. Females showed no consistent change in home-range size with season, although those breeding in barns had larger home ranges in summer. Adult males had larger territories in summer and winter. Dispersing subadult males had a similar home range to adult males. Death or disappearance of a dominant male allcwed new males to occupy the vacated territory. Two subadults were tracked by day until they became adult and acquired territories within the study area.

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Movement patterns of feral predators in an arid environment – implications for control through poison baiting

Wildlife Research ◽

10.1071/wr08098 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 36 (5) ◽

pp. 422 ◽

Cited By ~ 64

Author(s):

K. E. Moseby ◽

J. Stott ◽

H. Crisp

Keyword(s):

Home Range ◽

Sand Dunes ◽

Activity Patterns ◽

Movement Patterns ◽

Home Range Size ◽

Range Size ◽

Home Ranges ◽

Feral Cats ◽

Poison Baiting ◽

Specific Variation

Control of introduced predators is critical to both protection and successful reintroduction of threatened prey species. Efficiency of control is improved if it takes into account habitat use, home range and the activity patterns of the predator. These characteristics were studied in feral cats (Felis catus) and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in arid South Australia, and results are used to suggest improvements in control methods. In addition, mortality and movement patterns of cats before and after a poison-baiting event were compared. Thirteen cats and four foxes were successfully fitted with GPS data-logger radio-collars and tracked 4-hourly for several months. High intra-specific variation in cat home-range size was recorded, with 95% minimum convex polygon (MCP) home ranges varying from 0.5 km2 to 132 km2. Cat home-range size was not significantly different from that of foxes, nor was there a significant difference related to sex or age. Cats preferred habitat types that support thicker vegetation cover, including creeklines and sand dunes, whereas foxes preferred sand dunes. Cats used temporary focal points (areas used intensively over short time periods and then vacated) for periods of up to 2 weeks and continually moved throughout their home range. Aerial baiting at a density of 10 baits per km2 was ineffective for cats because similar high mortality rates were recorded for cats in both baited and unbaited areas. Mortality was highest in young male cats. Long-range movements of up to 45 km in 2 days were recorded in male feral cats and movement into the baited zone occurred within 2 days of baiting. Movement patterns of radio-collared animals and inferred bait detection distances were used to suggest optimum baiting densities of ~30 baits per km2 for feral cats and 5 per km2 for foxes. Feral cats exhibited much higher intra-specific variation in activity patterns and home-range size than did foxes, rendering them a potentially difficult species to control by a single method. Control of cats and foxes in arid Australia should target habitats with thick vegetation cover and aerial baiting should ideally occur over areas of several thousand square kilometres because of large home ranges and long-range movements increasing the chance of fast reinvasion. The use of temporary focal points suggested that it may take several days or even weeks for a cat to encounter a fixed trap site within their home range, whereas foxes should encounter them more quickly as they move further each day although they have a similar home-range size. Because of high intra-specific variability in activity patterns and home-range size, control of feral cats in inland Australia may be best achieved through a combination of control techniques.

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