Houses may soon
overtake cats as the
biggest threat to
native fauna.
It’s known pet cats kill a range of suburban wildlife, including some native mammals, birds and lizards, and that the dense cat populations sustained in suburbs exacerbates this problem.
Murdoch University Biological Sciences postgraduate student Jacky Grayson recently completed a study to assess the attitudes and practices of the general public towards cat legislation and to investigate the impact cats were having on passerines (perching and song birds) in suburbia.
In Ms Grayson’s study over 70 per cent of respondents, both cat-owners and non-owners, supported the introduction of cat legislation that promoted sterilisation, restricted the number of cats per household and their roaming behaviour, and mandated licensing of pet cats.
Ms Grayson’s study has shown that the density of suburban housing and the lack of habitat were more influential than the presence of cats in the lack of small birds, such as the Western Spinebill, New Holland Honeyeater and Rufus Whistler.
“Cat ownership is decreasing in Australia, primarily due to the bad press of perceived impact upon native fauna and the nuisance caused to neighbours by roaming cats,” Ms Grayson said.
“However, cats are an important part of many people’s lives, providing companionship for children and adults alike.
“Containing cats to their owner’s property not only protects surrounding wildlife, it is beneficial to the cat’s health because the cat is safe from traffic and cat fights.”
The Cat Bib is one method tested by Murdoch University as a highly effective method for preventing cats catching and killing fauna, particularly birds, without hampering normal grooming, running, jumping and tree-climbing.
Editor's Note: Original news release can be found here.
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