Feral cats have become one of the biggest threats to Australia’s unique wildlife. In a turn of events that few could have predicted, experts today consider them “public enemy number one.” Imogen Ebsworth, advocacy manager at the Invasive Species Council, unpacks a horrifying statistic. These introduced predators annually kill native Australian mammals in the hundreds of millions each year. Their impact has been nothing short of catastrophic, leading to two-thirds of all mammal extinctions since European settlement. It’s become apparent through recent studies that feral cats are having a catastrophic effect on our native fauna. They hinder conservation initiatives to return these species to their native ranges.
In remote Aboriginal communities of South Australia, DNA testing discovered something shocking. Feral cats are the most significant killers of reintroduced native species such as bettongs and bilbies. This startling number begs for urgent intervention to curb feral cat colonies. These cats are symptomatic of an alarming trend that has threatened the success of many reintroduction programs across the country.
The Scale of the Threat
Feral cats kill an estimated 60 million Australian native mammals annually, the Invasive Species Council reported. This direct, ongoing predation is a major threat to native animals, most notably where reintroduction efforts have occurred. Feral cats kill 84% of Streaky Bay ironclad quoll and western ringtail possum populations in the Flinders Ranges. Recreationally, their impact on these native species is profound and alarming.
It was these large male cats, some weighing up to five kilograms, Professor Moseby said, which were disproportionately affecting the reintroduction. He explained, “About a third of quolls being released in the Flinders Ranges were being killed by cats in the first couple of months, with large male cats doing a ‘disproportionate amount of damage’.” Feral cats only add to the bloodbath of freshly released native animals. This new reality prompts uncomfortable but crucial questions about whether our existing conservation strategies are up to the task.
“We were able to determine that cats were responsible for most of the deaths after release, and that wouldn’t have been obvious from the field science.” – Professor Moseby
This urgent crisis requires the serious and immediate focus of both conservationists and policymakers. The depth of the issue is underscored by Ebsworth’s assertion that “we have enough evidence in terms of the number of extinctions they have caused… to know that they are a massive threat to our wildlife that we have to address.”
Conservation Efforts Underway
To meet this growing threat, animal welfare groups—from rescues to shelters—are working together to reduce the number of feral cats. To help coordinate efforts across states, the National Invasive Species Council has recently released a National Feral Cat Guidance. Despite Queensland not having signed on yet, Ebsworth said he remained hopeful about the potential for greater collaboration between other states.
“It was really pleasing to see all the states except Queensland sign on to a national threat abatement plan for feral cats — that’s basically all governments coming together and saying we need to coordinate, we need to resource, we need targets and we need a plan.” – Imogen Ebsworth
We appreciate that the plan recognizes the need for adequate resources and targeted interventions to control feral cat populations. Acknowledging the challenge ahead, Ebsworth remarked, “We can’t just say because it’s hard that we won’t do this work.”
Conservation experts assert that solving the feral cat conundrum demands a nuanced approach. We have to increase public understanding of the ecological impact that these predators have. This means that we need to put in place tough controls on communities where the pollution falls.
The Road Ahead
The issue of feral cats is perhaps the most difficult issue that Australia’s wildlife conservation community finds itself faced with. As evidence continues to mount about their harmful effects on native species, there is no doubt that it’s time to act urgently.
Many conservationists argue that better understanding and acknowledgment of feral cats’ role in wildlife decline is essential for developing effective solutions. As Tom Finlay noted, “They don’t seem to be too fussy when they need to breed … they’re a bit like rabbits and if each litter is successful, that next litter is able to breed within six months.” This rapid rate of reproduction makes the problem even worse, making it even more difficult to control their populations.
It will take a combination of collaborative strategies to mitigate feral cats’ significant negative repercussions. What we need are strong plans of action to save Australia’s inimitable biodiversity.
