Using cat containment to protect wildlife (and cats) in the ACT Kathy Eyles and Michael Mulvaney

Origins of research Collaborative project to inform cat policy and management in ACT Invasive Animals CRC funding to conduct community survey about cat ownership and attitudes to cat management Steering Committee - ACT Government (TAMS, ESDD, EDD), Invasive Animals CRC, RSPCA and ANU Fenner School Reported in 2016

Estimates of cats in the ACT Domestic = 56,000 Owned & roaming all times = 14,000 Owned & roaming daylight = 21,000 Stray = 6,000 -25,000 Feral = 0.2 per sq. km (Namadgi), 90 per sq. km (Mugga Tip) Over 10 years a single cat can have 150 offspring Estimate 25,000 Michele Linke Based on responses to containment questions And on the fifth day the Lord said ,” let there be cats,” And there were cats

Cats - tracking and movement studies Incursions 80m to 1000m into reserves Longest incursions where part of cat’s home range Urban buffers (containment) of 500m to 1000m to prevent incursions Mean home range 2ha, median 1ha (in Adelaide) “I’m being tracked by satellite!” Lilith = 500m Metsers 1000m to reflect different cat behaviours

4555 homes <900m from Red Hill 850 household cats can roam on Red Hill each day or night

Cats – Hunting and prey studies ACT 67 species prey (Barrett 1997) Mice and rat intake high (60%) but seasonal spikes in hunting of small native birds, juvenile birds and reptiles. Estimate of 100,000 + rosellas killed by cats in Canberra a year Barett Mice and rat take was highest in winter and in suburban environments, whereas predation on juvenile birds and reptiles increased from late spring to summer when these species were more abundant and active. I’m totally bipartisan. I eat as many Birds as I do mice

Cats – Hunting and prey studies ACT Reptiles, most predated species within 50m of grasslands and made up 23% of prey within 50m woodland Predation of native birds, increased closer to woodland habitats Spatial effect and interactions means restricting movement of cats in these edge areas Barrett - Mice and rat take was highest in winter and in suburban environments, whereas predation on juvenile birds and reptiles increased from late spring to summer when these species were more abundant and active. Most of all I love your vulnerability

Cats – Hunting and prey studies ‘Super-predators’ active hunters With preference for prey Moths & bats (NZ) Reptiles (NZ & ACT) Impact on local species abundance Impact on invertebrates Small skinks prey most commonly caught by active hunters Moths at wetland in NZ young cats caught 95% invertebrates 72% porina moths - one cat 92% of moths + water no barrier swam to island A note about prey studies – rely on what cat brings home - under-reporting as small prey eaten on encounter esp. insects, skinks frogs, etc My friends warned me you were different

Cats – Hunting and prey studies “ ..some felines were such determined killers they would hunt their prey of choice until they had vanished from the area … and unless the specialists are controlled, ..” the survival chances of rare and endangered animals was unlikely to improve”.  Professor Chris Dickman Cats will dine until their delicacy is rare: University of Sydney research SMH October 20, 2014   Impact on invertebrates Small skinks prey most commonly caught by active hunters Moths at wetland in NZ young cats caught 95% invertebrates 72% porina moths - one cat 92% of moths + water no barrier swam to island A note about prey studies – rely on what cat brings home - under-reporting as small prey eaten on encounter esp. insects, skinks frogs, etc

Prey and tracking studies – implications Ground dwelling and foraging wildlife are vulnerable - small size & seasonal abundance Small woodland birds, reptiles & invertebrates in urban edge habitat

Community Survey – scope and sample Ownership & care Nuisance & strays Attitudes to range of control measures 1277 ACT residents surveyed inc. cat owners (n=506) Forde and Bonner F/B residents (n=192) questions for all respondents relating to: feeding of stray cats; impacts of cats not owned by the household; and benefits of cat containment. b)questions specifically for cat owners relating to: household ownership of cats; containment of cats in the household methods of containment; and frequency of injuries to cats.   A number of questions asked the respondent to offer a response to a statement according to their level of agreement or support. This allowed for measurement of either positive or negative response to statements about possible new measures like: introduction of cat registration in the ACT; programs to control stray cats; extending cat containment in the ACT; and management of feral cats. “I’m sorry Edward, I suddenly realized I’m not a cat person

Community survey – benefits of containment 91% of ACT residents, 74% of cat owners. 96% of Bonner and Forde residents see benefits to the community if cats contained. 3 main benefits identified lower risk to wildlife (ACT 80%, F/B 99%) less nuisance (defecation, pet attacks, noise at night and fighting); and less injury and vet bills. The first eight times it was curiosity. The last time I was run over.

Synthesis of evidence and options Need alignment between cat containment and wildlife conservation objectives Need 24 hour containment as ACT’s threatened fauna esp, reptiles, birds and insects are day active Need an integrated package (regulations education, stray cat control) if serious about welfare, nuisance and predation “Of course it is not a real bird. If it was real we could eat it.”