PICTURE: The reason cats have vertical pupils is because it increases their depth of perception while hunting at night. This fact image adds weight to the keeping-cats-contained campaign advocated by The Invasive Species Council, and wildlife advocacy groups including MHCS. Image: Supplied

Cats are cluey creatures that can cause calamity for innocent little critters

A CAT is more than just an innocent ball of fur purring on the lounge room mat waiting to be fed. A cat is a hunter by nature and given half the chance will switch into this mode of action if allowed to roam outdoors.  The result is not in the best interests of the local native animals that live there. Cats at birth come equipped with faculties to outsmart their prey.  Here are three reasons why we must keep cats contained. 

A cat has much more sensitive hearing than humans and their ears can be moved backwards and forwards

A cat also has much bigger eyes than humans and can see at night, meaning they are well suited to hunting native nocturnal animals,

And a cat has a very sensitive nose, adding to their range of abilities to track down native animals that might otherwise be able to hide away from predators.

The Science for Saving Species fact sheet is worth checking out. 
Produced by Wildlife Health Australia it needs to be widely circulated – please share with your family, friends and networks.

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More councils need to put pressure on the State government
Local Councils need to step up and join the chorus of calls for cat containment.

CAT RUNS where pet felines have to be contained and “cat-free” suburbs could become common across Australia if local councils, backed by scientists, have their way, writes Claire Moodie in:Councils ramp up pressure on state governments to overhaul Australian cat laws (ABC News, 16.02.2023)

Key points:

At a cat symposium in Perth in early February, scientists reiterated the massive toll cats take on native animals.

They said many people did not understand that domestic cats, as well as feral cats, were responsible for the devastation.

Australian National University wildlife ecologist Professor Sarah Legge, said:

“For a start, there’s actually more pet cats in the country than there are feral cats. We have over five million pet cats but … a bit over two million feral cats.”

“Pet cats kill wildlife but a lot of pet owners aren’t aware of that because they don’t see their pet cats hunting.

“But your cat will only bring back on average 20 per cent of of what it kills.