Cats And Foxes

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Cats and Wildlife – how you can help both

 

What you can do to help

If we are to continue to enjoy Australia’s unique wildlife we need to reduce our impact on the environment. You can reduce the effect cats have of wildlife and better care for your pet cat by simply:

  • Identifying your cat as a pet not a stray
  • Desexing your cat
  • Never dumping unwanted cats or kittens
  • Preventing your cat from roaming

 

Cats are both pets and predators

feral_cat_major_mitchell_cockatooCats are present throughout South Australia, as domestic pets, free living strays, and as feral animals. As pets, cats are wonderful companion animals. However, they are also very efficient predators of our native wildlife.

Australia’s unique wildlife evolved in an environment that did not include cats. The relatively recent introduction of cats to Australia has added a predator with new hunting techniques that has changed the natural balance.

 

Well fed Cats still instinctively hunt

On average a domestic cat kills 16 mammals, 8 birds, 8 reptiles a year according to an Australia-wide survey. In Australia, cats are listed as a potential threat to the survival of at least 58 native species that are considered at risk of extinction.
Cats are the host of a blood disease called Toxoplasmosis which can cause sickness and death in some species of wildlife including snakes.

 

Foxes in Urban Areas

Foxes were first introduced into Australia in the 1870’s for recreational hunting purposes. They have since bred to become one of our major vertebrate pests and are a major problem for land holders in agricultural and pastoral areas. However, foxes are highly adaptable animals, and they have also established themselves in the urban fringe areas of nearly all of Australia’s major cities.

 

Fox Problems

Being opportunistic feeders, foxes in country areas will feed mainly on small mammals, birds, reptiles, insects and fruit. However in our urban environment they have become scavengers, taking food left outdoors for pets and scraps from domestic rubbish, as well as preying on small pets such as birds, rabbits and guinea pigs.

A wide range of small native mammals, birds and reptiles are highly susceptible to fox attack, in some cases fox predication resulting in the extinction of several species.
Cages for pets and domestic animals need to be fully enclosed and constructed from material that foxes cannot chew through or dig under.

 

Please call or email if we can be of any assistance in this matter.