Why Australia Plans to Kill Millions of Feral Cats
In a controversial move to preserve native fauna, the Australian government is using poisoned sausages to kill 2 million feral cats by 2020. The plan to “cull” 2 million feral cats was set into motion in 2015, and has faced much controversy and criticism. Most recently, the government has settled on sausages stuffed with a potent poison containing the active ingredient sodium fluoroacetate, known as “1080.” The sausages are made of a blend of kangaroo meat, chicken, and other spices designed to appeal to feral cats.
Marked as "invasive predators," feral cats in the wilds of Australia kill hundreds of millions of native birds, mammals, and reptiles each year. Cats arrived with European settlers in the 1700s and are thus classified as an invasive species, one that has apparently been wreaking havoc on native wildlife.
JOSEPH JOHNSON
According to the New York Times, feral cat overpopulation has already led to the extinction of many native species; 34 mammal species found only in Australia have vanished. The Times wrote that cats are thought to be directly responsible for 22 of those extinctions.
While these numbers are certainly devastating, there are Australian scientists who question the basis of targeting 2 million feral cats. The scientists, in part, say the government had not given a clear metric or scientific reason for that number.
They had failed to indicate how, or whether, the cull would actually impact the feral cat population - as feral cats reproduce at very rapid rates. They also did not necessarily state how and whether the culling of 2 million feral cats would actually increase the populations of endangered species. Estimates of the number of feral cats actually living in Australia vary widely.
The researchers published a paper in the journal Conservation Letters, in which they questioned the 2 million target:
“The focus on killing cats runs the risk of distracting attention away from other threats to biodiversity, most prominent of which is widespread, ongoing habitat loss, which has been largely overlooked in the Threatened Species Strategy.” While feral cats are a big issue, according to CNN, the government has focused heavily on them over more “politically sensitive” issues like habitat loss caused by urban expansion, logging, and mining.
The researchers continued in their published paper: "The culling target [of 2 million] is a highly visible symbol of a broader campaign around feral cat research and management in Australia, rather than a direct indicator of conservation action and success. We are concerned that progress toward the 2 million target could be misinterpreted as progress toward conserving threatened species when the link between the two is not clear.”
Similarly, Kelly O’Shanassy, chief executive of the Australian Conservation Foundation, called the program "commendable;" however, she also states it fails to address habitat loss, which is an even greater threat to vulnerable species.
"The strategy … fails to meaningfully address the biggest threat to threatened species and ecological communities — the loss and fragmentation of habitat — either through investment in new protected areas or by safeguarding existing critical places," she told The Guardian.
This plan to cull cats not only in the hundreds of thousands, but in the millions, is why programs like Trap, Netuer, Release are important to stopping feral cat overpopulation over time. TNR programs reduce the number of feral kittens being born and work to prevent overpopulation.
What is TNR?
Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is a proven humane method to spay or neuter unaltered feral cats by safely trapping them, then returning them to the location where they were picked up.
- Trap: All feral cats in a colony, or as many as possible, are humanely trapped.
- Neuter: The trapped cats are taken to an animal or veterinary clinic to be spayed or neutered, receive vaccinations, and are sometimes marked by eartipping to let people know that the cat has been through the TNR process.
- Return: Healthy adult feral cats are returned to their outdoor homes, where their lives are greatly improved without the strains of mating behaviors (aggression, fighting) and pregnancy. Stray cats and kittens that are socialized to humans are adopted into homes.
The sausages contain a poison that is only poisonous to non-native Australian species, as the NY Times article points out.
The areas where the feral cats live are remote, mountainous regions. TNR is not going to work for the number of cats. The native animals are endangered. Quokkas. Quolls. Their predator is the feral cat. Their numbers have dwindled significantly since Australia was colonised by the British and their cats!
I am a cat lover and an animal lover. But it’s important to get your head around biodiversity and the preservation of native species.
I love your blog, but this was an irresponsible post to make without all the information.
This is one of the most horrible ideas I’ve ever heard of!! I agree with most of the former comments. Australia’s government isn’t looking at the problem with a long range view. It will affect many of their indigenous species as well. I too always wanted to visit this beautiful country and see all of the different species of animals found no where else in the world. And to make new friends. However due to its extremely short sighted government, I will take my vacation elsewhere. Please don’t kill these beautiful cats. Try TNR instead. PLEASE!!!
TNR is effective. My neighbors have actively participated in this for several years. It does work and is a great idea. It does take some time to see the difference because decreasing and “taming” a feral population is a generational process, so it also takes patience. The number of feral cats in my immediate neighborhood is considerably less than it was. One of my rescue kitties was a feral kitten who fortunately was rescued at a young enough age to be able to become a wonderful domestic cat.
would be good if one could share this on F/b but no where to do so ???
Ok, yes this sounds horrific & yes, I agree that it hasn’t been thought thru completely. Other carnivores will die if this scheme goes thru. But TNR doesn’t help the fact that cats WILL continue to kill native birds, mammals etc. Killing millions of cats will slow all of that down, but it’s kinda like Hawaii introducing cane toads. It’s not been completely had all scenarios thought through!! What about all the dead cats? Is someone going to comb the areas to collect the bodies? Think of the HORRIFIC smell!! If the poison doesn’t kill others & there are some that don’t, then other carnivores will benefit, but still the smell!! And what about fining the humans who release cats again after the others are gone? And what if someone’s pet escapes one day & then eats the sausages & dies. This is a BAD solution. But there aren’t enough cages in the world to catch them all & make a dent in the population. Shooting them might be easier & more humane.
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