Reducing the rate of predation on wildlife by pet cats: The efficacy and practicability of collar-mounted pounce protectors

M.C. Calver; S.R. Thomas; J.S. Bradley; H. McCutcheon

doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2007.02.015

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Reducing the rate of predation on wildlife by pet cats: The efficacy and practicability of collar-mounted pounce protectors

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Reducing the rate of predation on wildlife by pet cats: The efficacy and practicability of collar-mounted pounce protectors

M.C. Calver, S.R. Thomas, J.S. Bradley and H. McCutcheon

Biological Conservation, Vol.137(3), pp.341-348

2007

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2007.02.015

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Abstract

We evaluated whether a collar-worn pounce protector, the CatBib™, reduces the number of vertebrates caught by pet cats and whether its effectiveness was influenced by colour or adding a bell. Fifty-six cats identified as hunters were studied in Perth, Australia over six weeks in November/December 2005 (southern hemisphere spring/summer). Cats spent three weeks wearing a device and three weeks without it and we recorded the number of prey brought home during each period. Cats caught 65 birds (13 species), 67 herpetofauna (11 species) and 164 mammals (five species). Alone or together with bells CatBibs stopped 81% of cats from catching birds, 33% from catching herpetofauna and 45% from catching mammals. Cats wearing CatBibs or CatBibs and bells caught only 25% of all birds, 43% of all herpetofauna and 36% of all mammals captured. Both colours were equally effective. Adding bells conferred no additional protection. Only one cat did not adjust to the CatBib and there was no long-term evidence that CatBibs altered cats’ fighting or wandering behaviour. Owners volunteered because of one or more of: environmental concern (81%), curiosity (38%), personal (35%) or family (24%) distress caused by hunting. Most owners (70%) said they would continue to use CatBibs although only 17% were doing so eight months later because some cats had stopped hunting or lost their CatBibs. Although confinement of pet cats is the complete solution to preventing predation on wildlife, deterrents such as the CatBib are effective if used consistently.

Details

Title: Reducing the rate of predation on wildlife by pet cats: The efficacy and practicability of collar-mounted pounce protectors
Authors/Creators: M.C. Calver (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
S.R. Thomas (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
J.S. Bradley (Author/Creator)
H. McCutcheon (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
Publication Details: Biological Conservation, Vol.137(3), pp.341-348
Publisher: Elsevier
Identifiers: 991005544096707891
Copyright: © Elsevier
Murdoch Affiliation: School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology; School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.35 Zoology & Animal Ecology; 3.35.274 Wildlife Ecology
Web Of Science research areas: Biodiversity Conservation; Ecology; Environmental Sciences
ESI research areas: Environment/Ecology