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Download position statement - feral cats - Natural Resources South Australia
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POSITION STATEMENT - FERAL CATS Vision A feral cat free Kangaroo Island with a positively controlled responsible domestic cat ownership ultimately leading towards the Kangaroo Island community embracing a cat fee island. Issue Historic records indicate that cats were introduced to Kangaroo Island around 200 years ago. Today cats are distributed over all of Kangaroo Island (Copley 1991) with four times higher activity in areas close to townships than in bushland and pastoral areas (Southgate & Masters 2006). The impacts of cats on KI are well known and include predation, spread of disease and social impacts . Cats on Kangaroo Island have been found to eat 35 species of bird, 11 species of mammal at least 3 species of reptile and at least one frog species (Paton 2003). The spread of diseases such as toxoplasmosis (a disease that causes abortion in sheep and humans, and is deadly to marsupials), and sarcosporidiosis (a disease of sheep that causes macrocysts in sheep making the meat unsuitable for human consumption) causes substantial economic, environmental and social impacts on Kangaroo Island. Impacts of cats on town communities are significant with cats straying, wailing and defecating in public places such as children’s sand pits. They are also visible at tourist attractions such as penguin and seal colonies, and spread human diseases such as ringworm and toxoplasmosis (Masters 2006). Why Economics – loss of income for producers and service providers Environment – protection of native wildlife / habitats Social – improved amenity Purpose To protect Kangaroo Island biodiversity and ecosystems To protect livestock health and wellbeing To enhance the value of the Kangaroo Island brand (green and clean, natural) To improve ecotourism credibility Guiding Principles Support the Kangaroo Island Council’s Dog and Cat Management Plan and By-Laws Respect the rights and interests of domestic cat owners Respect that domestic cats have benefits such as companionship to families Stock health Humane catching, handling and disposal of feral cats Respecting rights of non-cat owners Partnerships Kangaroo Island Council Kangaroo Island residents Kangaroo Island Cat Control Committee Kangaroo Island Veterinary Clinic Current cat owners Dog and Cat Management Board Agriculture Kangaroo Island and other industry groups Condition Target Kangaroo Island’s natural ecosystems are free from feral cats. Cats are not having a negative impact on any native species. Sarcosporidiosis occurrence in Kangaroo Island livestock is equal to or less than the national average Kangaroo Island residents actively support responsible pet ownership, the Kangaroo Island Dog and Cat Management Plan and a feral cat free island. The number of domestic cat registrations equals the number of known* domestic cats on Kangaroo Island. Reduction in the number of complaints received by Kangaroo Island Council regarding cats straying, wailing and causing public nuisance. No kittens are advertised as for sale and no cat changes ownership unless desexed. Short-term actions Promotion of responsible cat ownership Promotion of cat traps and enforcement of By-laws Encouraging carcass removal on roadsides and farms Support current trapping programs on farms Limitations to achievement Resources available to enforce domestic Cat Control An effective feral cat control technique/mechanism An ability to target all feral cats including those in remote bushland Resources available to implement a feral cat free KI once a control technique is available Community acceptance and expectations Legislation to prevent movement of cats to the island Legislation Dog and Cat Management Act 1995 Kangaroo Island Council By-Law 6 - Cats *based on statistics from the KI Veterinary Clinic
