Origin

Europe, Africa and Asia

Habitat

The existence of feral cats in Australia probably pre-dates European settlement. However, massive increases in feral cat numbers have arisen from expanding urban areas. Today feral cats inhabit the entire Australian landscape (including offshore islands) at an estimated density of one cat per square kilometre. 

Reproduction
& dispersal

They will breed at any time producing two litters of anything up to 10 kittens a year. Their ability to go without drinking for long periods of time has ensured the spread of feral cats throughout the arid zones of Australia.

Impacts

Cats have been directly responsible for the decline and extinction of many native mammal, bird and reptile species Australia wide. They are efficient and successful hunters, particularly at night, when many rare marsupial species are most active. In the Wheatbelt region cats have been a major factor in the decline of rare and iconic species such as the Red-tailed Phascogale, Woylie, Southern Brown Bandicoot and Malleefowl.  Many such species only exist in small pockets of land and in ever-dwindling numbers.

Control

Few animals will prey on cats, although there is evidence that foxes, Dingoes and Wedge-tailed Eagles will take cats. Unlike foxes, cats do not readily take baits and are wary of traps, their feeding preference being for live prey. However, development of effective methods is ongoing. Feral proof barrier fencing can protect vulnerable species from feral cat predation. Ridding a fenced off area of cats, however, is a time consuming and difficult process, while effective monitoring and maintaining of fences is labour intensive and costly. Fences also disrupt the natural movement of native species. In 2013 Western Australia introduced new cat laws to reduce the risk of domestic cats going feral.

Predation by feral cats is listed as a key threatening process under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act).

Distribution