Controlling feral Cats in Oz.

[formercia]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6974687.stm



Feral cats are one of the most serious threats to Australia's native fauna.


They eat almost anything that moves, including small marsupials, lizards, birds and spiders.

--snip--

Marinated moggie was not to everyone's taste. One of the competition judges found the meat impossibly tough and had to politely excuse herself and spit it out in a backroom.

Wild cats are considered good eating by some Aborigines, who roast the animals on an open fire.

--snip--

[dipsydoodle]

1. They make cats sound like rodents

despite the fact cat's cannot reproduce very quickly whereas rodents can.

[kestrel91316]

4. Cats can reproduce quickly enough to pose a MAJOR problem.

"An interesting statistic is if two unsterilized cats' offspring were to survive for over 10 years, that would be 80,000 cats (created by their descendants),"
http://www.northumberlandtoday.com/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentid=646556&catname=Local%20News&classif=

[dipsydoodle]

7. Yes but

rats in that period of time would multiply to multiple millions.
Aparty from that what's wrong with 80.000 cats ?

[cyborg_jim]

9. Ask the dead fauna

[dipsydoodle]

10. Every hour in London 4000 rats are born !

THAMES Water has agreed to discuss the rat problem in the sewer system. At an environment committee,
chairman Cllr Eric Williams said "One rat can produce 2,000 rats in one year. It can be a major problem."

http://www.derelictlondon.com/rats_and_pigeons.htm

From a pair of rats leading to 2000 offspring in a year do you want to do the maths for 10 years - 2000 to at least the power 10.

Pigeons are a nuisance too. If I could get my chinchilla persians and my bengal onto my roof without them coming to any harm then I would do so.

[cyborg_jim]

30. Cats are not a rare genous of animals

Marsupials on the other hand...

[kestrel91316]

16. If they were 80,000 well-cared-for HOUSECATS, I'd say nothing.

But 80,000 street strays is a whole 'nother thing. If nothing else, imagine the poop.

[Ms. Toad]

29. True, as far as it goes,

But the lifespan of a feral cat is generally two years or less - so the 80,000 cats is a gross misrepresentation of what is likely to happen. Not only will the cats not be alive in 10 years, but they will have produced connsiderably fewer offspring since each female has only a year or so in which to create additional litters (rather than 9 or so for the first cat, 8 or so for the second, etc.)

http://www.the-piedpiper.co.uk/th12.htm (like related to lifespan)

[saracat]

2. Why don't they eat their out of control children too? Stewed infant anyone? Disgusting.

Another reason I would never move to Australia.

[depakid]

15. A Modest Proposal....

See, e.g.:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Modest_Proposal

Seems to me that you're seriously missing the point.

[saracat]

18. I am not missing the point.I happen to prefer feral cats to out of control children! LOL!

Actually I am quite a cat fancier and the thought of "eating " our feline companions is revolting and I do not respect this no matter what the circumstances.

[depakid]

24. Then you might want to read this

btw: I'm a cat person too (though I also appreciate larger ecosystems).

Unlike the Western US, feral cats have few natural predators or diseases in OZ- Eagles maybe- and pythons in the north- but by in large they're quite fat & quite happy (again unlike the emaciated and parasite ridden ones I've often seen) because they out compete just about everything else for food resources.

The "bush tucker" story (while ostensibly true) was meant- as Jonathon Swift wrote so many years ago- to bring attention to a larger issue- it's not meant to promote "cats as food.".

Feral peril: cats on the rampage
September 2, 2007

FERAL cats are the greatest risk to native animals in NSW, affecting almost 120 threatened species or populations of animals, a new report on the state's most destructive species reveals.

Foxes are the second most deadly animal, putting 111 species or populations at risk, the NSW Environment Department study commissioned by the Invasive Animals Co-operative Research Centre (IACRC) found.

The destructive species report will be released today by Verity Firth, the Minister Assisting the Minister for Climate Change, Environment and Water, to promote National Threatened Species Day on Friday.

More: http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/feral-peril-cats-on-the-rampage/2007/09/01/1188067429785.html

[yurbud]

3. feral? they're made of iron? they must be tough to kill.

[cyborg_jim]

5. That's "ferrous"

[zalinda]

6. Why don't they sterilize them?

Animals can be controlled, if you have a mind to do it. If you eat them, they will still be a problem, as their off spring will make more.

zalinda

[cyborg_jim]

8. I don't think you're thinking this through...

They're just as unable to reproduce if they are dead as if they are sterile - the problem is that you have to catch the cats.

Now - do you have any comprehension of how large Australia is?

[zalinda]

13. Actually I do.

Cats are important to keep vermin down, but their numbers have to be controlled, especially in the cities. In the wild, is a different story, just about anything goes, except poison. I'm sure the Aussies would like cane toads gone too, too bad cats don't eat them.

zalinda

[yurbud]

22. sterilize Australians? Let's start with Mel Gibson. You get the sheep shears, I'll hold him down.

[orleans]

23. oh my god! lol! lol! n/t

[scrinmaster]

33. Shooting them is easier.

[yurbud]

11. You have inspired me to submit this to digg.com (with a minor edit) LINK

Australians cook up wild cat stew

According to the BBC, alcoholism in Australia has become so severe that that Aussies are unable to outwit and catch kangaroos and koalas, the staples of their diet, so they are forced to eat stray cats instead.

http://digg.com/offbeat_news/Australians_cook_up_wild_cat_stew

[formercia]

17. Mad Max

Life imitates art.

[and-justice-for-all]

12. I find this to be rather disgusting and sad...nt

[aikoaiko]

14. Aussies have an 8 page manual for shooting feral cats.

http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/publications/humane-control/cat001-ground-shooting-feral-cats.pdf

[yurbud]

21. "first, grab a cold foster's lager. Then fire up the barby in case you do snag a cat."

[canetoad]

26. Yahhhhh

I luv it when Americans, with their extensive knowledge of the world, stereotype other nations. Man, it leaves you wide, wide open. Sorry, but it does. Lol. Snicker. Grimace, sneer.

[formercia]

28. Borat would be proud.

:rofl:

[Wiley50]

19. Cat Fishing In Australia"

I remember, someone, maybe Mad Magazine, did a story

about CatFishing In New York.

It showed people with big gamefishing rods and reels

in the backs of pickup trucks

casting hooked bait, mice and raw meat

into the alleyways

In reality it was a horrible thing

but I must confess that the way it was presented

just totally cracked me up

[yurbud]

20. was it cracked or mad that predicted what life would be like in 2000?

They had a bunch of shaved headed kids dissing their aging hippy parents, which was essentially what happened.

[canetoad]

25. A few facts.

Not that I think anyone is especially interested. Feral cats must not be confused with pet cats, cute kittens or abandoned animals needing a home. They are cats that have spent generations breeding in the wild, where the positive characteristics of size and agression are the ones that ensure survival.

Thus, feral cats can be the size of a cocker spaniel or larger. They carry all the diseases that your domestic moggy does, plus mange, feline enteritis and a few others. The hack who wrote this article about eating feral cats it making it up. Aboriginals may have occasionally, roasted up a feral cat as a joke, but it is by no means a staple or desired food.

For those crying boo-hhoo- kitty, please remember, these animals are NOTHING at all like our standard domestic cats. Yes, it was the fault of humans that they became feral, but they are not attractive creatures to have around. Incidentally, they are fairly rare in populated areas.

Another point to make is that people who wish to live in areas resplendent with kangaroos, wombats and wallabies generally have a wood burning stove (they are all-natural) and a seperate vehicle in which each family member from the age of 18 upwards travels to Safeway or nightclubs. Quite simply, if you want to live in a human habitation, please don't expect the native animals to share it with you. More wildlife is lost in semi-urban areas than anywhere else.

It would not be a bad thing if feral cats were eliminated. This is the one and only application I can see for a gun. Thankfully most shooters of the creatures are not cruel, they do the job efficiently.

Eating feral cats is absolute bullshit. If anyone has been sucked in by these juvenile whinings in mainstream press, more fool you.

[formercia]

31. Borat rules. n/t

[Blashyrkh]

32. I can personally attest

Years ago, on my uncle's farm near Longreach (Central Queensland) I was out riding an ATV (I was 14 at the time, in reference to another thread) and I noticed something moving in the some bushes. Drove over and noticed a grey feral cat. This wasn't no house cat. Easily the biggest cat I have ever seen. 10-12 inches high at least 1.5 times long.

They are nothing but pests, they long since stopped being pets.

[Maraya1969]

27. In many places in the US people trap feral cats, spay and neuter them

and put them back out into the wild.