A landscape scale assessment of domestic cat occurrence in boreal forests

Conservation Science and Practice, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 7, 2025

Abstract Domestic cats ( Felis catus ), both feral animals and pets, are a major threat to biodiversity. While domestic closely associated with human residences activity, they also range into impact natural areas. We still know little about how free‐ranging use semi‐natural quantified cat occurrence at 405 forest sites in Norway over 3 years using occupancy modeling, tested patterns were influenced by relevant landscape variables. Cat decreased increasing distance from residential houses, being >60% within 50 m of the nearest house, but even 1000 distance, exceeded 10%. When present forests, more likely be detected close edges. Detection probability was lowest declined steeply increased edge during winter, when temperature, vegetation cover, prey availability their lowest. conclude that may pose areas like forests considerable distances residences. encourage further studies investigate role characteristics environmental conditions on habitat penetration pet cats.

Language: Английский

---

When pets go wild: Integrating DNA metabarcoding and morphological analyses to investigate the impacts of free-ranging cats (Felis catus) on oceanic islands

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 305, P. 111089 - 111089

Published: March 12, 2025

Language: Английский

---

Problematic cats in urban reserves: implications for native biodiversity and urban cat management

Global Ecology and Conservation, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. e03584 - e03584

Published: April 1, 2025

Language: Английский

---

A Global Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis of Methods Used to Evaluate Predation and Diet of Domestic Cats (Felis catus)

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(4)

Published: April 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Invasive species, including multiple domestic can devastate local biodiversity. Domestic cats ( Felis catus ) cause declines in select prey species around the world, and methods are employed to monitor cat diet predatory habits. These have not yet been compared against one another a meta‐analytical way, therefore, aim here was evaluate relative proportions of different taxa reported diet. We 88 studies using beta regression model conducted on four taxa, where methodology, location duration study were included as variables. Mammals further divided into rodents, insectivores medium‐sized mammals for subset European studies, Wilcoxon Rank Sum tests compare methods. Proportions lowest, those herptiles highest collar‐mounted cameras. However, greater birds recorded return questionnaires, suggesting detectability bias, bird remains easier detect. Mammal figures lower Australasian whereas more frequently Australasia than other mainland locations, likely reflecting difference availability. In Europe, found be returned eaten, supporting existing hypothesis that this group is largely unpalatable cats. Care should taken when extrapolating data gathered by methods, each fundamentally measures aspect Only six (6.8%) used video cameras and, although useful monitoring technique, results showed pattern taxonomic consumed or prey. More research locations varying faunal composition necessary, improving general applicability populations globally. Palatability appear influence reported, these aspects considered calculating total predation rates.

Language: Английский

---

Spatial and temporal overlap of domestic cats (Felis catus) and native urban wildlife

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 10

Published: Nov. 21, 2022

Free-roaming domestic cats ( Felis catus ) are known to pose threats ecosystem health via transmission of zoonotic diseases and predation native wildlife. Likewise, free-roaming also susceptible or disease from Physical interactions required for many these risks be manifested, necessitating spatial temporal overlap between wildlife species. Therefore, knowledge the location extent shared habitat activity periods would benefit management programs. We used data a 3-year camera trap survey model species-specific occupancy identify landscape variables that contribute distribution eight mammal species in Washington, DC. (USA). Our analysis includes five common prey items cats, three potential vectors otherwise risk cats. then predicted probability estimated each at multiple scales. kernel density estimations calculate Across scales, vector was generally positively correlated with canopy cover open water. Prey were cover, but displayed negative associations human population inconsistent average per capita income. Domestic cat negatively natural characteristics density. Predicted greatest Temporal high (>0.50) all two species, indicating is probable wherever spatially. findings indicate varies across urban landscapes, primarily arises activities. As such, humans implicated outcomes result interacting Data-driven reduce such can aid management, biodiversity conservation, public campaigns.

Language: Английский

---

Building urban predator-prey networks using camera traps

Food Webs, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 37, P. e00305 - e00305

Published: Aug. 9, 2023

Language: Английский

---

Challenges and opportunities in human dimensions behind cat–wildlife conflict

Conservation Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 38(4)

Published: March 22, 2024

Because global anthropogenic activities cause vast biodiversity loss, human dimensions research is essential to forming management plans applicable conservation outside wilderness areas. Engaging public participation crucial in this context achieve social and environmental benefits. However, knowledge gaps remain understanding how a balance between demands can be reached complicated sociocultural contexts the Anthropocene incorporated planning. We examined China's nationwide conflict free-ranging cats (owned that are allowed go outdoors or homeless living outdoors) wildlife examine consensus compassion help decision-making. surveyed random sample of people China online. Over 9000 questionnaires were completed (44.2% response). In aggregate, respondents reported approximately 29 million owned over 5 domestic per year become feral mainland China. Respondents who cat owners, female, religious more likely deny negative impacts on ongoing strategies supportive stray shelters, adoption, community-based fund raising than nonowners, male, nonreligious (p < 0.05). Free-ranging ownership abandonment occurred less with owners invasive species these subjects recommend enthusiasts conservationists participate initiatives, such as campaigns keep indoors. Our study provides substantially useful framework for other regions where undergoing rapid expansion.

Language: Английский

---

Home range size and habitat selection of owned outdoor domestic cats (Felis catus) in urban southwestern Ontario

PeerJ, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12, P. e17159 - e17159

Published: March 29, 2024

Domestic cats ( Felis catus ) play a dual role in society as both companion animals and predators. When provided with unsupervised outdoor access, can negatively impact native wildlife create public health animal welfare challenges. The effective implementation of management strategies, such buffer zones or curfews, requires an understanding home range size, the factors that influence their movement, types habitats they use. Here, we used community/citizen scientist approach to collect movement habitat use data using GPS collars on owned Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge-Guelph region, southwestern Ontario, Canada. Mean (± SD) 100% minimum convex polygon size was 8 ± ha (range: 0.34–38 ha) positively associated road density but not intrinsic boldness, sex, age. With regards selection, greenspaces, roads, agricultural land less often than predicted strongly selected for impervious surfaces (urban areas other greenspaces roads). Our results suggest near buildings residential are likely at greatest risk cat predation 840 m would be needed restrict from entering conservation concern.

Language: Английский

---

Public Attitudes towards and Management Strategies for Community Cats in Urban China

Animals, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(16), P. 2301 - 2301

Published: Aug. 7, 2024

Managing community cats in urban China is a contentious and emerging issue, with debates centering on the most effective humane approaches. This study aimed to investigate public attitudes towards various management strategies. A survey was conducted involving 5382 residents China. Their positive negative roles of areas their support for different methods were examined, including trap-and-kill, taking no action, centralized management, trap-neuter-return (TNR) its variations. Results indicated that 63% participants willing coexist cats, 71% opposed 61% agreed or strongly TNR method Older those higher incomes more likely coexistence cats. In contrast, younger lower-income non-coexistence. Residents first- second-tier cities (e.g., Beijing, Hangzhou, Jinan Cities China) inclined trap-and-kill less than counterparts fourth-tier county-level China). Moreover, lower education supportive action as manage relatively incomes. Those held variations Males females. The implications findings adoption programs are discussed. These novel underscore need targeted educational campaigns promote strategies, addressing concerns cats' welfare. study's insights critical informing policy improving cat

Language: Английский

---

Counting the Capital's cats: Estimating drivers of abundance of free‐roaming cats with a novel hierarchical model

Ecological Applications, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 33(2)

Published: Dec. 9, 2022

Free-roaming cats are a conservation concern in many areas but identifying their impacts and developing mitigation strategies requires robust understanding of distribution density patterns. Urban residential may be especially relevant this process because free-roaming abundant these anthropogenic landscapes. Here, we estimate the occupancy Washington D.C. relate metrics to known landscape social factors. We conducted an extended camera trap survey public private spaces across analyzed data collected from 1483 deployments 2018 2020. estimated citywide cat by fitting hierarchical models further abundance using novel random thinning spatial capture-recapture model that allows for use photos can cannot identified individual. Within model, utilized individual covariates provided identity exclusions between unidentifiable with inconsistent coat patterns, thus increasing precision estimates. This combined also allowed unbiased estimation when animals at same rate as whose identifiability depended on characteristics. Cat declined distance areas, effect was more pronounced wealthier neighborhoods. There noteworthy absence detected larger forests. Realized densities ranged 0.02 1.75 cats/ha sampled resulting district-wide ~7296 cats. Ninety percent detections lacked collars nearly 35% individuals were ear-tipped, indicative district Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs. These results suggest mainly unowned subpopulation, such indoor/outdoor housecats not well represented. The precise population is difficult due varied behavior subpopulations within populations (housecats, stray feral cats), our methods provide first step establishing baselines inform data-driven management plans urban environments.

Language: Английский

---