The use of point-of-view cameras (Kittycams) to quantify predation by colony cats (Felis catus) on wildlife

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonia M. Hernandez ◽  
Kerrie Anne T. Loyd ◽  
Alexandra N. Newton ◽  
Benjamin L. Carswell ◽  
Kyler J. Abernathy
Keyword(s):  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Predation Rate ◽  
Felis Catus ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Hunting Activity ◽  
Hunting Behaviour ◽  
Stray Cats ◽  
Island Habitat ◽  
Stray Cat ◽  
Hunting Efficiency

Context Domestic cats (Felis catus) are efficient and abundant non-native predators, recently labelled as primary contributors to global biodiversity loss. Aims Specific research goals included determining the proportion of hunters, estimating hunting efficiency, identifying primary prey and examining predictors of kill rate and efficacy. Methods We investigated hunting of wildlife by stray cats living in managed outdoor colonies on a barrier island in the southeastern USA, and monitored 29 stray cats seasonally in 2014 and 2015 using Kittycam video cameras. Key results In total, 24 cats exhibited hunting behaviour and 18 captured prey. The estimated average daily predation rate from these successful hunters was 6.15 kills per 24-h period. Hunting effectiveness (percentage of capture attempts that translate to a kill) was an average of 44%. The most common type of prey captured was invertebrate (primarily Orthopteran and Hemipteran insects), followed by amphibians and reptiles. Eighty-three percent of kills occurred between dusk and dawn. Conclusions Colony location (near undeveloped island habitat) was related to higher kill rates. Cat sex and nocturnal hunting activity were related to greater hunting efficiency. Implications These results address the significant gap in knowledge about stray cat hunting activities, and raise conservation concerns for some groups of organisms (reptiles and amphibians) that have not been widely identified as vulnerable to cat predation.

scholarly journals Subsidised by junk foods: factors influencing body condition in stray cats (Felis catus)

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
H M Crawford ◽  
M C Calver ◽  
P A Fleming
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Original Data ◽  
Pathogen Transmission ◽  
Felis Catus ◽  
Stray Cats ◽  
Public Nuisance ◽  
Control Programmes ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Stray Cat

Abstract Domestic cats (Felis catus) are one of the most widely distributed and successful carnivores globally. While cats are popular pets, many unowned, ‘stray’ cats live freely in anthropogenic environments at high densities where they make use of anthropogenic resources. These stray cats present a management challenge due to concerns about wildlife predation, pathogen transmission, public nuisance and threats to cat welfare (e.g. vehicle collisions). In Australia, there are few studies of strays compared with pet cats or feral cats (free-roaming cats in rural areas that are independent of resources provided by humans). To contribute original data about stray cat biology, the carcasses of 188 euthanised stray cats were collected from Perth, Western Australia. Cats were assessed for general health, age, reproduction, diet and gastrointestinal parasite biomass. The influence of cat demographics, collection location, season, parasite biomass, diet and history of supplemental feeding by people were tested against body condition. Overall, strays were physically healthy and reproductive, with few life-threatening injuries or macroscopic evidence of disease; however, helminths were extremely common (95% of cats) and pose a threat. Nearly 40% of strays consumed wildlife, including two species of endemic marsupial. Alarmingly, 57.5% of strays were scavenging vast amounts of refuse, including life-threatening items in volumes that blocked their gastrointestinal tracts. These findings illustrate that strays need to be removed from anthropogenic environments for their own health and welfare and to prevent continued breeding. Targeted control programmes should prioritise removal of cats from areas where refuse is common and where valued native fauna exist.

Radio-Tracking Survey of Stray Cat Home Range in a Suburban Area: Non-Exclusive Use of Home Ranges in Stray Cats (Felis catus)

Mammal Study ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun-Soo Kim ◽  
Jong-U Kim ◽  
Jong-Hoon Jeon ◽  
Jong Koo Lee ◽  
Woo-Shin Lee
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Felis Catus ◽  
Suburban Area ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Radio Tracking ◽  
Stray Cats ◽  
Stray Cat

scholarly journals Reply to Crawford et al.: Why Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) Is an Ethical Solution for Stray Cat Management

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 689 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wolf ◽  
Rand ◽  
Swarbrick ◽  
Spehar ◽  
Norris
Keyword(s):  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Current Practice ◽  
Total Population ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Status Quo ◽  
Felis Catus ◽  
Apparent Effect ◽  
Stray Cats ◽  
Stray Cat

The recently published article, ‘A Case of Letting the Cat out of the Bag—Why Trap-Neuter-Return Is Not an Ethical Solution for Stray Cat (Felis catus) Management,’ by Crawford et al. warrants rebuttal. The case presented in the paper, opposing the initiation of TNR trials in Australia, ignores peer-reviewed evidence which substantiates the effectiveness of TNR at reducing unowned urban cat numbers. In addition, the paper’s authors offer a number of unrealistic recommendations, which are little more than a rebranding of the failed status quo. Urban stray cats have long been considered a problem across Australia. Current practice calls for the trapping and killing of thousands of healthy urban stray cats and kittens each year with no apparent effect on the total population. In contrast, the literature offers numerous examples, including two recent studies in Australia, of reductions in urban stray cat numbers where TNR has been implemented. TNR has also been associated with reduced feline intake and euthanasia at shelters, which improves both animal welfare and the well-being of shelter staff. A large-scale trial of TNR in an urban Australian context is scientifically justified and long overdue.

scholarly journals DERAJAT KESEHATAN KUCING LIAR (Felis catus) MELALUI PEMERIKSAAN FUNGSI LIVER (SGPT DAN SGOT) DI PASAR KECAMATAN TEGALSARI KOTA SURABAYA

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 6-9
Author(s):  
Era Hari Mudji ◽  
Lailia Dwi Kusuma Wardhani ◽  
Roeswandono Roeswandono ◽  
Nicodemos Borges Lonai
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Liver Function ◽  
Blood Serum ◽  
Descriptive Study ◽  
Felis Catus ◽  
Experimental Animals ◽  
Average Value ◽  
Stray Cats ◽  
Stray Cat

The present research aims to know Stray cat health status in the Tegalsari sub-district market in Surabaya. This type of research is a descriptive study, experimental animals used were 30 stray cats on the market. Through examination of the liver function SGOT and SGPT. Blood serum Collection  of Stray cat in three markets in central of  Surabaya city, specifically in Tegalsari sub-district, namely the pasar kembang, pasar keputran selatan and pasar keputran utara, each market can take blood serum in 10 cats (Stray cat) as much as 3ml to test the value SGPT and SGOT, Data analysis using Analysis of Variant (ANOVA) the average value SGOT of Stray cat in pasar kembang 43.8+12.9 µ/l, pasar keputran selatan 79.0+ 50.3 µ/l and the pasar keputran utara 47.7+12.3 µ/l and average SGPT value on the Stray cat in the pasar kembang 98.0+48.7 µ/l, pasar keputran selatan 119.9+83.6 µ/l and pasar keputran utara 103,9+40.6 µ/l, especially the SGOT value can be significantly different (P<0.05) while the SGPT value is not significantly different (P>0.05). The value of SGOT and SGPT in pasar keputran selatan is higher compared to the pasar keputran utara and the pasar kembang.

scholarly journals Prevalence of Haemoplasma Infections in Stray Cats in Northern Italy

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Spada ◽  
Daniela Proverbio ◽  
Paola Galluzzo ◽  
Alessandra Della Pepa ◽  
Giada Bagnagatti De Giorgi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Blood Donors ◽  
Northern Italy ◽  
Negative Association ◽  
Domestic Cats ◽  
Conventional Pcr ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Stray Cats ◽  
Stray Cat

This study investigated the prevalence of feline haemoplasma infections in a number of stray cat colonies in Milan, Northern Italy. Blood samples from 260 stray cats were evaluated, with conventional PCR, for the presence of DNA associated with Mycoplasma haemofelis (Mhf) and “Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum” (CMhm). Odd ratios (OR) were calculated to identify risk factors for haemoplasma infections. PCR was positive in 86 out of 260 subjects (33.1%), with a prevalence of 10.8% (28/260 cats) for Mhf and 22.3% (58/260 cats) for CMhm. No coinfections were registered. There were significant associations between infections and season of sampling, that is, a negative association between winter sampling and a haemoplasma positive status (OR=0.29, P=0.001), or CMhm positive status (OR=0.29, P=0.01). Haemoplasma infections are common in stray cats in Milan. Thus, domestic cats with outdoor access should be routinely monitored and treated for ectoparasites to minimize risks of disease acquisition. Moreover, as these infections are transmitted via blood, feline blood donors from this area should be screened by PCR and preferably be drawn from a population of indoor cats regularly treated for fleas.

Levels of Ancylostoma infections and phylogenetic analysis of cox 1 gene of A. ceylanicum in stray cat faecal samples from Guangzhou, China

2015 ◽  
Vol 90 (4) ◽  
pp. 392-397 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Hu ◽  
X.G. Yu ◽  
S. Wu ◽  
L.P. Tan ◽  
M.R. Song ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South China ◽  
Potential Risk ◽  
Stray Cats ◽  
Faecal Samples ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Pcr Rflp ◽  
Pcr Method ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Stray Cat ◽  
A Minor

AbstractAncylostoma ceylanicum is a common zoonotic nematode. Cats act as natural reservoirs of the hookworm and are involved in transmitting infection to humans, thus posing a potential risk to public health. The prevalence of feline A. ceylanicum in Guangzhou (South China) was surveyed by polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). In total, 112 faecal samples were examined; 34.8% (39/112) and 43.8% (49/112) samples were positive with hookworms by microscopy and PCR method, respectively. Among them, 40.8% of samples harboured A. ceylanicum. Twelve positive A. ceylanicum samples were selected randomly and used for cox 1 sequence analysis. Sequencing results revealed that they had 97–99% similarity with A. ceylanicumcox 1 gene sequences deposited in GenBank. A phylogenetic tree showed that A. ceylanicum isolates were divided into two groups: one comprising four isolates from Guangzhou (South China), and the other comprising those from Malaysia, Cambodia and Guangzhou. In the latter group, all A. ceylanicum isolates from Guangzhou were clustered into a minor group again. The results indicate that the high prevalence of A. ceylanicum in stray cats in South China poses a potential risk of hookworm transmission from pet cats to humans, and that A. ceylanicum may be a species complex worldwide.

scholarly journals Arboreal spiders in coffee agroecosystems: Untangling the web of local and landscape influences driving diversity

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zachary Hajian-Forooshani ◽  
David Gonthier ◽  
Linda Marín ◽  
Aaron L Iverson ◽  
Ivette Perfecto
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Intensification ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Important Variable ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Shade Trees ◽  
Coffee Plantations ◽  
Landscape Scales ◽  
Coffee Cultivation

Agricultural intensification is implicated as a major driver of global biodiversity loss. Local management and landscape scale factors both influence biodiversity in agricultural systems, but there are relatively few studies to date looking at how local and landscape scales influence biodiversity in tropical agroecosystems. Understanding what drives the diversity of groups of organisms such as spiders is important from a pragmatic point of view because of the important biocontrol services they offer to agriculture. Spiders in coffee are somewhat enigmatic because of their positive or lack of response to agricultural intensification. In this study, we provide the first analysis, to our knowledge, of the arboreal spiders in the shade trees of coffee plantations. In the Soconusco region of Chiapas, Mexico we sampled across 38 sites on 9 coffee plantations. Tree and canopy connectedness were found to positively influence overall arboreal spider richness and abundance. We found that different functional groups of spiders are responding to different local and landscape factors, but overall elevation was most important variable influencing arboreal spider diversity. Our study has practical management applications that suggest having shade grown coffee offers more suitable habitat for arboreal spiders due to a variety of the characteristics of the shade trees. Our results which show consistently more diverse arboreal spider communities in lower elevations are important in light of looming global climate change. As the range of suitable elevations for coffee cultivation shrinks promoting arboreal spider diversity will be important in sustaining the viability of coffee.

scholarly journals Premises of Sustainable Development Concept Occurence

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-53
Author(s):  
Elisabeta-Emilia Halmaghi ◽  
Mihai-Marcel Neag
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Animal Species ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Environmental Issues ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Pesticide Use ◽  
Political Debate ◽  
Toxic Product ◽  
Difficult Issue

Abstract It has long been considered that the environment can withstand all the pressure exerted by human activities on it: extensive agriculture, pesticide use, strong industrialization, noxious gas emissions into the atmosphere, toxic product discharge into lakes, rivers, seas and oceans, massive deforestation to obtain new areas for housing or agriculture. The result was environmental and soil degradation, increased water and/or air pollution, climate change, biodiversity loss, the disappearance of plant and/or animal species, the depletion of some natural resources. These environmental changes have begun to be studied by specialists in the field, who have raised a flag to irreversible environmental changes. The concept of “sustainable development” arose at a time when environmental issues were at the heart of political debate: sustainable development is seen as a complex and difficult issue to solve because there is a diversity of interests of different states. International agreements and cooperation from the point of view of globalization and economic harmonization have also had as their object the issues of sustainable development, by launching the attempt to reconcile the economy with the environment.

scholarly journals Response to Wolf et al.: Furthering Debate over the Suitability of Trap-Neuter-Return for Stray Cat Management

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael C. Calver ◽  
Heather M. Crawford ◽  
Patricia A. Fleming
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Empirical Data ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Experimental Approach ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Stray Cats ◽  
Stray Cat ◽  
Poor Welfare

To continue dialogue over proposed Australian trials of Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), we applied a framework requiring identification of areas of agreement, areas of disagreement, and identification of empirical data collection required to resolve disagreements. There is agreement that Australia has a problem with stray cats, causing problems of impacts on wildlife, nuisance, disease transmission (including public health issues and exchange of diseases between stray cat and pet cat populations), poor welfare outcomes for stray cats, and an emotional burden on staff euthanising healthy stray cats. There is disagreement on whether (i) current measures are failing, leading to unacceptably high euthanasia levels, (ii) some contributors to the debate misunderstand TNR, (iii) TNR trials will reduce urban cat populations and associated problems, (iv) TNR is an ethical solution to cat overpopulation, and (v) some contributors to the debate promulgated misinformation. Although not everyone agrees that TNR trials should proceed, as a hypothetical exploration, we propose an experimental approach explicitly comparing TNR to alternatives. Trials could only be considered if other detailed and well-funded attempts at stray cat control focusing across an entire Local Government Area (LGA) prove ineffective.

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