Thread: Disposing of feral cats

Originally Posted by Gary S11

The Great Australian Cat Predicament

That article deserves to be read carefully, it does give weight to the idea that cats have been part of the ecology here in Australia for 500 years and the idea to suddenly remove them would create problems with other species having a population explosion.

I suggest that the birds breeding on the ground on Macquarie Island would have learnt some defensive mechanisms to protect their offspring, in time those defences will be forgotten and if cats were to return, that same bird population may well become extinct without any protection.

There have been stories that I have read about the Calicivirus working too effectively removing rabbits completely from areas in Central Australia, led to hungry Dingos becoming dangerous to people camping in those areas.
So that is another example of disturbing nature, when it was in a state of balance.
.

Originally Posted by bobslandies

Following the Australian success some scientific geniuses introduced myxomatosis into Europe - they were so successful on the rabbits that they caused the extinction of a number of species (Spanish Imperial Eagle, Iberian Lynx) and the decimation of others that fed on rabbits. Rabbits are increasing, the extinct animals are not.

I wouldn't put too much faith in scientists. Where was their "Environmental Impact Assessment"? (I did not say science).

Bob

There are numerous examples of silly scientists and poor science, and Armand-Delille's introduction of the myxoma virus to Europe is a good example of a silly scientist and the simplistic eradication of cats from Macquarie Island, a good example of poor science. To the chagrin of some, European Rabbit numbers are, in many European places, on the increase. And rabbits have now essentially been eliminated from Macquarie Island. That said, neither the Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus) nor the Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti) are extinct, though both species are endangered and threatened with extinction. However the reduction in European Rabbit numbers was not the cause of the demise of either species. The Iberian Lynx’s critical status is mainly due to habitat loss, poisoning, road casualties, feral dogs and poaching. Its habitat loss is due mainly to infrastructure improvement, urban and resort development and tree mono-cultivation, which serves to break the lynx's distribution area (see Wikipedia for a good overview). The most serious threat to the Spanish Imperial Eagle is electrocution and poisoning (see http://www.europeanraptors.org/raptors/spanish_imperial_eagle.html).

Just out of interest, there are about 90 of Australia's offshore islands that have feral cat populations and about 70 that have rabbits (see Feral animals on offshore islands - Invasive species).

Cheers
KarlB

Originally Posted by wrinklearthur

That article deserves to be read carefully, it does give weight to the idea that cats have been part of the ecology here in Australia for 500 years and the idea to suddenly remove them would create problems with other species having a population explosion.

I suggest that the birds breeding on the ground on Macquarie Island would have learnt some defensive mechanisms to protect their offspring, in time those defences will be forgotten and if cats were to return, that same bird population may well become extinct without any protection.

There have been stories that I have read about the Calicivirus working too effectively removing rabbits completely from areas in Central Australia, led to hungry Dingos becoming dangerous to people camping in those areas.
So that is another example of disturbing nature, when it was in a state of balance.
.

Cats were first introduced to Macquarie Island in about 1820 and rabbits about 1880. By 1960, rabbits were having a devastating effect on the vegetation of Macquarie and Rabbit Fleas carrying the myxoma virus were introduced to control their numbers. Myxo was moderately effective and this reduced a major food source for the feral cats. They switched prey species to seabirds and it is estimated that by the end of the 1980s they were killing as many as 60,000 seabirds annually. Those interested may like to have a look at http://www.antarctica.gov.au/media/news/2009/lessons-learned-from-devastating-effects-of-cat-eradication-on-macquarie-island for further information.

Cheers
KarlB

Originally Posted by Chucaro

I was reading this about Tasmanian law's and I wonder if it is applicable in suburbia or it is only for rural areas.

Quote:
The owner of private land, or someone acting on their authority, may trap, seize or humanely destroy a cat found:
on rural land used for primary production relating to livestock, or
on any land further than 1km from any residence
Where a cat is trapped or otherwise seized, the cat must be returned to its owner if known or transferred as soon as practicable to a cat management facility.


Mi interpretation is that if you trap the cat then it is your reponsability and at your cost to take the animal to the cat management facility but if you destroy the animal humanely then just dispose the body and that it is all.

The source of the info is HERE

It is my interpretation correct?

Well my interpretation is you can return a dead cat to its owner

They taste like rabbit......apparently Bob

Originally Posted by bob10

They taste like rabbit......apparently Bob

have you never eaten Dim Sims ???

Originally Posted by Gary S11

I'm not the expert, but the vet I was talking too after a bit of persuasion said it will and he's the expert...

Originally Posted by KarlB

As for Asprin toxicity in cats, the usually cited reference is Boothe, D.M. (1990). Drug therapy in cats: a systems approach. J Am Vet Med Assoc 196(9): 1502-1511. Can someone point to a more up-to-date and contrary reference?

I understand Paracetamol is even more toxic to cats. See Allen, A.L. (2003). The diagnosis of acetaminophen toxicosis in a cat. Can Vet J 44(6): 509–10, for example.

Cheers
KarlB

Guess I better explain - while I do NOT advocate their use, some drugs are toxic to cats. Aspirin IS toxic, but getting enough into a cat is problematic as cats don't like the taste, and one of the treatments for ingestion of aspirin in a cat is - you guessed it - milk! If you want to jam enough aspirin down a feral cat's throat to kill it, as they won't take it voluntarily, be my guest, but make sure you make a video and place it on Youtube . Paracetamol in milk however...

We used to throw them in the moulds...
Just before the molten steel was poured..

They've also been known to find their way into the Kiln, through the Mill and into the blast furnace...