Thread: Feral & Not So Feral Pussies

Yep, cats are natural predators, and in a land with few natural predators, our native animals are in trouble. Just as bad as feral pigs , I reckon. Bob

Responsible cat owners keep their cats indoors/in a cat run or they are only out during the day, supervised. Our old grey cat much prefers to chase packet food these days, junior takes him for walks in the garden and gives him a little food reward for coming back inside.

Originally Posted by bee utey

Responsible cat owners keep their cats indoors/in a cat run or they are only out during the day, supervised. Our old grey cat much prefers to chase packet food these days, junior takes him for walks in the garden and gives him a little food reward for coming back inside.

Exactly, like most things the problem is feral humans. Feral animals are just a result of their (humans) laziness, cruelty or lack of understanding.

I hunt pigs on a few properties between Normanton and Croydon and the size of the feral cats is bloody incredible.One of the station managers tells me a bird that used to be in good numbers in the region has just about vanished.I can't remember the species of bird but he tells me the last one he saw was about 5-7 years ago.

As Bob pointed out the cats have no predators and are free to hunt.They also adapt to conditions very well,it's a very serious problem to the native wildlife that needs urgent attention.

They're everywhere. They will come to a fox whistle and I have been able to despatch a few over the years. The heads on them are huge. Wild dogs are also a problem, you should see how big some of them are.


The dogs mainly go for stock, but the cats kill thousands of birds, small mammals and reptiles every year. I hate them.

I agree they are a huge problem, I am a cat lover but they are terrible for the environment. Our cat is only an inside cat, he does get to go in a courtyard and manages to snare the occasional lizard but that's all.

Where we do a lot of shooting,the cats have virtually disappeared.

There are sometimes a few young ones around that are very easily dispatched.

It is the 1080 that has sorted them out,it has also knocked the foxes around as well.

Although poison is not my way of doing things,the property owners have other ideas,and it is strictly controlled.

As others have said,cats are a real problem,an easy way to get them is with a dog,the cat usually heads up the nearest tree,then it is easily shot.They haven't got anywhere near the stamina of a dog.

But we can't takes dogs out anymore due to the 1080,unless they are muzzled,and most dogs hate muzzles.

Originally Posted by bob10

Yep, cats are natural predators, and in a land with few natural predators, our native animals are in trouble. Just as bad as feral pigs , I reckon. Bob

Quote: " Just as bad as feral pigs", pigs cause a lot of damage, but they can't climb trees, If I had a $ for every feral cat I shot out of a tree I'd be rich.
Shot one up near Kajabbi in the Gulf country that weighed 22kg, nailed his skin out on the back porch of our Donga, but the local ferals ate it, Regards Frank.