Cat Origins And Impact: Global Distribution And Ecological Footprint.pdf

- Domestic cats (Felis catus) descended from the African wildcat (Felis lybica).
- They were first domesticated in Egypt and the Middle East around 4000 years ago.
- Cats were introduced to Australia with the First Fleet in 1788, and subsequent introductions followed across the mainland and islands.

Cat Population in Australia:

- Pet cats: Approximately 3.8 million.
- Feral cats in urban areas: Around 0.7 million (up to 2.5 million estimated).
- Feral cats in bushland: 1.4 million on average, fluctuating between 0.27 and 0.7 cats per km², reaching up to 5.6 million after widespread rainfall events.

Impact of Cats in Australia:

- Predation: Daily kills include 3.2 million mammals (mostly native species), 1.2 million birds (almost all natives), 1.9 million reptiles (nearly all natives), 0.25 million frogs, and 3 million invertebrates.
- Annual toll: A feral cat in bushland takes around 791 mammals, birds, reptiles, and frogs per year, while a pet cat that roams can take up to 186 such species annually.
- Geographic Distribution: Cats occupy 99.9% of Australia's land area and 92% of its island area, making them more prevalent than other introduced mammals like foxes and rabbits.
- Threatened Species: Cats are the primary cause of decline and endangerment for many native species, with over 34 mammal extinctions since European settlement, contributing to the imperilment of at least 360 threatened reptiles, birds, and mammals worldwide, including half of island-restricted species.