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{{KeyPoints

{{KeyPoints

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|points = <br>

* ''Felis silvestris'' is species native to Europe, and would exist here without human intervention.

* ''Felis silvestris'' is a species native to Europe, and would exist here without human intervention.

* The impact of this species on wild bird and mammal species must be recognised.

* The impact of this species on wild bird and mammal species must be recognised.

* However, the relative size of the wild and feral cat populations, the impact of climate and public policy responsibilities for Trap-neuter-return (TNR) programmes should be taken into account when making recommendations to control the activities of pet cats.

* However, the relative size of the wild and feral cat populations, the impact of climate and public policy responsibilities for Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programmes should be taken into account when making recommendations to control the activities of pet cats.

* The impact on birds and mammals should not be generalised from countries where ''Felis silvestris'' is native to those where it is not (such as the USA), and vice versa.

* The impact on birds and mammals should not be generalised from countries where ''Felis silvestris'' is native to those where it is not (such as the USA), and vice versa.

* Increasing bird numbers by feeding birds and providing an insect and bird friendly garden does not appear to increase predation risk.  

* Increasing bird numbers by feeding birds and providing an insect and bird friendly garden does not appear to increase predation risk.  

==Feeding preferences==

==Feeding preferences==

Cats are obligate carnivores, and exhibit '''novelty preference''';  they attracted to prey that is different from what they have eaten in the recent past. It is speculated that this “monotony effect” helps to ensure a balanced diet <ref name="Bradshaw">Bradshaw, J.W.S (1992) The Behaviour of the Domestic Cat. CABI, Oxford, UK.</ref>. Since cats cat hunt independently and catch only small prey that provide a single meal for an individual, they '''do not share food'''. Feeding is a solitary activity that carries '''no social meaning''' for cats. Cats eat 10-20 small meals each day, according to the availability of prey.

Cats are obligate carnivores, and exhibit '''novelty preference''';  they are attracted to prey that is different from what they have eaten in the recent past. It is speculated that this “monotony effect” helps to ensure a balanced diet <ref name="Bradshaw">Bradshaw, J.W.S (1992) The Behaviour of the Domestic Cat. CABI, Oxford, UK.</ref>. Since cats hunt independently and catch only small prey that provide a single meal for an individual, they '''do not share food'''. Feeding is a solitary activity that carries '''no social meaning''' for cats. Cats eat 10-20 small meals each day, according to the availability of prey.

==Latrine use During Hunting==

==Latrine use During Hunting==

==The Impact of Predation==

==The Impact of Predation==

===Impact in the UK===

===Impact in the UK===

In a study of domestic cat predation in the UK, the estimated mean predation rate was estimated at 18.3 per cat per year, with 65% of households reporting no prey brought back in a given year (falling to 22% when averaged over several seasons <ref name="Thomas">Thomas, R.L., Fellowes, M.D.E, Baker, P.J. (2012) Spatio-Temporal Variation in Predation by Urban Domestic Cats (''Felis catus'') and the Acceptability of Possible Management Actions in the UK. ''PLOS One''. 7(11), 1-13.</ref>. The same study found that only 20% of cats returned 4 or more dead prey annually, and that the numbers of five bird species was not correlated with level of their predation. The predation of robins was only just significantly correlated with observed numbers (p=0.046). This may relate to some aspect of the vulnerability of this species when feeding and nesting, but the result would also become insignificant when measures are applied to counteract the problem of multiple comparisons in the study. There was also a significant inverse correlation between mean annual predation rate, cat population and housing density; the number of prey returned was lower in highly residential areas with high cat population density<ref name ="Thomas" />.

In a study of domestic cat predation in the UK, the estimated mean predation rate was estimated at 18.3 per cat per year, with 65% of households reporting no prey brought back in a given year (falling to 22% when averaged over several seasons <ref name="Thomas">Thomas, R.L., Fellowes, M.D.E, Baker, P.J. (2012) Spatio-Temporal Variation in Predation by Urban Domestic Cats (''Felis catus'') and the Acceptability of Possible Management Actions in the UK. ''PLOS One''. 7(11), 1-13.</ref>. The same study found that only 20% of cats returned 4 or more dead prey annually, and that the numbers of five bird species was not correlated with level of their predation. The predation of robins was only just significantly correlated with observed numbers (p=0.046). This may relate to some aspect of the vulnerability of this species when feeding and nesting, but the result would also become insignificant when measures are applied to counteract the problem of multiple comparisons in the study. There was also a significant inverse correlation between mean annual predation rate, cat population and housing density; the number of prey returned was lower in highly residential areas with a high cat population density<ref name ="Thomas" />.

===Impact in other countries===

===Impact in Other Countries===

''Felis silvestris'' is a native species in most of Africa, Europe, central Asia, India, China and Mongolia. In these regions it forms a natural part of local ecology. Due to mutual tolerance between cats and humans, the density of cat populations can be much higher within and around human communities than in rural areas.

''Felis silvestris'' is a native species in most of Africa, Europe, central Asia, India, China and Mongolia. In these regions it forms a natural part of local ecology. Due to mutual tolerance between cats and humans, the density of cat populations can be much higher within and around human communities than in rural areas.

''Felis silvestris'' is not a native species in the Americas or Australia, so that the impact it might have on wildlife in those regions may be considered much more serious and intrusive to local ecology. For example, it is estimated that i the USA free-ranging domestic cats kill 1.4-3.7 billion birds and 6.9-20.7 billion small mammals each year <ref name ="Loss">Loss, S.R., Will, T., Marra, P.P. (2013) The impact of free-ranging domestic cats on wildlife of the United States. ''Nature Communications''. 4 (1396).</ref>.  

''Felis silvestris'' is not a native species in the Americas or Australia, so the impact it might have on wildlife in these regions may be considered much more serious and intrusive to local ecology. For example, it is estimated that in the USA free-ranging domestic cats kill 1.4-3.7 billion birds and 6.9-20.7 billion small mammals each year <ref name ="Loss">Loss, S.R., Will, T., Marra, P.P. (2013) The impact of free-ranging domestic cats on wildlife of the United States. ''Nature Communications''. 4 (1396).</ref>.  

This raises the issue of the impact of pet vs. feral populations. No accurate current estimate of the UK feral cat population is available, but the total population was estimated at 6 million in 1980, with 1.2 million being feral <ref>Harris, S., Morris, P., Wray, S., Yalden, D. (1995) ''A Review of British Mammals: population estimates and conservation status of British mammals other than cetaceans'', Peterbourgh, U.K.: Joint Nature Conservation Committee.</ref><ref>Tabor, R. (1981) General biology of feral cats. In: The Ecology and Control of Feral Cats. The Universities Federation for Animal Welfare, Potters Bar.</ref>. The current estimate of the UK pet cat population is 8 million, according to the Pet Food Manufacturers Association, and the population of feral cats is likely to be lower in 2014 than in 1980 due to active TNR and rehoming programmes over the last 30 years. The situation in the UK is quite different from Australia and the USA:

This raises the issue of the impact of pet vs. feral populations. No accurate current estimate of the UK feral cat population is available, but the total cat population was estimated at 6 million in 1980, with 1.2 million feral cats<ref>Harris, S., Morris, P., Wray, S., Yalden, D. (1995) ''A Review of British Mammals: population estimates and conservation status of British mammals other than cetaceans'', Peterbourgh, U.K.: Joint Nature Conservation Committee.</ref><ref>Tabor, R. (1981) General biology of feral cats. In: The Ecology and Control of Feral Cats. The Universities Federation for Animal Welfare, Potters Bar.</ref>. The current estimate of the UK pet cat population is 8 million, according to the Pet Food Manufacturers Association, and the population of feral cats is likely to be lower in 2014 than in 1980 due to active TNR and rehoming programmes over the last 30 years. The situation in the UK is quite different from Australia and the USA:

* Australia: 3 million pet cats, 10-20 million feral cats <ref>Jongman, E. C., Karlen, G.A. (1996) Trap, neuter and release programs for cats: a literature review on an alternative control method of feral cats in urban areas. Pp. 81-84, In: S. Hassett (ed.), ''Urban Animal Management Conference''. Australian Veterinary Association, Ltd.</ref><ref>Dickman, C.,Denny, E. 2010. Strategies to reduce conflict: managing feral and stray cats. Pp. 41-45 In: M. Tensen and B. Jones (eds.), ''Proceedings of the RSPCA Scientific Seminar'', Deakin West ACT, RSPCA Australia.</ref>

* Australia: 3 million pet cats, 10-20 million feral cats <ref>Jongman, E. C., Karlen, G.A. (1996) Trap, neuter and release programs for cats: a literature review on an alternative control method of feral cats in urban areas. Pp. 81-84, In: S. Hassett (ed.), ''Urban Animal Management Conference''. Australian Veterinary Association, Ltd.</ref><ref>Dickman, C.,Denny, E. 2010. Strategies to reduce conflict: managing feral and stray cats. Pp. 41-45 In: M. Tensen and B. Jones (eds.), ''Proceedings of the RSPCA Scientific Seminar'', Deakin West ACT, RSPCA Australia.</ref>

|date = June 26, 2014

|date = June 26, 2014

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[[Category:Normal Feline Behaviour]]

[[Category:Normal Feline Behaviour]]