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Feline Predatory Behaviour (view source)
Revision as of 10:40, 29 January 2014
, 10:40, 29 January 2014no edit summary
{{KeyPoints
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* ''Felis silvestris'' is native to Europe, and would exist here without human intervention.
* The impact of this species on wild bird and mammal species must be recognised.
* However, the relative size of the feral population, the impact of climate and public policy responsibilities for 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, and vice versa.
* Increasing bird numbers by feeding birds and providing an insect and bird friendly garden does not appear to increase predation risk.
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==Prey Selection==
==Prey Selection==
Cats most commonly catch '''prey that is around 1% of their own bodyweight'''<ref name = "Pearre">Pearre, S. Maass, R. (1998) Trends in the prey size-based trophic niches of feral House Cats ''Felis catus'' L. ''Mammal Review''. 28(3), 125-139.</ref> , with 80% of reported prey caught being <50g in weight according to one study<ref name ="Brio">Brio, Z., Lanszki, J., Szemethy, L., Heltai, M., Randi, E. (2005) Feeding habits of feral domestic cats (''Felis catus''), wild cats (''Felis silvestris'') and their hybrids: trophic niche overlap among cat groups in Hungary. ''Journal of Zoology''. 266, 187-196.</ref>. In an observational study of feline predatory behaviour in suburban nature preserve in New York, mammals and birds made up 52% and 23% of kills respectively, with an overall '''success rate for killing of 13%''' <ref name ="Kays">Kays, R. W., DeWan, A.A. (2004) Ecological impact of inside/outside house cats around a suburban nature preserve. ''Animal Conservation''. 7, 273-283.</ref>. Cats show preferences in terms of their predatory targets, and are tolerant of '''high failure rates in predatory attacks'''.
Cats most commonly catch '''prey that is around 1% of their own bodyweight'''<ref name = "Pearre">Pearre, S. Maass, R. (1998) Trends in the prey size-based trophic niches of feral House Cats ''Felis catus'' L. ''Mammal Review''. 28(3), 125-139.</ref> , with 80% of reported prey caught being <50g in weight according to one study<ref name ="Brio">Brio, Z., Lanszki, J., Szemethy, L., Heltai, M., Randi, E. (2005) Feeding habits of feral domestic cats (''Felis catus''), wild cats (''Felis silvestris'') and their hybrids: trophic niche overlap among cat groups in Hungary. ''Journal of Zoology''. 266, 187-196.</ref>. In an observational study of feline predatory behaviour in suburban nature preserve in New York, mammals and birds made up 52% and 23% of kills respectively, with an overall '''success rate for killing of 13%''' <ref name ="Kays">Kays, R. W., DeWan, A.A. (2004) Ecological impact of inside/outside house cats around a suburban nature preserve. ''Animal Conservation''. 7, 273-283.</ref>. Cats show preferences in terms of their predatory targets, and are tolerant of '''high failure rates in predatory attacks'''.
It appears that improving a garden to attract and support bird numbers does not increase the general risk of predation, and cat owners should be encouraged to do so.
It appears that improving a garden to attract and support bird numbers does not increase the general risk of predation, and cat owners should be encouraged to do so.
==References==
==References==