An international comparison of the attitudes of urban people regarding predation by pet cats

Hall, C. M., Adams, N. A., Bradley, J. S., Bryant, K. A., Davis, A. A., Dickman, C. R., ... & Pollock, K. H. (2016). Community Attitudes and Practices of Urban Residents Regarding Predation by Pet Cats on Wildlife: An International Comparison. PLoS One, 11(4), e0151962.

International differences in practices and attitudes regarding pet cats' interactions with wildlife were assessed by surveying citizens from at least two cities in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, the USA, China and Japan. Predictions tested were: (i) cat owners would agree less than non-cat owners that cats might threaten wildlife, (ii) cat owners value wildlife less than non-cat owners, (iii) cat owners are less accepting of cat legislation/restrictions than non-owners, and (iv) respondents from regions with high endemic biodiversity (Australia, New Zealand, China and the USA state of Hawaii) would be most concerned about pet cats threatening wildlife. Everywhere non-owners were more likely than owners to agree that pet cats killing wildlife were a problem in cities, towns and rural areas.

Cat husbandry practices in different countries. (a) Percentage of households that own one, two or more than two cats (b) Percentage of cats kept in different conditions of confinement (c) Percentage of desexed cats. (d) Percentage of cats that have ever caught vertebrate prey.

Agreement amongst non-owners was highest in Australia (95%) and New Zealand (78%) and lowest in the UK (38%). Irrespective of ownership, over 85% of respondents from all countries except China (65%) valued wildlife in cities, towns and rural areas. Non-owners advocated cat legislation more strongly than owners except in Japan. Australian non-owners were the most supportive (88%), followed by Chinese non-owners (80%) and Japanese owners (79.5%). The UK was least supportive (non-owners 43%, owners 25%). Many Australian (62%), New Zealand (51%) and Chinese owners (42%) agreed that pet cats killing wildlife in cities, towns and rural areas was a problem, while Hawaiian owners were similar to the mainland USA (20%).

Percentage agreement of cat owners (dark blue) and non-owners (light blue) in each country to eight survey items: (a) There is a need for cat legislation (b) All cats should be kept in at night time (c) Cats should be kept on their owner's property at all times (d) It is important to have wildlife in cities, towns and rural areas (e) Pet cats killing wildlife in cities, towns and rural areas is a serious problem (f) Pet cats on farms are harmful to wildlife (g) Pet cats in nature reserves are harmful to wildlife (h) Except for a cat owned by a breeder, all cats should be desexed.

Thus high endemic biodiversity might contribute to attitudes in some, but not all, countries. Husbandry practices varied internationally, with predation highest where fewer cats were confined. Although the risk of wildlife population declines caused by pet cats justifies precautionary action, campaigns based on wildlife protection are unlikely to succeed outside Australia or New Zealand. Restrictions on roaming protect wildlife and benefit cat welfare, so welfare is a better rationale.

Feral cat predation on seabirds on Japanese islands

KAWAKAMI, K., & FUJITA, M. (2004). Feral cat predation on seabirds on Hahajima, the Bonin Islands, southern Japan. Ornithological Science, 3(2), 155-158.



The feral cats in the Bonin Islands are the cause ofgreat concern in relation to the conservation of native birds. Among the species found dead during this study, Tristram’s Storm-Petrel is listed as‘Vulnerable’ in the Japanese Red Data Book, so it isespecially urgent to take measures to conserve them. Many other threatened seabirds such as Matsudaira’s Storm-Petrel O. matsudairae and Audubon’s Shearwater P.lherminieri bannermani also breed in the Bonin Islands and they sometimes accidentally land on the ground in bad weather making them vulnerable to cat attacks. Thus, it is necessary to clarify the extent of feral cat predation in the islands and to control the cat population.

Cats and dogs among the threats to declining flying fox in Japan

Vincenot, C. E., Koyama, L., & Russo, D. (2015). Near Threatened? First Report of Unsuspected Human-Driven Decline Factors in the Ryukyu Flying Fox (Pteropus dasymallus) in Japan. Mammalian Biology-Zeitschrift für Säugetierkunde.

Japan hosts the largest population of the threatened Ryukyu flying fox (Pteropus dasymallus), which, in Taiwan, suffered a drastic decline leading to local extinctions and, in the Philippines, remains only on three small islands. Conservation of the species in Japan is therefore crucial. National and international assessments have been based only on local anthropogenic factors, such as habitat degradation, electrocution on power lines, and accidental entanglements.

Using face-to-face interviews of farmers of the Yaeyama islands (eastern part of the Ryukyu archipelago), we discovered that other significant human-driven causes of decline were overlooked in assessments. Most importantly, we report here for the first time on the illegal killing of this species by farmers because it feeds on crops. The bat has been killed by intense poisoning, beating, and netting. Other cases of illegal infringement of animal welfare principles by the general population were also encountered (i.e. confinement and mistreatment) but could not be quantified. Furthermore, we also determined the historical use of flying fox meat as a food source, which has also never been documented before. Finally, we identified emerging threats that were previously neglected in the assessments of the species’ conservation status, namely predation by feral or semi-feral cats and dogs, whose populations have been booming in recent years. These unexpected factors, especially the ongoing killing of P.d. yayeyamae, call into question the IUCN downlisting (EN- > NT) decided in 2008, when poisoning campaigns were actually culminating, and lead us to recommend the initiation of conservation actions (particularly population monitoring), education campaigns, as well as the provision of technical assistance to farmers in need of it.

A Feral Cat hunting for a Streaked Shearwater chick

SHIOZAKI,Tatsuya,  Masaki SHIRAI, Masato OSUGI, Maki YAMAMOTO, and Ken YODA. 2014. Predation by Feral Cat on Streaked Shearwater chicks on Awashima. Jpn J Ornithol 63(1) 2014, doi:10.3838/jjo.63.1

Feral Cats in the Ogasawara Islands

from http://www.japanprobe.com

Last week, the Ogasawara Islands were named a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site:

The island chain, which has never been connected with a continent, has been dubbed the “Galapagos of the Orient” because animals and plants there have undergone unique evolutionary processes–similar to wildlife on the Galapagos Islands.

In particular, 100 of the 106 species of land snails found on the islands are indigenous.

The islands, which include Chichijima and Hahajima islands, are regarded as the only place in the world where geological features visible from the ground show how an archipelago is formed when oceanic plates bump against each other.

Conservation groups have been working hard to protect the islands’ unique ecosystem. One conservation project involves the capture of feral cats, descendants of pets that humans brought to the island

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Domestic cats outcompete endemic endangered Iriomote cat

Watanabe, S., Nakanishi, N., & Izawa, M. (2003). Habitat and prey resource overlap between the Iriomote cat Prionailurus iriomotensis and introduced feral cat Felis catus based on assessment of scat content and distribution. Mammal Study, 28(1), 47-56.

The Iriomote cat Prionailurus iriomotensis occurs only on Iriomote Island in the Ryukyu Archipelago of southern Japan. The population is estimated at 100 individuals and is on the decline. We examined resource overlap for prey and habitat between this species and introduced cats Felis catus by scat census and analysis of scat contents. The distribution of scats was completely different between the two species. The distribution of scats from Iriomote cats was associated with environmental factors such as vegetation types and terrain conditions, while the distribution of scats from feral cats mainly depended on locations of garbage dumps. Although the feral cat heavily utilized human rubbish, it also preyed upon thirteen species of native animals, ten of which were also used by Iriomote cats. From 1997 to 2001, the number of observed scats from Iriomote cats declined significantly, while feral cat scat became more common. Feral cats on Iriomote Island still depend on humans, but the expansion of their distribution into habitats of Iriomote cats may increase the competition for prey and habitat resources in the future.

3/4 spp of endemics on Amami preyed by feral dogs and cats

Okubo, C., Hirao, S., & Ishikawa, M. 2014. Quantifying predation by feral cats and dogs on threatened native mammals on Amami island, Japan. Singapore International Science Challenge Proceedings 2013

Amami Island, part of the Ryukyu Archipelago in Japan, is known for high levels of diversity and endemism. However, many species are now globally threatened with extinction, especially due to predation by feral animals. We surveyed prey species based on analysis of fecal samples of feral cats and dogs and present evidence that 74.3% of endemic species are being preyed upon. We investigated eating habits of feral cats and dogs in Amami Island by directly analyzing their droppings. Identification of prey animals was based on fur and bone fragments in droppings confirmed that many threatened species are consumed not only by feral dogs but also cats. Our study shows that the introduced animals are likely to adversely affect Amami’s terrestrial ecosystems.

Bird predation by domestic cats on Hahajima Is.

Kawakami, K., & Higuchi, H. (2002). Bird predation by domestic cats on Hahajima Island, Bonin Islands, Japan. Ornithological Science, 1(2), 143-144.

Authors urge to eradicate feral cats on Hahajima due to their impact on common and rare species of birds.

Citizen attitude toward stray cats in Japan

Uetake, K., Yamada, S., Yano, M., & Tanaka, T. (2013). A Survey of Attitudes of Local Citizens of a Residential Area Toward Urban Stray Cats in Japan. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, (ahead-of-print), 1-8.

This study surveyed the attitudes of local residents living in an urban area in Japan toward stray cats. An anonymous questionnaire asked local residents (359 houses) about their attitudes toward stray cats. Responses were received from126 houses (35%). Answers about nuisance, respondents' actions, and actions to be taken with regard to stray cats did not differ by place or type of residence of respondents. More than one third (36.7 ± 16.6%) of the respondents answered that the “bad smell of the feces and urine” was a nuisance. Respondents who lived in detached houses tended to like cats compared with those who lived in condominiums. Respondents who liked cats took care of cats more frequently, whereas those who disliked cats chased cats away and prevented their intrusion into their houses and land. However, it is noteworthy that one third or more (minimum value: 37.8%) of respondents of all kinds answered that neutering is one effective way to suppress the population of stray cats.

Cats vs. birds in Japan

[PDF] de unh.edu

Takahashi, M. A. (2004). Cats v. Birds in Japan: How to Reconcile Wildlife Conservation and Animal Protection. Geo. Int'l Envtl. L. Rev., 17, 135.