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NATIVE ANIMAL NETWORK ASSOCIATION News Clips |
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Avoiding a cat-astrophe September is Biodiversity month. Time to reflect on some alarming statistics. Did you know that 80% of Australia’s animals are found nowhere else on earth, or that half of Australia’s land-based birds are predicted to become extinct by the end of the century? There are things we can do, starting with the way we manage our pets. Most people these days are aware of the huge damage being inflicted on our wildlife by feral animals including cats, dogs, foxes and pigs. National Parks & Wildlife estimate that there are over twelve million feral cats in Australia, each eating up to five percent of its bodyweight each day. Cats are also known to spread a disease called toxoplasmosis, which can be fatal to many species of wildlife. What is not so well known is that domestic (pet) cats, and to a lesser extent dogs, are also responsible for the death of many native animals. This is particularly true in rural and fringe communities – which includes most of the Shoalhaven. Independent studies verify the impact of domestic animals, and volunteers from NANA (Native Animal Network Association) see evidence of this every week. Most wildlife attacked by pets are killed outright or never reported. Of the ones that do make it into care, many are so badly damaged that they do not survive more than a day or so after the attack. The victims include species of birds, lizards, possums and gliders. Cats are a particular problem because they are naturally efficient hunters, and because they are nocturnal. This means they hunt at night, at the same time most native animals are active. It is vital for the welfare of our wildlife that cats are kept indoors at night. While putting bells on cats does help a little, it will not stop them from killing. Pet owners have a legal responsibility to keep their dogs and cats under control, and doing so helps protect local wildlife, the pets themselves, and relationships with your neighbours! Cats can happily live in specially built cat-runs, which are relatively inexpensive to make. Having cats desexed also helps by reducing the number of unwanted kittens, and often makes male cats (toms) less aggressive. As well as protecting wildlife, these suggestions will also help keep your pets safe, as many injuries to pets happen when they are roaming uncontrolled – particularly at night.
You can find out more by visiting the NANA website. Information is also available from the National Parks & Wildlife Service, Community Biodiversity Network (www.cbn.org.au) , The Humane Society (02 9973 1728) the RSPCA and the Cat Fanciers Association. You can find links to most of these organisations on the NANA website. | ||
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