Kangaroo Island Cat Control Committee

Feral cats are frequently seen crossing roads or feeding on road kills. They are spotted on the farms and scrub fringes. You can go feral cat spotting around the community rubbish tip where they are doing a community service.

Once away from these obvious and frequented areas the feral cats become more difficult to spot. A lot of bushwalkers report seldom if ever seeing a feral cat on their excursions.

As biologist working in the field nearly every day, we do not frequently see cats. They are elusive and shy. What we do find is fresh cat scat.

Since the 1950's there have been many biological surveys on Kangaroo Island. Much of this work concentrated on native species but scientist keep records and make notes about ferals as well. There is a large mass of unpublished data from CSIRO researchers, museum parties, university studies and independent researchers documenting a wide range of cat facts from Kangaroo Island.

Kangaroo Island has a long history of quiet but persistent community work with feral cats. On farms and bush properties people have been managing feral cats and keeping records. Their records and recollections give us an overview of some bits of feral cat history.

Wild cats around the world are fascinating and amazing creatures. They are adaptable. They constantly develop new strategies to cope with changing circumstances. Cats species alter feeding habits to suit shortages and long term changes in preferred diets. Feral cats are equally interesting and adaptable.

Collecting and analysing fresh cat scat can indicate a lot about cat habits. We began feral cat surveys in 1980 as part of a long term study of Little Penguin populations around KI. One hundred and ten penguin study areas were established around the island coastline and have been monitored for twenty three years. Among the many things recorded was predation on penguins. A number of animals feed on penguins including feral cats.

Fresh feral cat scats are routinely collected from more than sixty percent of the study areas. Fresh cat kills of penguins have been recorded at seventy-two study sites. Many sites have repeat data of cat kills.

Of the 110 study sites, 80 percent are away from people, coastal shacks or settled areas. Most of the sites require walking rather than vehicle access. Data shows feral cats have spread completely around the KI coastline and well beyond settled areas.

Routine field work in off the beaten track areas of the island show the presence of feral cats in most remote areas of native bushland. Feral cats often survive fire by sheltering underground in caves and mallee root burrows. They are scavengers and hunters in fresh burn areas and regrowth. Native habitats provide food and shelter for expanding populations of feral cats.

Fresh cat scats collected throughout the year show trends in food sources. There are distinct periods when specific foods are taken. Fresh scats are dried and then separated. Samples of hair, feather, scale, skin and bone are matched with specimens from a reference collection and other data bases. When scats are routinely collected from "marking posts" we get an indication of diet from individuals.

Feral cats on Kangaroo Island are generally lean and active. Studies measuring the metabolic rate and energy turnover of feral cats has given a good indication of what is needed to live off the land. Feral cats have larger appetites than domestic cats that don't have to work for a living.

For more information about what a feral cat on Kangaroo Island eats, check out the food species list presented in the proceedings of the Feral Cat Seminar Program February 2003, Kingscote Kangaroo Island. It is available on line at http://www.echidna.edu.au/projects/feral.htm

Summary by Mike McKelvey
Pelican Lagoon Research Centre
Kangaroo Island 5222
57.0204