There is a big difference between a feral and a stray cat.
A feral cat is a cat that has been born to other ferals or from stray cats; these ferals are unaccustomed to human interaction. Stray cats are cats, which are socialized cats who no longer live in homes, but could potentially be reintroduced successfully.
Feral cats are found all over Australia in all habitats. They have caused the extinction of some species and is thought to have contributed to the disappearance of many ground-dwelling birds and mammals.
Cat management is difficult due to the lack of effective and humane control techniques.
Publications
Australian Wildlife Conservancy
Department of the Environment
- A bait efficacy trial for the management of feral cats on Christmas Island – 2010
- A bait efficacy trial for the management of feral cats on Dirk Hartog Island – 2009
- Evaluation of camera trap sampling designs used to determine change in occupancy rate and abundance of feral cats (Alan Robley et al) (link is external) – 2010
- The feral cat (Felis catus) – Fact sheet, 2011
- Field assessment of the Curiosity® bait for management of Feral Cats after fire at Wilsons Promonory National Park (link is external)
- Field efficacy testing Curiosity® bait for feral cats Karijini National Park, Western Australia, 2013
- Field efficacy testing Curiosity® bait for feral cats Roxby Downs, South Australia, 2014
- Field testing Curiosity® feral cat bait Flinders Ranges – 2012
- Field trial to compare baiting efficacy of Eradicat® and Curiosity® baits – 2011
- Identification of sites of high conservation priority impacted by feral cats – 2010
- Overview of the impact of feral cats on Australian native fauna – 1996
- Review of methods used to estimate the abundance of feral cats – 2005
- Threat abatement plan for predation by feral cats – 2015
- Threat abatement plan for predation by feral cats – Background – 2015
