Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR)

Felis catus
(Felidae)

HEAR home  >  species info  >  vertebrates  >  Felis catus (Felidae)
(hints)
Species description or overview Taxonomy & nomenclature Impacts Prevention Control methods
Videos Distribution Books In the news Full-text articles
Experts Teacher resources Other resources    

Let us know if you have suggestions for additional references to add to this page.


Species description or overview

Feral cats: too long a threat to Hawaiian wildlife View info about Adobe Acrobat PDF format
"In Hawaii today, cats range from relatively high densities near sea level where abandoned pets are frequently fed by well-meaning animal-lovers, to sparse isolated populations in remote rain forests and even alpine areas on the islands of Maui and Hawaii. Cats kill songbirds, which nest, feed, and roost in trees, and ground nesting birds, such as quail and other introduced game birds. Native sea birds and other species that nest on the ground or in burrows are particularly vulnerable to predation by cats." (excerpted from document)

The feral cat (Felis silvestris) in Australia/New Zealand
Information about the feral cat (Felis silvestris) in Australia/New Zealand is provided by authorities and Canberra University in Australia.

Felis catus description and ecology from GISD (ISSG)
A species description and information about the ecology of Felis catus as an invasive species is provided from the Global Invasive Species Database (GISD). GISD was created and is maintained by IUCN's Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG).


Taxonomy & nomenclature

Felis catus information from ITIS
The Integrated Taxonomic Information System ITIS provides authoritative taxonomic information on Felis catus, as well as other plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.


Impacts

Residents on guard after attack by feral cats
A pack of feral cats attacked a woman and her dog in Moilili, Oahu (Star Bulletin, 7/13/2001).

Feral cats: too long a threat to Hawaiian wildlife View info about Adobe Acrobat PDF format
"In Hawaii today, cats range from relatively high densities near sea level where abandoned pets are frequently fed by well-meaning animal-lovers, to sparse isolated populations in remote rain forests and even alpine areas on the islands of Maui and Hawaii. Cats kill songbirds, which nest, feed, and roost in trees, and ground nesting birds, such as quail and other introduced game birds. Native sea birds and other species that nest on the ground or in burrows are particularly vulnerable to predation by cats." (excerpted from document)

Domestic cat predation on birds and other wildlife View info about Adobe Acrobat PDF format
"Domestic cat predation on birds and other wildlife" highlights the devastating effects to birds and other wildlife caused by allowing domestic cats to roam free outdoors. This document was produced by the Cats Indoors! campaign of the American Bird Conservancy.

Invasive species in the Pacific: A technical review and draft regional strategy (2000) View info about Adobe Acrobat PDF format
The status of invasive plants, vertebrates, arthropods, molluscs, and crustaceans, and options for a regional invasive species strategy for the South Pacific are presented in this series of articles from the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme, 2000.

Cats Indoors!
The campaign for safer birds and cats is explained by the American Bird Conservancy.

Domestic cat predation in Hawaii
Feral cats threaten even remote populations of endangered bird species in Hawaii (American Bird Conservancy).

Predation by domestic cats in California, Florida, and Hawaii
Background: Domestic cat predation on wildlife is a serious conservation issue, particularly in California, Florida, and Hawaii. These states have: (1) sensitive ecosystems endangered by urban sprawl, especially in coastal areas; (2) the greatest numbers of threatened and endangered species in the U.S.; and (3) large numbers of free-roaming owned, stray, and feral domestic cats, partly due to warm climate allowing cats to breed year-round. This article contains general information on cat predation, as well as suggested activities for students.

Impacts of feral and free-ranging cats on bird species of conservation concern View info about Adobe Acrobat PDF format
Cat predation impacts on rare birds in the states of New York, New Jersey, Florida, California, and Hawaii are reviewed by the American Bird Conservancy.

Invasive predators: A synthesis of the past, present, and future View info about Adobe Acrobat PDF format
Effects of various invasive predators on prey populations are described in a synthesis from USDA APHIS.

Impacts of cats on two native Hawaiian seabirds on the island of Maui View info about Adobe Acrobat PDF format
Wedge-tailed shearwater and Bulwer's petrel colonies on Maui were affected by cat predation in the 1999 breeding season (Fern Duvall, personal communication).

Felis catus impact information from GISD (ISSG)
Impact information regarding Felis catus as an invasive species is provided from the Global Invasive Species Database (GISD). GISD was created and is maintained by IUCN's Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG).

Shearwater versus feral cats at Makena State Park
Cat predation on shearwaters is evident at burrows on Puu Olai, Makena, Maui (YouTube, 7/8/2008).


Prevention

CATS INDOORS!
Endangered Hawaiian birds threatened by cats and dangers to outdoor cats are reviewed by the American Bird Conservancy (Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources).


Control methods

Reducing feral cat threats to native wildlife in Hawaii (citation)
The citation for the feral cat report from the University of Hawaii at Hilo is on the HEAR bibliography site (Hess et al, 2008).

Felis catus management information from GISD (ISSG)
Management information for Felis catus as an invasive species is provided from the Global Invasive Species Database (GISD). GISD was created and is maintained by IUCN's Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG).


Videos

Shearwater versus feral cats at Makena State Park
Cat predation on shearwaters is evident at burrows on Puu Olai, Makena, Maui (YouTube, 7/8/2008).


Distribution

Distribution of Felis silvestris (Felidae) in the Hawaiian Islands as of 05/98
Information on zonation of reefs and species associated with each zone.

Invasive species in the Pacific: A technical review and draft regional strategy (2000) View info about Adobe Acrobat PDF format
The status of invasive plants, vertebrates, arthropods, molluscs, and crustaceans, and options for a regional invasive species strategy for the South Pacific are presented in this series of articles from the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme, 2000.

Felis catus worldwide distribution from GISD (ISSG)
Worldwide distribution information about Felis catus is provided from the Global Invasive Species Database (GISD). GISD was created and is maintained by IUCN's Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG).


Books

Turning the tide: The eradication of invasive species (proceedings of the International Conference on Eradication of Island Invasives)
Veitch, C.R. and M.N. Clout (eds.) . 2002. Turning the tide: The eradication of invasive species (proceedings of the International Conference on Eradication of Island Invasives). IUCN SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. vii + 414pp. ISBN: 2-8317-0682-3.

Mammals in Hawaii, second edition
Tomich, P. Quentin. 1986. Mammals in Hawaii, second edition. Bernice P. Bishop Museum Special Publication 76. Honolulu: Bishop Museum Press. 375 pp. ISBN: 0-93087-10-2.


In the news

Cat's ill, cats kill (Raising Islands Blog, 21 August 2007)
Bloggist Jan TenBruggencate discusses the impacts of feral cats on native bird populations.

Residents on guard after attack by feral cats
A pack of feral cats attacked a woman and her dog in Moilili, Oahu (Star Bulletin, 7/13/2001).

Officials frown on feeding feral felines
Large populations of feral animals that can cause health problems could be eliminated if kindhearted people would stop feeding them, says the state's Vector Control Branch. Problems with feral cats are discussed (Star Bulletin, 7/13/2001).


Full-text articles

"Managed" cat colonies: The wrong solution to a tragic problem View info about Adobe Acrobat PDF format
Alternatives to managed feral cat colonies are provided by the American Bird Conservancy.

The great outdoors is no place for cats View info about Adobe Acrobat PDF format
Outdoor cats face an extraordinary array of dangers, which are described by the American Bird Conservancy.

"Managed" cat colonies in Hawaii
The trap/neuter/release (TNR) program for cats in Hawaii is discussed by the American Bird Conservancy.

Impacts of feral and free-ranging cats on bird species of conservation concern View info about Adobe Acrobat PDF format
Cat predation impacts on rare birds in the states of New York, New Jersey, Florida, California, and Hawaii are reviewed by the American Bird Conservancy.

Invasive species in the Pacific: A technical review and draft regional strategy
South Pacific Regional Environmental Programme (SPREP). Sherley, Greg (ed.) . 2000. Invasive species in the Pacific: A technical review and draft regional strategy. Apia, Samoa: South Pacific Regional Environment Programme. ISBN: 982-04-0214-X.

Turning the tide: The eradication of invasive species (proceedings of the International Conference on Eradication of Island Invasives)
Veitch, C.R. and M.N. Clout (eds.) . 2002. Turning the tide: The eradication of invasive species (proceedings of the International Conference on Eradication of Island Invasives). IUCN SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. vii + 414pp. ISBN: 2-8317-0682-3.

Reducing feral cat threats to native wildlife in Hawaii (citation)
The citation for the feral cat report from the University of Hawaii at Hilo is on the HEAR bibliography site (Hess et al, 2008).

Feral cat colonies in Florida: The fur and feathers are flying View info about Adobe Acrobat PDF format
Impacts of feral cats on wildlife and legal considerations are covered in a report to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (2003, 43 pp).


Experts

Felis catus contacts from GISD (ISSG)
Contact information for experts on Felis catus as an invasive species is provided from the Global Invasive Species Database (GISD). GISD was created and is maintained by IUCN's Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG).


Teacher resources

American Bird Conservancy's "Cats Indoors!" Educator's Guide for Grades K-6 View info about Adobe Acrobat PDF format
Cat predation is a local and national issue. The American Bird Conservancy created this educator's guide to help acquaint students with this pervasive problem.


Other resources

"Cats Indoors!"
"Cats Indoors!", the Campaign for Safer Birds and Cats, was initiated by the American Bird Conservancy (ABC) to end the unnecessary suffering and death of birds and other wildlife caused by free-roaming domestic cats. Cats Indoors! seeks to educate cat owners, decision makers and the general public that free-roaming cats pose a significant risk to birds and other wildlife, suffer themselves, and pose a threat to human health. (excerpted from website)

Cats Indoors! information for veterinarians
American Bird Conservancy (ABC) has developed educational materials including the popular brochure Keeping Cats Indoors Isn't Just for the Birds, which explains in detail why cats should be kept indoors, and some simple suggestions on how to keep an indoor cat contented. The flyer, "Healthier, Safer: Indoors," gives tips on making an outdoor cat a happy indoor cat. You can order brochures and flyers to hand out at your practice, and download free resources such as a poster to display in your waiting room and numerous fact sheets.

Felis catus references from GISD (ISSG)
References regarding Felis catus as an invasive species is provided from the Global Invasive Species Database (GISD). GISD was created and is maintained by IUCN's Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG).


PDF icon Some documents posted on the HEAR website are in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. If your computer is not already set up to read these files, you can download the FREE Adobe Acrobat reader. You can set up most web browsers to automatically invoke this reader (as a "helper application" or "add-in") upon encountering documents of this type (refer to your browser's documentation for how to do this). download Acrobat reader


The Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk (HEAR) project was historically funded by the Pacific Basin Information Node (PBIN) of the National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) through PIERC (USGS) with support from HCSU (UH Hilo). More details are available online. Pacific Basin Information Node (PBIN) National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII)

species lists  ]    [  vertebrates  ]    [  HEAR home  ]

Comments?  Questions?  Send e-mail to: webmaster@hear.org

The content of this page is based on information last generated on 16 October 2017 by PT. The template for this page was created on 15 March 2004 by EMS, and was last updated on 20 February 2006 by PT. Valid HTML 4.01!