Catastrophic

The late Tasmanian Cat Management Plan

Cats arrived in Tasmania in the 1800s as both mousers and companions to sailors.
They were considered valuable in warding off rabbits and rodents and quickly became widespread.
Of course, they did not restrict themselves to hearth and home; with tasty native animals on the fringes of early settlements, cats soon spread into the bush.
Before long, feral cat populations began to flourish.
They continue to be a significant problem, and one that is difficult to solve on the main island of Tasmania.
Eradicating feral cats is far more achievable on smaller islands.
On Three Hummock Island, recent data shows that the strategic deployment of Felixer grooming traps has successfully halved feral cat activity, providing a vital lifeline for the hooded plover.
Similar intensive efforts are underway on Bruny Island, where thermal shooting and Felixer traps are being used to protect the eastern quoll, alongside a feasibility study for a cat-proof barrier fence at The Neck.
The Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre is leading the cultural and ecological restoration of lungtalanana (Clarke Island), integrating traditional land management with modern technology to create a safe haven for repatriated native species, including the long-nosed potoroo and New Holland mouse.
Feral cat eradication will protect species like Lewin’s rail, swift parrot, and hooded plover from predation by cats.
These projects are not only achieving local successes but are also refining the specialised firmware needed to eventually deploy these technologies safely on the Tasmanian mainland.

On the home front, domestic cats are also problematic; they excel at being both pets and predators.
Tasmanian wildlife evolved without cats and is thus poorly equipped to cope with the threats they present.
Roaming domestic cats in concert with feral cats means that the pressure on wildlife is much greater: the domestic situation is easier to tackle.
The state government is overhauling the Tasmanian Cat Management Plan (TCMP) and people have until May 15 to submit their thoughts and suggestions on the management of both domestic and feral cats.
“This is about more than just sorting feral cats; it’s about key cat management priorities such as welfare, community support, protecting the environment and building collaborative partnerships,” said Gavin Pearce MP, Minister for Primary Industries and Water.
The plan was scheduled to begin two years ago.
Two major issues in the discussion are the containment of pet cats and registration.
Both these suggestions will be controversial in view of costs involved for pet-owners.
Peter McGlone from the Tasmanian Conservation Trust told ABC radio that he did not support cat registration.
“Microchipping functionally does everything that registration does and does it better.
“Registration costs many times more to implement through councils normally, than you’ll actually earn from the registration fees,” he said.
The difficulties involved in creating a cat enclosure for the frail or elderly need to be recognised and assistance made available.
At present, in the Huon Valley, cats aged four months and over are required to be desexed and microchipped (with some exceptions), there are no containment rules, and there is a limit of four cats over the age of four months per property without a permit.
The Department of Natural Resources and Environment states:
“A cat that is allowed to roam will have a negative impact on Tasmania’s native wildlife.
“Cats are opportunistic hunters, they will hunt when the opportunity arises, not because they are hungry.”
And cats like to roam; Kingborough Council tracked Tic-Tac, a local cat, and found that not only did he roam more than a kilometre from home, he entered off-lead dog areas and crossed busy roads.

For further information and to submit feedback by May 15, go to: http://tiny.cc/feral