Wild cats threaten the survival of over 100 native species in Australia. They have caused the extinction of some ground-dwelling birds and small to medium-sized mammals. They are a major cause of decline for many land-based endangered animals such as the bilby, bandicoot, bettong and numbat. Many native animals are struggling to survive so reducing the number killed by this introduced predator will allow their populations to grow.
Challenges in controlling wild cats
Control of wild cats is challenging as they are found in very low densities over large home ranges and are shy, making them difficult to locate.
The current control methods of shooting and trapping feral cats are quite difficult, expensive and time-consuming and require skilled staff. The most effective form of feral cat control over large areas is poison baiting.
Poison baits intended for wild cats must be laid on the ground (as cats, unlike other feral species such as foxes, will not dig up a buried bait).