Another sobering reminder of the toll domestic and feral cats take on Australia’s native wildlife has surfaced, as the nation’s most populous state moves closer to introducing stricter pet containment laws.
This week, a vet in Wollongong, on the NSW South Coast, shared yet another casualty of a cat attack, urging owners to keep their animals indoors. The bandicoot was presented to the Austinmer and Helensburgh Veterinary Hospital “in shock” after being found in a resident’s garden. “After veterinary examination, it was found to have wounds consistent with a cat attack,” the clinic wrote online.
“Thankfully, X-rays showed he was fracture-free. His wounds were flushed and cleaned, and the bandicoot was able to head straight into care with a local WIRES volunteer.”
“Billy the bandicoot was lucky. Sadly, most end up needing to be put to sleep with cat attack injuries.”
Cats kill two billion Aussie animals each year
This heartbreaking discovery is just the latest in a long line of similar incidents across the country, with cats responsible for killing an estimated two billion animals annually, including around 1.4 billion native mammals, birds, reptiles and frogs. Australian National University research found feral cats kill an average of 740 animals per year.
In Greater Sydney alone, it’s estimated that roaming pet cats kill approximately 66 million native animals, according to the Invasive Species Council. The Council’s Jack Gough has been campaigning hard for a national approach when it comes to feral and domestic cat containment. He spoke to Yahoo and called for a joint national action plan.
“We know that feral cats and roaming pet cats are incredible hunters, incredible killers, and have had this enormous toll on wildlife,” he recently said.
“Over 20 of our mammal species have gone extinct, with cats being the major driver of extinction. Over 200 species that are listed as on the brink of extinction have feral cats as one of the key threats to their survival.”
The little marsupial will now be rehabilitated at a volunteer centre. Source: Austinmer and Helensburgh Veterinary Hospital
‘Billy’ the bandicoot was found ‘in shock’ but miraculously suffered no serious injuries. Source: Austinmer and Helensburgh Veterinary Hospital
What did the review into NSW pet laws examine?
These tragic statistics have prompted the NSW government to review its pet laws, particularly cat management policies regarding containment and desexing. Under the current legislation, local councils lack the authority to enforce cat containment or curfews, allowing pet cats to roam freely.
In contrast, other jurisdictions like Victoria have empowered councils to implement cat containment laws, with over half adopting such measures. The ACT has also mandated cat containment territory-wide. Advocates argue that NSW should follow suit to better protect its native fauna.
The review also explored the topic of mandatory desexing, with NSW currently requiring cat owners to obtain an annual permit for non-desexed cats, but there is no uniform statewide requirement for desexing at this stage.
The public consultation period for the review closed on May 4, and the government is now analysing the submissions and will consider potential legislative changes based on the feedback received.
Controlling feral cat populations in Australia has cost over $18 billion, making them the most expensive invasive species in the country.
Love Australia’s weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week’s best stories.
