A Survey of Public Opinion on Cat (Felis catus) Predation and the Future Direction of Cat Management in New Zealand

Walker, Jonathan E.; Bruce, Stephanie Jean; Dale, Arnja

doi:10.3390/ani7070049

Cited by 43 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…In New Zealand's cities, around 35% of households have at least one cat—a rate similar to, or higher than, estimates from other countries (summarized and compared in van Heezik et al, ; see also Baldock, Alexander, & More, for Australia, 25%; Downes, Canty, & More, for Ireland, 10.4%; and Murray, Browne, Roberts, Whitmarsh, & Gruffydd‐Jones, for the United Kingdom, 26%). Public opinions where biodiversity conservation and cat ownership and welfare intersect vary dramatically depending on both the beliefs and attitudes of the respondent (Farnworth, Watson, & Adams, ; Peterson, Hartis, Rodriguez, Green, & Lepczyk, ) and the lifestyle of the cat (i.e., companion, stray or feral; Farnworth, Campbell, & Adams, ; Walker et al, ). In New Zealand, similar to other countries, there is a robust, ongoing, and emotional debate about mitigating the biodiversity impact of domestic cats (Morgan Foundation, ; Walker et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Research on the challenge cats pose to biodiversity conservation has, until now, largely focused on understanding cat habitat‐use and depredation (e.g., in New Zealand: Aguilar et al 2015; Kikillus et al, ; UK: Hanmer, Thomas, & Fellowes, ; USA: Loyd et al, ; Australia: Lilith, Calver, & Garkaklis, ). Research dedicated to the human dimension of changing cat owner behavior is comparatively uncommon but important (e.g., Gramza, Teel, VandeWoude, & Crooks, ; MacDonald, Milfont, & Gavin, ; McDonald, Farnworth, & Clements, ; McLeod, Hine, & Bengsen, ; McLeod, Hine, Bengsen, & Driver, ; Peterson et al, ; Walker et al, ). Proposed solutions have largely focused on changes to law and governance, gradually imposing greater constraints and obligations on cat ownership (Walker et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Research dedicated to the human dimension of changing cat owner behavior is comparatively uncommon but important (e.g., Gramza, Teel, VandeWoude, & Crooks, ; MacDonald, Milfont, & Gavin, ; McDonald, Farnworth, & Clements, ; McLeod, Hine, & Bengsen, ; McLeod, Hine, Bengsen, & Driver, ; Peterson et al, ; Walker et al, ). Proposed solutions have largely focused on changes to law and governance, gradually imposing greater constraints and obligations on cat ownership (Walker et al, ). However, these solutions do not resolve the conflict with cat owners, the risk of widespread non‐compliance, and the costs of enforcement.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Yet, pet ownership, particularly of cats, is on the rise, and especially high in cities (American Pet Products Association, 2018;Pet Food Manufacturers Association, 2018). There has emerged, therefore, a growing and high-profile conflict between cat ownership and biodiversity conservation (Loss, Will, Longcore, & Marra, 2018;Walker, Bruce, & Dale, 2017). A precautionary approach to managing cat predation may be warranted.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Public opinions where biodiversity conservation and cat ownership and welfare intersect vary dramatically depending on both the beliefs and attitudes of the respondent (Farnworth, Watson, & Adams, 2014;Peterson, Hartis, Rodriguez, Green, & Lepczyk, 2012) and the lifestyle of the cat (i.e., companion, stray or feral; Farnworth, Campbell, & Adams, 2011;Walker et al, 2017). In New Zealand, similar to other countries, there is a robust, ongoing, and emotional debate about mitigating the biodiversity impact of domestic cats (Morgan Foundation, 2013;Walker et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Prioritizing cat‐owner behaviors for a campaign to reduce wildlife depredation

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Farnworth

Heezik³

et al. 2019

Conservat Sci and Prac

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Behavior prioritization is underutilized but critical to the success of conservation campaigns. It provides an understanding of the target audience's values, transcending conflict, and informing the design of achievable and effective advocacy campaigns. Depredation by domestic cats may depress wildlife populations, leading to conflict between cat owners and conservationists. We surveyed veterinarians and cat owners at veterinary clinics to prioritize a list of nine cat‐management behaviors. Cat‐owner behaviors were ranked by their (a) likelihood of implementation and (b) current adoption rate by cat owners, (c) perceived effectiveness at reducing predation on wildlife, and (d) veterinarians' opinions about their impact on cat welfare. Bringing cats in at night, from before dusk until after dawn, was revealed to be the behavior most suited to a campaign to reduce cats' hunting. Behaviors ranked as more effective for conservation (e.g., 24‐hr cat confinement) were unlikely to be adopted by cat owners or not supported by veterinarians, whose expert and normative support may be critical to a campaign. Although more conservation‐effective behaviors received a lower priority, we discuss the repeated use of behavior prioritization to achieve incremental reductions in cat depredation by engaging with cat owners.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Prioritizing cat‐owner behaviors for a campaign to reduce wildlife depredation

Linklater

Farnworth

Heezik³

et al. 2019

Conservat Sci and Prac

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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Harnessing fear of predators and competitors as deterrents for an invasive predator

Yiu,

Suraci,

Norbury

et al. 2024

Ecosphere

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Manipulation of animal behavior is a powerful tool for nonlethal wildlife management where lethal control is not possible. Animal behavior is driven by motivations to acquire food and mates and to avoid predation, and animals utilize their sensory systems to obtain information and assess perceived risks. It is therefore possible to achieve management objectives by exploiting animal motivation and risk assessment by using sensory cues to trigger behavioral responses. Domestic cats (Felis catus) are invasive predators contributing to global biodiversity loss, but cat management is controversial because cats are valued as companion animals. To develop a nonlethal approach to reduce cat impacts on native biodiversity, we conducted playback experiments and manipulated risks perceived by cats using auditory cues from a predator (humans) and competitors (domestic dog Canis familiaris and cats). We tested the effectiveness of sound cues to induce fear behaviors and deter cats from food patches in captive and urban environments. Human playbacks protected the greatest proportion of food patches, were more likely to reduce time spent feeding, and induced fleeing responses and spatial avoidance to a greater degree than competitor or control treatments. Human playbacks had a similar impact on both captive and free‐roaming urban cats. Cat and dog playbacks were effective in protecting food patches but induced fewer fear responses. Habitat complexity reduced the level of perceived risk and cat responses. Our study demonstrated the efficacy of using audio playbacks as deterrents for cats, and we are currently integrating playbacks into a management tool to repel cats from areas where they are not wanted but lethal control is not feasible.

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‘I want you to want me’: How owners value cats' choices has implications for cat containment

Ovenden,

Bassett,

Sumner

2024

People and Nature

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Globally, cats are a common companion animal. Allowing companion cats to roam away from home can have negative impacts on native wildlife and cat welfare. A more contained cat lifestyle can limit the detrimental impacts of roaming; however, this continues to be an uncommon choice for cat owners in many countries. Communication strategies that focus on welfare benefits for cats have successfully motivated some owners to prevent their cats from roaming. However, little is known about other factors influencing owners' decisions about roaming, such as the owner–cat relationship and their cat's membership in the local community. We conducted five focus groups with 31 cat owners in Aotearoa New Zealand to understand these factors. Using thematic analysis, we identified three major themes that describe how owners view the impacts of cat containment on their relationship with their cat/s. First, finding a balance between enabling and restricting choices to ensure the cat's welfare is at the heart of the owner–cat relationship. Critically, the cat's choice to repeatedly return home reaffirms the owner–cat relationship. Second, striking the right balance in the provision of choice and ensuring welfare are contingent on the cat's characteristics. Owners providing their cat/s with the choice to leave home are perceived to be positively associated with enabling their freedom, independence and curiosity. Third, owners perceived cats to belong in many spaces occupied by humans outside of their property, despite most participants living near populations of significant threatened species. The choice to allow a cat to roam from home impacts cat welfare, the owner–cat relationship and membership in the local cat, human and wildlife community. Efforts to facilitate the shift to a contained cat lifestyle need to help owners provide choices for their cats that will meet their welfare needs and foster the owner–cat relationship. Locally relevant strategies that consider the owners' views as members of their community will likely be more successful. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

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A Survey of Public Opinion on Cat (Felis catus) Predation and the Future Direction of Cat Management in New Zealand

Cited by 43 publications

References 61 publications

Prioritizing cat‐owner behaviors for a campaign to reduce wildlife depredation

Prioritizing cat‐owner behaviors for a campaign to reduce wildlife depredation

Harnessing fear of predators and competitors as deterrents for an invasive predator

‘I want you to want me’: How owners value cats' choices has implications for cat containment

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