The animal welfare, environmental impact, pest control functions, and disease effects of free‐ranging cats can be generalized and all are grounds for humanely reducing their numbers

Abstract

Although the domestic cat Felis catus is implicated in multiple faunal extinctions and threatens many extant species, there is widespread, well‐funded advocacy for desexing unowned cats near human habitation and returning them to site to be fed by volunteers, arguing that this prevents euthanasia, is unlikely to be hazardous to wildlife or a public health risk, and controls non‐native rodents. To the contrary, we present unequivocal evidence that this approach harms cat welfare, does threaten wildlife and public health, and exacerbates rather than controls rodent problems. We argue instead that unowned cats near human habitation can be controlled effectively by intensive adoption and responsible euthanasia when necessary, supported by licensing and containment of adopted/owned cats.

Density and ecological drivers of free‐ranging cat abundance and activity in Madeira Island, Macaronesia

“…Our results reveal that the mountainous areas in the periphery of Madeira's capital are home to a substantial population of free‐ranging cats. Free‐ranging cats are a non‐native species with pronounced impacts on the conservation of multiple species protected under national and international laws (Carrete et al, 2022; Trouwborst et al, 2020; Calver et al, 2023) as well as on human health and local economies (e.g., Legge et al, 2020; Neves et al, 2020; Szentivanyi et al, in press). They are particularly dangerous to island biodiversity (Medina et al, 2011) and in the recently approved Montreal Biodiversity Framework, Portugal and other nations agreed to “(…) eradicate or control invasive alien species on islands and other priority sites” (Convention of Biological Diversity, 2022) by 2030.…”