Researchers use a method called ‘observed predation’ to learn what free-ranging cats prey upon using the application of camera traps and animal-borne video
Cats are a part of our everyday lives. From casually acting like a cool flatmate to cute videos that get pumped into our social media feeds, cats have slowly but surely taken over the world.
According to estimates, there are 600 million to 1 billion cats living in the world today. The United States (US) has the highest number of cats, followed by China and Russia.
But apart from gazillion Instagram pages and pop culture influence, a new study suggests the overpopulation of our feline friends may be causing a significant conservation threat.
A study published in the journal Nature on December 12, 2023, showed that free-ranging domestic cats are one of the most invasive species in the world, causing widespread diseases and driving some of their prey species to the brink of extinction.
The study, done by researchers from Auburn University in the US, also points out that islands contain three times more species of conservation concern eaten by cats than continents do.
The researchers used a method called ‘observed predation’ to learn what free-ranging cats prey upon using the application of camera traps and animal-borne video.
The study was based on over 150 years of literature documenting the negative impacts of free-ranging cats on the environment. Researchers identified 2,084 species consumed by cats, 347 (16.65 per cent) of which are near threatened or of higher concern on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Almost half of the species were birds, followed by reptiles and mammals.
Cats were found to consume 981 species of birds, 463 of reptiles, 431 of mammals, 110 of insects and 57 of amphibians, the study noted.
According to the researchers, there has been no previous global attempt to comprehensively document the complement of species consumed by cats. The study noted that 155 species or 7.44 per cent of the total number of species in the cat dietary compilation have not yet been evaluated under the International Union for Conservation for Nature and most of these species were insects.
The proportion of ‘Not Evaluated’ prey species was relatively high for Africa (17.54 per cent) and Asia (10.64 per cent). The median adult body mass of vertebrate species reported in the cat diet was 45.45 g for all species, 13.67 g for amphibians, 62.42 g for birds, 53.22 g for mammals and 21.35 g for reptiles.
The study concluded by emphasising the need for conservation efforts, management and policy work to make sure the numbers won’t go out of hand for cats as well as their prays.
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