Australian Officials Debate Bill Forcing Cats to Stay Inside to Stop Them From Killing So Many Animals

As cute as domestic cats are, they can pose a threat to the environment, killing important endangered species. Cats are natural hunters and when left outside can pose a threat to the environment. This has been especially noted in Australia. In Australia, cats kill two billion animals every year. Interestingly, Australia considered cats an invasive species. According to the Australian Government’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water, Feral cats threaten the survival of over 100 native species in Australia. These pesky felines have caused the extinction of some birds and mammals, which may push Australia into forcing cats to stay inside.

So, what does Australia want to do? To combat this problem, the government is looking for unique solutions to decrease the threat both domestic and feral cats pose apart from euthanasia. So far, officials are brainstorming solutions including enacting a cat curfew, capping the number of cats allowed in one household, and cat mandates. Nothing is currently set in stone.

Why are Cats an Invasive Species?

Cats are incredibly invasive. These cuddly felines aren’t just sweet and fluffy, but also dangerous to the environment when left outside. This issue isn’t just limited to Australia either. In the United States, feral and domestic cats kill over 1 billion birds and many more insects and small animals.

Cats are excellent hunters. However, killing birds isn’t the only way cats harm the environment when outdoors. Cats mark their scent throughout their territory, which scares away native species. Feral cats also carry diseases that affect other animal species. For instance, they are carriers of Toxoplasma gondii, rabies, and cutaneous larval migrans. So, do you think this is a big enough reason to force cats to stay inside?

Have Cats Caused the Extinction of Any Animals?

Can you believe that cats have caused the extinction of multiple animal species? One of these species is the paradise parrot. The paradise parrot was a colorful medium-sized parrot native to parts of Australia. Although previously common, the last recorded observation of a paradise parrot was in 1927. The population declined because of cats, grazing pressure, and changed fire regimes.

According to Reading the Black Book, cats have contributed to the extinction of at least 27 species of animals in Australia. A few of these animals are the short-tailed hopping mouse, long-tailed hopping mouse, long-eared mouse, south-eastern striped bandicoot, and the desert rat-kangaroo.

Cats have also caused a rapid decline in some animal populations in the United States, especially the Key Largo woodrat. 

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