Predation by House Cats, Felis catus (L.), in Canberra, Australia. I. Prey Composition and Preference

Abstract

Studies of predation by house cats in Australia have not attempted to compare the composition of prey taken by cats with the relative availability of prey. Information on the composition of vertebrate prey caught by house cats in Canberra was collected by recording prey deposited at cat owners’ residences over 12 months. A total of 1961 prey representing 67 species were collected or reported. In all, 64% of prey were introduced mammals, especially mice and rats, with birds comprising 27% (14% native, 10% introduced, 3% unidentified), reptiles 7%, amphibians 1% and native mammals 1%. Predatory behaviour by house cats appeared largely opportunistic with respect to spatial (habitat) and temporal (daily and seasonal) prey availability and accessibility, although there is mounting evidence from this and other studies that small mammals are the preferred prey. While this means that introduced mice and rats are common prey of house cats in urban and suburban environments, it also suggests that in relatively undisturbed environments adjoining new residential developments, predation by house cats may have a substantial impact on locally abundant, patchily distributed populations of native fauna, particularly mammals. Imposing night-time curfews on cats is likely to lessen predation of mammals but will probably not greatly reduce predation of birds or reptiles.