Are cats on rubbish dumps a problem?

P.M. Wilson, C.R. Tidemann and H.R.C. Meischke

Abstract

The study examines feral cats on rubbish dumps at four locations, two in NSW and two in ACT. Estimations of the following took place at selected dumps: total cat population: population density: population recovery after culling and population turnover. The epidemiology of the cats was examined in respect to: Toxoplasma gondii and Sarcocystis spp.; Feline Immunodeficiency virus (FIV), Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV); and Upper Respiratory Tract Viral Disease. General condition, rectal temperature, and eye infection status were examined in relation to FIV positive cats.

Demographic parameters were investigated by trapping, collaring and spotlighting. Euthanasia was used to investigate population recovery. Cage traps and soft leg hold traps were used to capture the cats. A capture, mark, recapture system was developed which allowed populations to be estimated using the Lincoln/Peterson Index. The density and total population estimations from all sites were lower than previous studies would predict. This may be due to predators, particular factors in dump habitat, or population structure. Euthanasia of all trapped cats at one rubbish dump established that the population took approximately six months to recover to 70 percent of its original size. Cat population turnover was related to births, deaths, immigration and emigration.

A majority of the cats were suffering from some form of disease. There were indications of a high revalence of Upper Respiratory Tract Viral Disease, gingivitis and FIV infection. No FeLV was found. FIV infection was more prevalent in adult males than in other classes and made these cats more susceptible to other infections. FIV was associated with chronic, rather than potentially fatal disease. Though a majority of cats suffered indications of chronic disease, this did not appear to hinder them in any way nor restrict their reproduction.

It was concluded that cats on rubbish dumps are a problem because they influence the surrounding populations of feral cats and because they are reservoirs of disease for wildlife, livestock and humans, but in particular for domestic cats. However, the problem is limited. Management of dump sites and regular control every six months of cat populations will reduce this problem to a negligible level. Such control operations need to be considered in the context of integrated control of other pests, particularly exotic rodents such as Rattus rattus and Mus domesticus

About the author

Peter Wilson
School of Environmental and Resource Management
Dept. of Forrestry
Australian National University
ACT 2600

An honours graduate in Science from the Australian National University.

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