AUSTRALIA’S CAT PROBLEM.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1031, 26 November 1912, Page 4

AUSTRALIA’S CAT PROBLEM.

According to Mr A. S. LeSouef, Australia is treatened with still another pest iu the shape of the domesticated cat run wild. Writing in the current number of the Agricultural Gazette, he states that cats iu the wild state are spreading all over Australia. He points out that: “Most people have a prejudice against killing cats but the surplus have to be got rid of, and in the country this is generally effected by turning them loose in the bush as far from home as possible, where they are left to shift for themselves. Others, again, have been turned out by stock-owners as a supposed enemy of the rabbit; while some, with the old hunting instinct mote strongly developed, have wandered off into the wilds on their own. We now have to recognise that they become established throughout the land, and are, of course, living on wild game. Careful observation in the bush shows that they are not at all particular on what they feed —birds, small animals, lizards, opossums and even lambs go to form the bill of fare, and, ot course, the rabbit when they are in his locality. In Lord Howe Island, where they are very numerous, they are living on the the sea birds.

Although it is rather early to form definite conclusions, yet cats which have been for some generations in the wild state in Australia seem to be reverting to a specialised type—that of a blotched tabby, with a noticeable increase iu size, this being specially marked in the Toms. In parts of Queensland they are more or less striped, and have a heavy ruff round the neck. In Lord Howe Island they nre very dark, mottled grey and strikingly larger thau the average house cat, specimens up to aolb in weight having been recorded. The wild cats iu Australia are in for a very easy time. They have practically no enemies. Poisonous snakes might account for a few, while eagles would kill kittens that ventured out iu the daytime, and a fight has been described betweu a wild Tom and a native tiger cat iu which tie former was killed. Their agility in climbing would keep them clear of dingoes. The results of their depredation are already noticeable. Ground game and small marsupials are in certain districts being greatly diminished iu numbers, and it seems that iu the future we can count on a partial extermination of certain species. Their influences on the rabbit question remains to be seen, and it is to be hoped that in this direction they will be of some use to the country, and justify their existence.”