This followed the Federal Government opening consultation on a new action plan to stop feral cats from decimating wildlife. “When domesticated cats are living inside our homes, snuggled up at the end of our beds, we rightly love them,” Minister Plibersek said.
“But feral cats are the opposite. They are walking, stalking, ruthless killers.
“Cats kill six million animals every night; we are declaring war on feral cats.”
The Nature Conservation Council of NSW and Bankstown Bushland Society have welcomed the government plan which sets new goals to reduce feral cat numbers, including the development of new tools such as the Felixer cat grooming trap as well as committing $400,000 to develop a feral cat bait.
Bushland Society Assistant Secretary Colin Gibson said they welcomed any consultation on feral animal management.
“It’s a step in the right direction,” he said.
Nature Conservation CEO Dr Brad Smith said no one liked killing animals but we were in an extinction crisis.
“Domestic cats are just as devastating on the eco-system as feral cats and we call on the Government to introduce clear laws to ensure pet cats are kept safe at home in order to save millions of native animals every year,” Dr Smith said.
However, Cat Protection CEO Kristina Vesk OAM said habitat loss and climate change were the biggest threats to biodiversity.
“Creating a moral panic about cats is a tactic used to pretend there’s a simple solution,” she said.
“Invoking violent language and demonising a single species is dangerous.
Public consultation on the new plan will be open until December 2023.
More info: dcceew.gov.au/environment/invasive.
Law to lock up pet cats urged
CAT Protection Society of NSW has urged Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to declare peace on the environment instead of a “war” on feral cats.
