10 Finicky Felines

Question 1

Fecundity (cats) (5)

Answer 1

• high reproductive rate
• early sexual maturity (can have babies at 6 months)
• polygamous mating system
• seasonal polyoestrus (spring and summer bc higher chance of survival)
• induced ovulation

Question 2

Free roaming population: reasons(3)

Answer 2

1) fecundity
2) highly adaptable
3) human factors

Question 3

Seasonal polyoestrus

Answer 3

females come into oestrus and dont ovulate until they get mated
- if dont get mated, they go out of season for ~10 days then get back into season; as soon as have litter, can get pregnant again

Question 4

Human factors (4)

Answer 4

• overbreeding (Unrestricted breeding of cats simply means that there are more animals than the number of responsible homes available at any one time; unwanted cats and kittens are still being abandoned or surrendered at a rate that the community cannot rehome)
• failure to sterilize pets
• feeding strays
• breakdown of cat-owner relationship

Question 5

Free Roaming Populations: Issues (3)

Answer 5

• Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)
• ringworm, tapeworm, fleas, toxoplasmosis
• sexual behavior and territorial marking
• feral cats are the single biggest threat to Australia’s native mammals; direct pressure on at least 124 Australian species endangered with extinction.

Question 6

FIV

Answer 6

get through fighting; infection risk to pet cats

*pets should be vaccinated

Question 7

Feral Cat Management (3)

Answer 7

1) targets survival or fecundity
2) lethal control methods
3) permanent sterilisation

Question 8

Feral cat management: lethal control (4)

Answer 8

• trapping (can risk pet cats)
• meat baiting (need to make sure the right animal picks it up)
• poison gas
• shooting

Question 9

Problem with meat baiting

Answer 9

Cats are neophobic, hate new stuff and good at sensing (eg tablet in food)

Question 10

Feral cat management: permanent sterilization (2)

Answer 10

1. trap-neuter-release programs (TNR)

2. immunocontraception

Question 11

Problems with lethal control methods (5)

Answer 11

1. labour intensive
2. expensive
3. may be ineffective
4. distressing
5. welfare and ethical implications

Question 12

Permanent sterilisation: TNR

Answer 12

take cat, desex, release (usually snip ear to indicate)

-time consuming and expensive

Question 13

Permanent sterilisation: Immunocontraception

Answer 13

• controls contraception by inducing an immune response

- caused massive side effects like cancer

Question 14

sensitive period (cats)

Answer 14

cats are born with the ability to learn social skills but much depends on early experiences

• 2-7 weeks of age
• kittens socialize to humans and other cats readily if mother is present and well socialised
• kittens that are held and petted by humans during this period tend to be (as adults) quicker to approach, touch and rub

Question 15

Owned cats: Issues (3)

Answer 15

• apparent cruelty (eg kids, domestic violence)
• negligence
• attitudes to cat ownership from shelters

Question 16

Cats allowed outdoor access more susceptible to (5)

Answer 16

• infectious diseases
• road traffic accidents
• fights
• dog attacks
• animal cruelty

Question 17

Multi-cat household problems (3)

Answer 17

cats may not be related and initially unfamiliar; required to live in close proximity

• they do not regard themselves as part of the same social group
• aggressive encounters
• stress
• behavioral problems

Question 18

Risks of confining indoor cats (6)

Answer 18

While cats confined to an indoor environment generally live longer and are at less risk for contracting infectious diseases or injuries due to trauma, they are at greater risk for a variety of behavioral problems.

• UTI
• dental disease
• obesity
• boredom
• inactivity
• behavioral problems

Question 19

Environmental enrichment (6)

Answer 19

Providing an enriched environment can increase activity, decrease mental stagnation and prevent many of these issues.An enriched environment will give cats the opportunity to create their own positive experiences in an enclosed space. The goal is to “create an environment of plenty” for your cat. That means plenty of room, litter boxes, food, water and things to do.

• food foraging
• hunting and exploration
• toys and games
• massage and grooming
• audio visual
• vegetation

Question 20

Enclosures and fences

Answer 20

• safe alternative to free roaming

- should provide access to the house via cat door

Question 21

cat curfew

Answer 21

curfew will mean that cat owners must ensure their animal stays within the confines of their property at day and night, with penalties for owners of cats caught by neighbours
-in response to public consultation undertaken with the community regarding their concern about the negative environmental impact of cats on native animals and the nuisance value of wandering animals for neighbouring households

Question 22

advantages of cat curfew

Answer 22

• Around 80% of accidents involving cats occur at night. Cats allowed to roam can be killed or injured through car accidents and fights with other animals. They may contract fatal diseases such as Feline AIDS, or be more likely to require veterinary attention for fleas, ticks, worms, abscesses, cuts, diarrhoea and other illnesses. They may also get lost, or join an unowned cat colony. For these reasons, cats kept inside generally live at least three times longer than cats which are not confined. The safety benefits are even greater for cats kept inside or in an enclosure both day and night
• better neighborhood relations (By keeping your cat indoors, it will not be able annoy neighbours by spraying and howling. Roaming cats also cause disputes and anxiety between neighbours by causing dogs to bark, by fighting with other cats, and by defecating in gardens)
• less predation of wildlife (Cats are most active at night, particularly at dusk and dawn. This coincides with the activity periods of many species of native wildlife. If given the opportunity, cats will instinctively hunt and kill wildlife, even if they are not hungry. Keeping your cat indoors will help protect our Australian wildlife)