Cats in Australia: Companion and Killer

Description

Across the world, cats are loved as pets or are kept or tolerated for their role in controlling some animal pests. But cats, both pets and feral, also kill many native animals and this toll can be enormous. Cats have been remarkably successful in Australia, spreading pervasively across the continent and many islands, occurring in all environments, and proving to be adept and adaptable hunters. A large proportion of Australia's distinctive fauna is threatened and recent research highlights the significant role that cats play in the decline and extinction of native species. Cats in Australia brings this research together, documenting the extent to which cats have subverted, and are continuing to subvert, Australia's biodiversity. But the book does much more than spotlight the impacts of cats on Australian nature. It describes the origins of cats and their global spread, their long-standing and varying relationship with people, their global impacts and their ecology. It also seeks to describe the challenge of managing cats, and the options available to constrain their impacts. Certificate of Commendation, The Royal Zoological Society of NSW 2020 Whitley Awards: Zoological Review

John Woinarski, Sarah Legge and Chris Dickman have been engaged for many decades in research, management and policy relating to biodiversity across Australia, with an enduring commitment to the conservation of Australia's fauna. All three authors are affiliated with the Threatened Species Recovery Hub of the National Environmental Science Program. This book is motivated by the authors' interest in the factors causing decline in Australia's remarkable fauna, their recognition of the need to communicate this conservation challenge to our community and to promote solutions to the loss of biodiversity.

"The authors of this book should be commended for their thoughtful and thorough approach to this complex topic." -- Tim Low * Wildlife Australia * "Overall, the book is a fascinating and important read. The authors provide extensive scientific detail but punctuate this with interesting quotes, historical accounts, anecdotes, photos and illustrations, making the book accessible to a wide audience. A must-read for anyone working in or interested in wildlife conservation!" -- Kelly Miller * Australasian Journal of Environmental Management, 27(1) * "Cats in Australia contains so much information on cats and their impact on Australia's indigenous fauna that it should be essential reading for conservationists, wildlife managers, and cat lovers, especially those on that continent." -- Ron Moorhouse * Conservation Biology 35(3) *