Bushfaring Feral Cats

[Jo Blose]

I was in a car earlier today, (10am) travelling South on the Bruce Highway in the Sunshine Coast region, Qld. By chance, Mrs black and I both noticed on the Eastern side of the Highway on the edge of a service road, a rather robust, black coloured, feral cat, walking cautiously alongside the tree line in lemon grass. It appeared standard adult cat size in relation to the surroundings but jet black and sleek and muscled. Naturally, there was no place to pull over and pull out the camera, with a car up our date, and Mrs black would hear no part of turning around. This area was State Forestry and the nearest residential or commercial property maybe 20km away at the absolute closest.

I've seen a black cat in similar circumstances on Tin Can Bay Road at Tin Can Bay, again in forestry region, and again, of seemingly standard feral cat size.

Out of curiosity, does anyone here know what the expected numbers of plain feral cats roaming our Australian bushlands is, or is such a figure anyone's guess?

[Shazzoir]

Joe, this website
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/pests ... alCats.htm

claims this estimate:

It is estimated that there could be 400,000 feral cats in NSW and around 12 million across Australia.

That's a lot of small animals, reptiles and birds that are being consumed! I'm a cat lover, and have one myself, but know that feral cats have no place in the Australian bush. The only good thing I can say about feral cats is that they are supposedly helping to keep the rabbit population in check somewhat.

Shazz

[Curious]

There is one less here in SA!

Spoke to a farmer on saturday and he said he often sees them on his property. Its the first one I have seen there but now I plan on keeping an eye out for them.