Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L01747:reg:4:p12
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L01747
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 4 (pt 12/80)
Character Range: 36436–39415

email, as well as a large volume of related correspondence. The common themes and technical information provided in this feedback were thoroughly considered in finalising this threat abatement plan. Some feedback provided ideas about how best to deliver on the actions and objectives identified in this plan. Where relevant, these have been noted for implementation. A summary of the common themes from the feedback, which informed the finalisation of this threat abatement plan, was prepared (Draft updated Threat abatement plan for predation by feral cats - Public consultation summary report; DCCEEW 2024b), and is available at: DCCEEW Website.

     3 Cat definitions, ecology, distribution and abundance

Section 3 provides a brief overview of the ecology, distribution and abundance of cats. The background document contains further information and referenced sources, to support the material provided here.

     3.1 Cat definitions

Domestic cats were derived from African wildcats Felis lybica, about 4,000 years ago, in north Africa. The domestic cat is treated taxonomically as a separate taxon, Felis catus, from its wild ancestor, and 'domestic cat' is the generally accepted vernacular for this species, encompassing pet cats and feral cats. Domestic cats were, and remain, highly capable of moving from pet into feral scenarios, which is partly why feral cat populations have established in almost every place where people have brought pet cats. This transition from pet to feral can occur during a cat's lifetime. For any species, the term 'feral' applies specifically to populations of introduced species that have established in a region or country to which they are not native from captivity or domestication, whether that establishment was deliberate or accidental.

Cats have a complex relationship with people – while they are treasured pets to some, they are widely known and seen to be a serious environmental concern. This, and the different ways in which people interact with cats, has led to many approaches to defining cats, including ones based on the level of ownership (e.g. owned, semi-owned, unowned), socialisation (e.g. socialised, semi-socialised, unsocialised), lifestyle (e.g. house cat, farm cat, stray, feral), and containment (e.g. indoor cat, free-roaming). These schemas do not always line up well, are open to interpretation, and any one cat can occupy seemingly contradictory positions – for example, a free-roaming cat could be either a pet or a feral cat, and an unsocialised cat could be an owned farm cat.

There is currently no nationally consistent classification of cats, and the legal frameworks and associated definitions are different across the jurisdictions. While consistency would be beneficial, achieving consensus across jurisdictions, cat management organisations and stakeholder cohorts may not be feasible.

For the purposes of this threat abatement plan, a categorisation of 'feral' cats and 'pet' cats has been