Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L01747:reg:4:p10
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L01747
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 4 (pt 10/80)
Character Range: 30858–33895

are interlinked with, and compound, the predation impacts of cats. Cats also have broader ecological impacts, due to the disruption of ecological services provided by many cat-susceptible species.

In addition, although the plan focuses on feral cats, it includes some consideration of pet cats because they also prey upon native species (including threatened species) and can become a source for the feral cat population, especially around human habitation and infrastructure. Given the links between the pet and feral cat populations, addressing the impacts of feral cats must include improved management of pet cats.

The Threat abatement plan for predation by feral cats 2024 is supported by, and supports, the Australian Government's Threatened Species Action Plan 2022-2032 (DCCEEW 2022). The Threatened Species Action Plan 2022-2032 outlines an action-based approach to protecting and recovering Australia's threatened plants and animals, as well as priority places. Feral cat management is the explicit subject of two targets, and relevant to many other targets, in the Threatened Species Action Plan 2022-2032 because feral cat control is integral to improving the trajectories of many of the Action Plan's priority species, places and habitats. Those explicit targets are:

     * Target 8. Feral cats and foxes are managed across all important habitats for susceptible priority species using best practice methods.

     * Target 9. Feral cats and foxes are managed in all priority places where they are a key threat to condition, using best practice methods for the location.

Targets in the Threatened Species Action Plan 2022-2032 align with the objectives and actions in this threat abatement plan.

Australian biodiversity is under pressure from many threats, including (but not limited to) habitat loss and degradation, climate change, other invasive species, and changes to fire regimes and hydrological regimes (see Murphy and van Leeuwen 2021 for further information). Reducing impacts from cats on native fauna is one of many approaches needed to prevent further declines and extinctions. Furthermore, many of these other threatening factors have direct or indirect effects on the abundance and impacts of feral cats, or contribute to the overall threat load on cat-susceptible native wildlife. This broader interactive context is considered in management actions proposed in this plan (e.g. section 4.1.3 and Objective 8).

This plan should be read in conjunction with the background document (Background document for the threat abatement plan for predation by feral cats 2024; DCCEEW 2024a). The background document provides relevant key information, evidence and referenced sources (current to the time of its publication) to support the commentary and actions in this plan, including on: feral cat ecology, distribution and abundance; impacts on environmental, social and cultural values; current and emerging management practices; and, research priorities. There are cross-references throughout this plan to the