Feral Cat

Common Name: Feral Cat 

Family Name: Felidae

Scientific Name: Felis catus

Status: Introduced, Not Protected

Average Size: 50cm long, 4.5kg

Average Lifespan: 5 years

Litter: 2 to 5

Gestation: 65 days

Weaned: 5 to 8 weeks

Background: Originating in near-Eastern and Egyptian populations, introduced to Australia in the late 18th century as house pets and later to control rabbits and rodents. 

Breeding: Polyamory mating system, can produce 2 to 5 litters per year.

Impacts: Kill over 1.5 billion native mammals, birds, reptiles and frogs and 1.1 billion invertebrates each year. Predation by cats is a recognised threat to over 200 nationally threatened species, and 37 listed migratory species. Competition for resources, leading to extinctions and declines in biodiversity

Feeding: Primarily eat small mammals, marsupials, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and insects