Feral cats in Australia kill 316 million birds each year. For domestic cats, this figure is 61 million. Collectively, Australian cats are likely responsible for a drastic decline of many bird species.
But it is not only birds that should be worried about cats, say scientists.
Feral cats, which are considered a pest in Australia, also go after reptiles and pose a significant threat to native snakes, says Arne Redsted Rasmussen, associate professor at The School of Conservation, Denmark.
“Cats are direct competitors for snakes. They harm snakes by going after the same prey. So there’s a good reason to go out and eradicate feral cats,” he says.