I love cats, furry and friendly. I love kittens chasing feathers and butterflies. I do not love cats in the bush.

It is estimated that there are 5-6 million feral cats in Australia, and they are found in every part of the country from Tasmania to the Northern Territory. A single cat in the bush kills about 420 birds, mammals and reptiles every year. The death toll is growing as the cat population expands. They can breed twice a year and raise up to nine kittens in a litter.

Many Australian native animals are now extinct, and highly endangered species of animals and birds are being decimated because of feral cats. Cats are also carriers of several diseases that can be fatal to humans and domestic animals and birds including toxoplasmosis and sarcocystosis.

Control of feral cat numbers should be a priority for national, state and local governments. The urgency is recognised. Success can only be achieved........

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