Federal government declares 'war' on feral cats with new action plan open for feedback - ABC NewsSkip to main contentMoreLog inYour ABC AccountPersonalise the news andstay in the knowLog in to personaliseABCABC iViewABC ListenTriple JABC KidsABC NewsFederal government declares 'war' on feral cats with new action plan open for feedbackShare Federal government declares 'war' on feral cats with new action plan open for feedbackPBy Patrick BellTopic:Federal GovernmentThu 7 Sep 2023Thursday 7 September 2023Thu 7 Sep 2023 at 2:52amEnvironment Minister Tanya Plibersek's announcement coincided with National Threatened Species Day. (ABC News: Luke Stephenson)abc.net.au/news/federal-government-declares-war-on-feral-cats-new-action-plan/102825496Link copiedShareShare articleThe federal government will aim to prevent any more species from becoming endangered or extinct due to feral cats, in a new action plan it released on Thursday.Key points:Feral cats are estimated to kill two billion Australian animals per yearEnvironment Minister Tanya Plibersek says the cats are a major driver of extinctionsThe government will also spend millions of dollars to try and eradicate the cats from some islandsThe draft plan, now released for public consultation, lists a range of objectives, which include preventing feral cats from spreading further, and reducing their density in areas around people.While the main effect the cats have on other species is direct predation, they can also compete for food and increase the risk of some diseases.Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said feral cats kill an estimated two billion animals per year, which equates to six million per night.The inventor of the Felixer cat grooming trap demonstrated it at Parliament House. (ABC News: Luke Stephenson)"They played a role in Australia's two latest extinctions ... they are one of the main reasons Australia is the mammal extinction capital of the world," Ms Plibersek said."We are declaring war on feral cats."Separate to the plan, the government will spend millions of dollars to try and eradicate cats from Christmas Island, and French Island near Melbourne.It will also put $400,000 towards a safer feral cat bait for use in northern Australia.The government estimates six million animals per night die as a result of feral cats. (ABC News: Luke Stephenson)"If we don't act now, our native animals don't stand a chance," Ms Plibersek said.A UN report released in recent days identified invasive species as the leading cause of biodiversity loss in Australia.The exact number of feral cats in Australia fluctuates depending on environmental conditions, but the Environment Department estimated the figure at between 1.4 million and 5.6 million.Feral cats can target marsupials like bandicoots. (Supplied: Invasive Species Council)The draft plan said Australia "has one of the most robust estimates for the cat population size of any country in the world."But it said there is also work to do to make control measures more consistent across jurisdictions, particularly since pet cat management often falls to local government."The resulting patchwork of regulations is confusing to the public, and hard to enforce."Public consultation on the draft plan will be open until mid-December.Posted Thu 7 Sep 2023 at 2:52amThursday 7 Sep 2023 at 2:52amThu 7 Sep 2023 at 2:52am, updated Thu 7 Sep 2023 at 2:51pmThursday 7 Sep 2023 at 2:51pmThu 7 Sep 2023 at 2:51pmShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesMelbourne synagogue set alight in string of antisemitic incidents across cityTopic:ArsonPhoto shows A man in a black beanie and black clothing walks along a street at night.Woman wonders what she missed working with accused childcare sex offenderTopic:Child CarePhoto shows Joshua Brown in a childcare centre.Australian actor Julian McMahon dies aged 56Topic:ActorPhoto shows Julian McMahon smiling while wearing a suit with a bow tie at a red carpet eventTrade: there are now more pieces moving globally than just TrumpLAnalysis by Laura TinglePhoto shows A blonde man in a tux speaks in front of a US flagUS floods leave 24 dead and more than 20 girls missingTopic:FloodsPhoto shows A man wearing a rain poncho stands amid debris on the side of a riverbank.Related storiesFeral cats, rabbits and fire ants driving biodiversity loss in Australia, but report finds one success storyTopic:Environmental ImpactPhoto shows A grey tabby feral cat against a background of red dirt.Deadly tool that sprays feral cats with toxic gel unveiled as part of Australia-first strategy to save wildlifeTopic:NaturePhoto shows A feral cat lying on the ground snarling at the camera.On the Tiwi Islands, rangers are using AI and urine to cull feral catsTopic:AnimalsPhoto shows A cat in a cage located in bushland looking back at its surroundingsRelated topicsAustraliaFederal GovernmentGovernment and PoliticsNatureTop StoriesMelbourne synagogue set alight in string of antisemitic incidents across cityTopic:ArsonPhoto shows A man in a black beanie and black clothing walks along a street at night.Woman wonders what she missed working with accused childcare sex offenderTopic:Child CareAustralian actor Julian McMahon dies aged 56Topic:ActorTrade: there are now more pieces moving globally than just TrumpLAnalysis by Laura TingleUS floods leave 24 dead and more than 20 girls missingTopic:Floods160 pokies, 50m from houses, open until 3am: New club’s plan rejectedTopic:Urban Development and Planning9m ago9 minutes agoSat 5 Jul 2025 at 4:56amThree police officers allegedly assaulted by 19yo in 'sickening attack'Topic:Crime42m ago42 minutes agoSat 5 Jul 2025 at 4:22amCanadian Olympic champ pulls out of world titles amid anti-doping probeTopic:Swimming46m ago46 minutes agoSat 5 Jul 2025 at 4:19amAt 14, Jasmine's an international author thanks to outback writing groupTopic:Author1h ago1 hours agoSat 5 Jul 2025 at 4:01amBack to topFooterABC News homepageMore From ABC NEWSWe acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work.SectionsABC NEWSJust InWatch LivePoliticsWorldBusinessAnalysisSportScienceHealthEntertainmentLifestyleFact CheckOtherNews in language中文Berita Bahasa IndonesiaTok PisinConnect with ABC NewsFacebookInstagramYouTubeApple NewsX (formerly Twitter)More from ABC NewsContact ABC NEWSThis service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced.AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)Editorial PoliciesAccessibilityHelpContact UsAbout the ABCPrivacy PolicyTerms of Use© 2025 ABC, The exact number of feral cats in Australia fluctuates depending on environmental conditions, but the Environment Department estimated the figure at between 1.4 million and 5.6 million., We can link the effective control of feral cats to their prey resources, especially where there is little human contact. Predator-prey relationships vary by geography, so the knowledge of frontline of wildlife managers is critical..