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Well, since cats were introduced to Australia by European settlers, they have played a major role in the decline and extinction of many native animals. Recent studies have found that a large amount of this is happening in and around urban areas, where the annual number of animals killed per square kilometre is 5670 killed by feral cats and 13100 by pet cats.
These tough statistics, alongside Anipal vet founder Steph Stubbe’s experience with injuries or fatal attacks on wildlife, while working at RSPCA, encouraged Anipal to create a range of feline halters and leads to help fur parents keep their cats out in the natural world, without risking the lives of our precious Australian species.
We all love and adore our cat community, but our furry friends are not without their complications. As mentioned, since cats were introduced to Australia by European settlers in 1788, cats have spread across the country and now inhabit 99.9% of Australia’s total land area with as many as 2.8 million feral cats now roaming the land.
The Australian federal government released a report in 2020 to tackle the issues that feral and domestic cats cause for Aussie wildlife. The report confirmed that cats were the primary drivers of mammal extinctions in the country, and went on to assert that Australia takes the unfortunate title of leading the world’s s threatened species tally – with ’34 such species wiped out and a further 74 land mammal species under threat’.
As one report summarises:
The final report found that every year, each individual feral cat in Australia kills 390 mammals,225 reptiles and 130 birds. That adds up. Every year, feral cats kill 1.4 billion native Australian animals—around the same number that died in the catastrophic 2019-20 bushfires when more than 73,000 square miles burned.
Some of the key recommendations for the domestic cat population included education initiatives to improve awareness of the impact of cats on Australia’s native wildlife and habitats.
It’s always a good idea to chat to your vet or local council about any guidelines that might be in place in your area. In the meantime, here are a few ideas to get you started:
To tackle this challenge of wildlife protection head-on, Anipal created a range of recycled plastic collars, harnesses and leads to allow your cat the flexibility of outdoor exercise, whilst still respecting and protecting our native species. To understand whether a harness or lead is right for your cool cat, check RSPCA’s recommendations on best practice and advice here, alongside their initiative ‘Keeping your cat safe and happy at home’.
According to RSPCA’s advice, ‘4indoor cats need exercise and sources of enrichment to prevent obesity, boredom and the development of unwanted behaviours.’ Some handy tips and tricks for getting your cat accustomed to a harness include:
To support and celebrate our native Australian threatened species, Anipal’s feline range has 3 unique designs:
Gigi the Gouldian Finch
Bertie the Blue Banded Bee
Bobby the Butterfly
Anipal acts proudly to help clean natural habitats by removing waste and giving useful materials a second life as beautiful recycled and sustainable pet products. Founded by veterinarian Steph Stubbe, they work to remove environmental waste giving useful materials a second life as dog collars and leads. After creating a line of recycled plastic collars and leashes, Anipal is launching a range of functional and novel dog treats - packed full of nutritious ingredients that don’t cost the earth! The Anipal mission is to lead by example inspiring the veterinary and animal industries to adopt proactive, sustainable practices which cleanse our environment for the benefit of all our Anipals.
Connect with Dr Steph:
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