Can i shoot feral cats

Feral domestic cats would almost certainly not be considered wild animals, since domestic cats have, by definition, been generally domesticated and are generally unlikely to cause personal injury. However, it is possible that individual members of a domestic species could be considered wild if those individual animals have not been domesticated. So while feral cats are part of a domesticated species, it is possible that a court might find that specific feral cats qualify as wild animals, which would subject their owners and keepers to different requirements than owners and keepers of domestic cats.

In light of this difficulty, the most rational way to determine ownership of feral cats is to look at the extent to which a particular keeper or caretaker has exercised control over a feral cat and then impose responsibilities on the caretaker in a way that reflects that level of ownership. If a keeper or caretaker has given a feral cat food and water every day for several years and has provided the animal with periodic veterinary care, that person is more likely to be viewed as an owner than a person who has merely fed a feral cat once a day for six months.

This sliding scale would allow courts to hold caretakers responsible for their actions when those caretakers are actively involved in caring for feral cats, but it would also encourage people to care for feral cats on a casual basis without having to fear. In states that have not addressed feral cats in their laws, to what extent can a caretaker be held responsible for damages caused by feral cats?

The answer to this question is likely to depend on the degree of control that the individual exercises over the cats. The few cases that have addressed this issue look closely at evidence of ownership to determine the extent to which a keeper or caretaker should be held responsible. Further, when damage to property or persons is reasonably foreseeable i. In addition to civil liability, keepers and caretakers may also face criminal charges in some circumstances.

Determining when a feral cat caretaker may be criminally liable is a complex issue that has not been extensively addressed. Thus, feral cat caretakers could be subjected to the same fines and citations as other animal owners if they fail to comply with these laws. In most places, courts will have no guidance other than common law for dealing with feral cat issues. A person who feeds feral cats outside of her office building every morning might not be subjected to liability at all, whereas a person who provides shelter, food, water, and veterinary services for a group of feral cats would be more likely to be liable for the actions of those animals.

Feral cat control will be implemented by department and agency staff, and their agents, ensuring efforts are targeted to protect the threatened wildlife most at risk of predation by feral cats. Feral cats have not been declared an established pest on private land, meaning farmers and other private landholders will not be required to control feral cats.

Permission to hunt on Crown land does not extend to feral cats, unless conducted by accredited volunteer shooters engaged to participate in control programs managed by Parks Victoria or DELWP. The Code will guide the development of best practice humane, efficient and effective feral cat management practices and promote animal welfare and the safety of free-roaming domestic cats. The declaration is an important milestone in protecting them. The purpose of the consultation was to understand community and stakeholder views on the proposed feral cat declaration, and what the declaration may mean to individuals or the organisations they represent.

The consultation helped shape the feral cat declaration, leading to the inclusion of the Phillip Island Nature Park and Alpine Resorts in the specified areas of Crown land. Consultation Summary PDF, Declaring the feral cat as an established pest animal and removing any unnecessary legal barriers to Crown land managers undertaking humane, effective and efficient feral cat control to protect our precious biodiversity is a great start, but is just one piece of the puzzle.

To effectively manage the impact of feral cats and give our threatened wildlife the best chance of survival, six key areas for action have been identified:. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

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Please read our cookie policy for more information. Feral cat Felis catus. All rights reserved NERC Source: National Biodiversity Network and its data providers , who bear no responsibility for interpretation of the 10xkm grid map. Distribution and abundance Feral cats are most conspicuous in areas of urban development, but also occur widely in the countryside.

United Kingdom Index of bag density from to see statistical methods and interpretational considerations. England Index of bag density from to see statistical methods and interpretational considerations.

Litters may be found near to the trap site in the base of hollow tree trunks, among boulders etc. Impact on non-target animals Shooting is relatively target specific and does not usually impact on other species. Only shoot at the target animal once it has been positively identified and never shoot over the top of hills or ridges as other animals or people may be out of sight beyond the hill in the danger zone.

Health and safety considerations Firearms are potentially hazardous. All people should stand well behind the shooter when an animal is being shot. The line of fire must be chosen to prevent accidents or injury from stray bullets or ricochets. Shooting from a vehicle is potentially dangerous. An agreed safety procedure between the shooter and others in the vehicle must be in place to ensure that people do not enter the field of fire or disturb the taking of a shot.

Firearm users must strictly observe all relevant safety guidelines relating to firearm ownership, possession and use. Firearms must be securely stored in a compartment that meets State legal requirements. Ammunition must be stored in a locked container separate from firearms. Adequate hearing protection should be worn by the shooter and others in the immediate vicinity of the shooter. Repeated exposure to firearm noise can cause irreversible hearing damage.

Safety glasses are recommended to protect the eyes from gases, metal fragments and other particles. Warm, comfortable clothing and stout footwear is recommended, especially when shooting at night. Care must be taken when handling feral cat carcasses as they may carry diseases such as toxoplasmosis, ringworm and sarcosporidiosis that can affect humans and other animals.

Routinely wash hands after handling all carcasses. Equipment required Firearms and ammunition Small bore, high velocity, centre fire rifles fitted with a telescopic sight are preferred eg. Hollow-point or soft-nosed ammunition should always be used. Rimfire weapons with lower muzzle energy are not recommended because of the greater risk of non-lethal wounding.

The accuracy and precision of firearms should be tested against inanimate targets prior to the commencement of any shooting operation. Other equipment if shooting at night, a handheld spotlight at least watt , or a helmet or headband mounted 12 volt 35 watt spotlight fox whistle for making artificial rabbit distress calls , if desired first aid kit lockable firearm box lockable ammunition box Procedures Identification of feral cats Feral cats are similar in appearance to domestic cats; however when in good physical condition, the feral cat has increased overall muscle development, which is especially noticeable around the head, neck and shoulders, giving the animal a more robust appearance.

Feral cats are predominately short-haired with coat colours ranging between ginger, tabby, tortoiseshell, grey and black. White markings may be present, particularly on the chest, paws and abdomen, but completely white cats are very rare. Ginger cats are more likely to be found in semi-arid and desert areas, while grey and black cats are found in scrub and forests. Shooting at night Most shooting of feral cats is done at night from a vehicle with the aid of a spotlight.

This method relies on the ability of the shooter to approach the animal until it is within shooting range. Some shooters have had success luring feral cats into range using whistles that mimic rabbit distress calls.