Ecology of the Feral Cat, Felis catus (L. ), in South-Eastern Australia I. Diet

Abstract

Diets were determined for feral cats from the Victorian Mallee, Kinchega National Park in western New South Wales, and the Victorian eastern highlands. The percentages by weight of introduced mammals eaten (mainly European rabbit and house mouse) were 85, 64 and 45 for Mallee, Kinchega and eastern highland cats, respectively, of which rabbit contributed 74, 56 and 43% respectively to the total diets. The weights of native mammals eaten were 2% and 4% for Mallee and Kinchega cats; the species found were common brushtail possum, planigales and bats. For eastern highland cats the weight of native mammals eaten was 40% and at least 11 species were represented: the most important being southern bush rat (16%), common ringtail possum (8%), common brushtail and/or mountain brushtail possums (5%), brown antechinus (470) and sugar glider (4%). The weights of birds eaten were 9, 18 and 13% for Mallee, Kinchega and eastern highland cats. Less important foods were reptiles, amphibians, fish, arthropods and annelids; some food, both carrion and human food scraps, was scavenged. Seasonal changes in composition of the diet were evident in Mallee cats.