Speakers
Neža Gregorič
(Oddelek za biologijo, Biotehniška fakulteta, Univerza v Ljubljani)
Nuša Hrga
(Biotehniška fakulteta Ljubljana)
Tadeja Balanč
(Biotehniška fakulteta, Univerza v Ljubljani)
Urška Ratajc
(Biotehniška fakulteta, Univerza v Ljubljani (student))
Žan Kuralt
(University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical faculty, Department of Biology)
Description
Domestic cat (Felis silvestris catus) numbers are rising and the range of the species has expanded as a result of human activities. This does not only mean more “cute and furry” animals, but also more free-ranging and feral cats around. Equipped with all that predator needs, they are very efficient hunters of native wildlife (birds, bats, amphibians, reptiles, small mammals, invertebrates). The effect of such predation on local prey populations can be severe as cat numbers are kept high by supplemental feeding and show no responses to changes in prey density. Cats also keep capturing prey despite being fed by people. In order to evaluate the extent of free-ranging cats and their predation rates in Slovenia, we performed a survey among Slovenians. With data collected we were able to assess the percentage of free-ranging cats and gather information about killing rates and prefered prey. Furthermore we gathered geographical data about free-ranging cat occurrence in Slovenia.
Primary authors
Neža Gregorič
(Oddelek za biologijo, Biotehniška fakulteta, Univerza v Ljubljani)
Nuša Hrga
(Biotehniška fakulteta Ljubljana)
Tadeja Balanč
(Biotehniška fakulteta, Univerza v Ljubljani)
Urška Ratajc
(Biotehniška fakulteta, Univerza v Ljubljani (student))
Žan Kuralt
(University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical faculty, Department of Biology)
