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Cats on Fair Isle (1 Viewer)

Jono L

Well-known member
Just saw the caption on an OBP photo on Surfbirds.com saying 'shortly before being eaten by the Quoy cat'.

Has the issue of cat removal ever been considered on Fair Isle? Surely a small island like this with large numbers of breeding seabirds (let alone migrants) should not allow cats?

Not nice for the Fair Islanders to lose their lovely pets, but surely worth a thought?

Cheers
Jono
 
Just saw the caption on an OBP photo on Surfbirds.com saying 'shortly before being eaten by the Quoy cat'.

Has the issue of cat removal ever been considered on Fair Isle? Surely a small island like this with large numbers of breeding seabirds (let alone migrants) should not allow cats?

Not nice for the Fair Islanders to lose their lovely pets, but surely worth a thought?

Cheers
Jono

Provided they are neutered so there are only ever a few pets I don't really see an issue.

In mainland Scotland, where the Scottish Wildcat is critically endangered mostly through introgressive hybridisation, I would cheerfully snuff every domestic cat in the land. If the Scots want pets they could have dogs (much better than cats anyway IMO) or goldfish.

John
 
Tory Island is an Island off Donegal, Republic of Ireland. The Island holds nationally important numbers of Corncrake. A few years ago all feral cats were trapped and removed. All the Islanders got their pets neutered (free) to prevent establishment of new colonies of cats. Collars with bells were given to all domestic cats on the Island. To prevent domestic cats being killed everybody sent in photos of their cats to the trappers. When people's pets were caught in the traps they were released unharmed.
 
Tory Island is an Island off Donegal, Republic of Ireland. The Island holds nationally important numbers of Corncrake. A few years ago all feral cats were trapped and removed. All the Islanders got their pets neutered (free) to prevent establishment of new colonies of cats. Collars with bells were given to all domestic cats on the Island. To prevent domestic cats being killed everybody sent in photos of their cats to the trappers. When people's pets were caught in the traps they were released unharmed.

Very close to best practice I would say.

John
 
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