Abstract Context. Feral cats (Felis catus) pose a significant threat to Australia’s native species and feral cat control is, therefore, an important component of threatened species management and policy. Australia’s Threatened Species Strategy articulates defined targets for feral cat control. Yet, currently, little is known about who is engaged in feral cat control in Australia, what motivates them, and at what rate they are removing feral cats from the environment. Aims. We aim to document who is engaging in feral cat control in Australia, how many cats they remove and to estimate the number of feral cats killed in a single year. Furthermore, we seek to better understand attitudes towards feral cat control in Australia. Methods. We used a mixed methods approach combining quantitative and qualitative techniques. Feral cat control data were obtained from existing data repositories and via surveys targeting relevant organisations and individuals. A bounded national estimate of the number of feral cats killed was produced by combining estimates obtained from data repositories and surveys with modelled predictions for key audience segments. Attitudes towards feral cat control were assessed by exploring qualitative responses to relevant survey questions. Key results. We received information on feral cat control from three central repositories, 134 organisations and 2618 individuals, together removing more than 35 000 feral cats per year. When including projections to national populations of key groups, the estimated number of feral cats removed from the environment in the 2017–2018 financial year was 316 030 (95% CI: 297 742–334 318). Conclusions. Individuals and organisations make a significant, and largely unrecorded, contribution to feral cat control. Among individuals, there is a strong awareness of the impact of feral cats on Australia’s biodiversity. Opposition to feral cat control focussed largely on ethical concerns and doubts about its efficacy. Implications. There is significant interest in, and commitment to, feral cat control among some groups of Australian society, beyond the traditional conservation community. Yet more information is needed about control methods and their effectiveness to better understand how these efforts are linked to threatened species outcomes.

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了解澳大利亚

摘要上下文。野猫（Felis catus）对澳大利亚本土物种构成重大威胁，因此，野猫控制是受威胁物种管理和政策的重要组成部分。澳大利亚的受威胁物种战略阐明了野猫控制的明确目标。然而，目前，关于谁在澳大利亚从事野猫控制、他们的动机是什么以及他们从环境中清除野猫的速度知之甚少。目标。我们的目标是记录谁在澳大利亚从事野猫控制，他们移除了多少只猫，并估计一年内杀死的野猫数量。此外，我们寻求更好地了解澳大利亚对野猫控制的态度。方法。我们使用了一种结合定量和定性技术的混合方法。野猫控制数据来自现有数据存储库，并通过针对相关组织和个人的调查获得。通过将从数据存储库和调查中获得的估计值与关键受众群体的模型预测相结合，得出了全国范围内对野猫被杀数量的估计。通过探索对相关调查问题的定性回答来评估对野猫控制的态度。关键结果。我们从三个中央存储库、134 个组织和 2618 个人那里收到了有关野猫控制的信息，每年总共清除了 35 000 多只野猫。当包括对关键群体的全国人口预测时，2017-2018 财政年度从环境中清除的野猫的估计数量为 316 030（95% CI：297 742-334 318）。结论。个人和组织对野猫的控制做出了重要的贡献，但在很大程度上没有记录。在个人中，野猫对澳大利亚生物多样性的影响有很强的认识。对野猫控制的反对主要集中在伦理问题和对其有效性的怀疑上。影响。除了传统的保护社区之外，澳大利亚社会的某些群体对野猫控制有着浓厚的兴趣并做出了承诺。然而，需要更多关于控制方法及其有效性的信息，以更好地了解这些努力与受威胁物种结果的关系。对野猫控制的反对主要集中在伦理问题和对其有效性的怀疑上。影响。除了传统的保护社区之外，澳大利亚社会的某些群体对野猫控制有着浓厚的兴趣并做出了承诺。然而，需要更多关于控制方法及其有效性的信息，以更好地了解这些努力与受威胁物种结果的关系。对野猫控制的反对主要集中在伦理问题和对其有效性的怀疑上。影响。除了传统的保护社区之外，澳大利亚社会的某些群体对野猫控制有着浓厚的兴趣并做出了承诺。然而，需要更多关于控制方法及其有效性的信息，以更好地了解这些努力如何与受威胁物种的结果相关联。