Abstract Context Feral cats are invasive predators of small and medium-sized fauna throughout Australia. The only broad-scale population-management technique for feral cats currently available in Australia is poison baiting. As poison baits for feral cats must be surface-laid, this can lead to the unintended exposure of non-target species consuming the baits. Encapsulation of a toxin within a robust, controlled-release pellet implanted within the meat lure (the combination of which is termed the Curiosity® bait) substantially reduces the potential risk to non-target species. Para-aminopropiophenone (PAPP) has been shown to be an effective toxin to which cats are highly susceptible. Aims The present study aimed to measure the efficacy of encapsulating PAPP toxin in a controlled-release pellet on feral cats in a pen situation and to document the observed behaviours through the toxication process. Methods Pen trials with captive cats were undertaken to document efficacy of encapsulating PAPP toxin in a controlled-release pellet and to assess the behaviours during toxicosis. These behaviours inform an assessment of the humaneness associated with the Curiosity bait using a published relative humaneness model. Key results The trials demonstrated a 95% consumption of the toxic pellet and observed the pattern of behaviours exhibited during the intoxication process. There was a definitive delay in the onset of clinical signs and death followed at ∼185 min after the first definitive sign. The humaneness using the relative humaneness model was scored at ‘mild suffering’. Conclusions The encapsulating PAPP toxin in a controlled-release pellet for feral cats is effective. The feral cats display a range of behaviours through the toxication process, and these have been interpreted as mild suffering under the relative humaneness model. Implications The documented efficacy and behaviours of encapsulating PAPP toxin in a controlled-release pellet provides knowledge of how the PAPP toxin works on feral cats, which may assist in decision-making processes for conservation land managers controlling feral cats and whether to incorporate the use of the Curiosity® bait into existing management techniques.

中文翻译：

---

封装的对氨基苯丙酮 (PAPP) 制剂作为野猫 (Felis catus) 诱饵递送毒物的功效和福利评估

摘要背景野猫是整个澳大利亚中小型动物群的入侵性捕食者。目前在澳大利亚可用的唯一大规模野猫种群管理技术是毒饵。由于野猫的毒饵必须是表面放置的，这可能会导致非目标物种无意中接触到这些毒饵。将毒素封装在植入肉饵（其组合称为 Curiosity® 诱饵）的坚固、控释小球中，可显着降低对非目标物种的潜在风险。对氨基苯丙酮 (PAPP) 已被证明是一种有效的毒素，猫对它非常敏感。目的 本研究旨在测量将 PAPP 毒素封装在控制释放小丸中对围栏情况下的野猫的功效，并记录通过中毒过程观察到的行为。方法 对圈养猫进行围栏试验，以记录将 PAPP 毒素封装在控释丸剂中的功效，并评估中毒期间的行为。这些行为有助于使用已发布的相对人性模型评估与好奇号诱饵相关的人性。主要结果 试验证明有毒颗粒的消耗率为 95%，并观察到中毒过程中表现出的行为模式。临床体征出现明显延迟，在第一个明确体征后约 185 分钟死亡。使用相对人道模型的人道被评为“轻度痛苦”。结论 将 PAPP 毒素包裹在用于野猫的控释小丸中是有效的。野猫在中毒过程中表现出一系列行为，在相对人道模型下，这些行为被解释为轻微的痛苦。影响 将 PAPP 毒素封装在控释颗粒中的记录功效和行为提供了关于 PAPP 毒素如何对野猫起作用的知识，这可能有助于保护土地管理者控制野猫的决策过程以及是否结合使用将 Curiosity® 诱饵引入现有的管理技术。野猫在中毒过程中表现出一系列行为，在相对人道模型下，这些行为被解释为轻微的痛苦。影响 将 PAPP 毒素封装在控释颗粒中的记录功效和行为提供了关于 PAPP 毒素如何对野猫起作用的知识，这可能有助于保护土地管理者控制野猫的决策过程以及是否结合使用将 Curiosity® 诱饵引入现有的管理技术。野猫在中毒过程中表现出一系列行为，在相对人道模型下，这些行为被解释为轻微的痛苦。影响 将 PAPP 毒素封装在控释颗粒中的记录功效和行为提供了关于 PAPP 毒素如何对野猫起作用的知识，这可能有助于保护土地管理者控制野猫的决策过程以及是否结合使用将 Curiosity® 诱饵引入现有的管理技术。