Free-ranging domestic cats (Felis catus) impact biodiversity through predation, disturbance, competition, disease and hybridisation. Scientific knowledge regarding these impacts has recently increased. This article interprets the European Union (EU) Birds and Habitats Directives (Nature Directives) in light of this knowledge. The outcome indicates that various obligations in the Directives, particularly concerning Natura 2000 sites and the generic protection of birds and other species, have significant implications for the management of free-ranging domestic cats. Regarding (unowned) stray and feral cats, these must be removed or controlled when they pose a threat to protected species and/or sites. Regarding (owned) pet and farm cats, the Nature Directives require EU Member States to ensure that letting cats roam free outdoors is forbidden and effectively prevented. Current practice across the EU does not yet conform to these requirements. Whereas the article identifies and assesses various factors that may explain this compliance gap, legally valid justifications appear absent.

中文翻译：

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家猫 (Felis catus) 和欧洲自然保护法——将欧盟鸟类和栖息地指令应用于对野生动物的重大但被忽视的威胁

自由放养的家猫 (Felis catus) 通过捕食、干扰、竞争、疾病和杂交影响生物多样性。最近有关这些影响的科学知识有所增加。本文根据这些知识解释了欧盟 (EU) 鸟类和栖息地指令（自然指令）。结果表明，指令中的各种义务，特别是关于 Natura 2000 站点和鸟类和其他物种的一般保护，对自由放养家猫的管理具有重要意义。对于（无主的）流浪猫和野猫，当它们对受保护物种和/或地点构成威胁时，必须将它们移除或控制。关于（拥有）宠物和农场猫，自然指令要求欧盟成员国确保禁止并有效防止让猫在户外自由活动。欧盟目前的做法尚不符合这些要求。尽管本文确定并评估了可能解释这种合规性差距的各种因素，但似乎缺乏法律上有效的理由。