The domestic catsalthough seemingly harmless and adorable, can pose a significant threat to biodiversityespecially in insular ecosystems such as Canary Islands. As collected an article in National Geographic magazine, signed by the journalist specialized in Science and Nature Héctor RodríguezThese cats, both the ones that have owners and those that have gone feral, they retain a strong hunting instinct and an independence that allows them to survive in the wild without depending on human beings.
Feral cats in the Archipelago occupy a variety of habitats and adapt to different conditions.. Their diet consists mainly of introduced mammals such as rabbits, rats and mice, but they also hunt reptiles, birds and insects. Among the affected species are endemic birds in danger of extinction, such as the blue finch of Gran Canaria, the canary chaffinch, the canary warbler, the canary stonechat and the tinerfian robin. They also hunt seabirds such as storm petrels, Bulwer’s storm petrels, and Cory’s shearwaters. Also, tothreaten endemic reptiles such as the giant lizards of The iron, La Gomera and Tenerife, that are critically endangered.
Worldwide, cats are linked to the extinction of numerous vertebrate species and are considered one of the main threats to biodiversity, especially in island environments. The presence of feral cats on the Islands represents a significant dangersince they can contribute to the extinction of endemic and endangered species.
control initiatives
In the Canary Islands feral cat control initiatives have been carried out in areas of high importance for the conservation of threatened species. However, the approval of a new animal protection law in 2023 makes it difficult to implement specific control actions for feral cats. This situation could have a negative impact on the conservation of native fauna.
It is important to highlight that the protection of wild flora and fauna is a fundamental objective both at national and European level. The European Union regulations on biodiversity conservation require member states to conserve and restore threatened species, controlling the threats they face. Therefore, legislation needs to be changed to adequately address the problem of feral cats in the Canary Islands.
In addition to its impact on biodiversity, domestic cats can also negatively affect wildlife in urban and rural areas. Stray cat colonies established through the trap, neuter, and release (CES) method do not solve the problem and may attract more cats, making the situation worse. These practices also pose a risk to the public health. It is essential to implement adequate control measuressuch as the establishment of closed enclosures to house colonies of cats, in order to reduce their number and minimize their impact on wildlife and public health.
