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Once again our WILVOS hotline received a call for an injured animal. This time it was a glider -- maybe a sugar glider, maybe a squirrel glider.  It doesn’t really matter which one it is, gliders are fast reaching extinction on the coast and hinterland areas.  Yet it is so simple to prevent the extermination of these incredible species.

We often don’t see what our cats are killing during the day, or night. Image: greghardwick.com.au

This glider was dead -- killed by a cat.  She had two exquisite little joeys in her pouch.  Though they are viable to rear as furless little babies, these two barely weighed three grams, so it was not a pleasant outcome.

I was really upset, as I have watched the demise of this species on the Sunshine Coast.  Ten years ago, we would get calls at least each week about gliders.  Now they might be every few months.

Why?  Because cats are the main culprits. Through habitat destruction, the gliders are forced into suburban areas, although this is not a problem if pets are contained.

I still hear incredibly stupid people saying  to me: “My cat is a real killer!”.  It is as if they are proud of it, or can’t do anything about it.    What gives a cat the right to kill even one bird, or one glider?

Cat owners often say: “Our cat doesn’t get any wildlife.”

When in fact we often don’t see what our cats are killing during the day, or night.  They are very clever animals.  I’m sure my last cat (and it was definitely my last cat) knew what to bring home and display and what to leave out of sight.

Yes, a feral mouse or rat is fine, although I wasn’t even terribly happy about that. But then I found a native animal, a bandicoot, and that was the end of the story.

I knew this wasn’t an isolated incident.  Once I let my cat out in the morning, he was still finding wildlife, regardless of bells, buzzers and electronic masterpieces.

Why is it so difficult for people to lock up their cats?   We don’t think twice about putting a bird, even a parrot, into a small cage, yet we won’t even ponder making a cat run.

Cats are introduced high-end predators, so our native animals have to be protected from them.  It is not “Nature” when a cat kills one of our native wildlife.   Sure, it is natural when a native raptor or reptile takes one of our animals.  I would not be happy about it, but that is true nature.

I cannot repeat often enough -- cats are not native to the Australian landscape, so it is not natural to have our precious wildlife killed by these introduced animals.  I love cats as I love all animals -- well maybe not love them as much as my squirrel and sugar gliders, but I respect all life.

So therefore I would never let a cat free range -- day or night!

Why would anyone want their pet to wander freely outside, at the mercy of cars or dog attack?  I would want my cat safely contained on my own property, preferably in a cat run with lots of toys and activities to entertain it.

Please, if you want to do anything to help our wildlife, remind your neighbours and friends as often as possible, about the importance of protecting our wildlife.

My grandchildren are so young yet they are so upset to hear of what their friends’ pets do to our wildlife. Our pets, both cats and dogs, are major contributors to the extinction of native species.

Please, I do care for all animals and have my own pets, but I want to see humans, pets and wildlife surviving together in suburbia.  It is the only way our native Australian wildlife can survive.

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Cat enclosures: (The list below is not extensive and is meant to act as a guide only. It does not in any way endorse the product)- The editor.

Catnip Modular Cat Enclosures

Catmax

Aussie Cat Enclosures

Advanced Cat Enclosures

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