Impact of cat predation
Free‐roaming domestic cats cause a significant number of bird and mammal fatalities and, with the number of cats increasing annually (Woods et al.,
2003), the effect of cat predation on wildlife is likely to rise. Therefore, the number of injured bats from cat attacks will likely increase in the future. Previous research which has examined cat predation on wildlife, especially mammals and birds, has led to recommendations to reduce predation, and these are also pertinent for reducing bat predation. Recommendations include the following: (a) being mindful when making residential developments in close proximity to protected species habitats (Phillips et al.,
2001); (b) night‐time curfews for domestic cats (Barratt,
1997); and (c) use of bells (Ancillotto et al.,
2013) or novel cat collars such as Birdsbesafe
®, which have been shown to be effective in reducing bird predation (Willson, Okunlola, & Novak,
2015).
As well as causing wing tears, cat attacks can also lead to bacterial diseases in bats (Mühldorfer, Speck, & Wibbelt,
2011), which can be transmitted to bats from cat saliva (Mühldorfer, Speck, Kurth, et al.,
2011). Cat claws carry bacteria which is also likely to transfer to the bat upon contact, in a similar manner to cat‐scratch disease that can be acquired by humans upon injury (Christina, Shubhayu, & Paul,
2016; Kirkpatrick & Glickman,
1989). Cats may also receive a viral infection from the bats, such as Nipah virus (NiV) and European bat lyssaviruses (EBLVs), which could lead to cat mortality (Dacheux et al.,
2009; Epstein et al.,
2006). Therefore, investigating the interactions of cats and bats can have important implications for both species.
