Join us for a free info session on feral cat management with some of the best people in the state! Learn about the impacts of feral cats, what you can do against them, and recent changes to legislation.

Feral cats not only have a massive impact on wildlife and ecosystems, they also are a major issue for our agriculture. They can carry the diseases Toxoplasmosis and Sarcocystosis (sarco), both of which are contagious to livestock. Toxoplasmosis can cause miscarriage and mortality of new-born animals, and can also affect humans. Sarco can be transmitted from cats to sheep and renders their meet unsuitable for human consumption. Toxoplasmosis is fatal to many native Australian animal, including bandicoots, wombats and birds.

In a study from 2014, 84% of feral cats that were trapped in Tasmania were found to be infected with Toxoplasmosis. And in 2015, DPIPWE estimated the annual losses to our farming sector due to Toxoplasmosis to be approximately $1.7 million.

This info session brings together some of the most knowledgeable and experienced people for feral cats in the state. We will take an in-depth look at how feral cats affect livestock, to understand the issue and how to act against it. Not for profit organisation Ten Lives will showcase their work with local communities to reduce the impact of feral cats. We will get an overview of the legislation on feral cats, including recent changes. The session will end with a demonstration on how to trap cats properly and effectively.

Local Landcare Tasmania groups are running feral cat management programs across the state. This session will inform you about what you can do to help fighting against the issue of feral cats.

Speakers

Bruce Jackson: Bruce is Tasmania’s former senior vet officer at DPIPWE and now works as a vet consultant. He has worked extensively on farm biosecurity and cat borne diseases affecting agriculture.

Tess Vitesnik and Rose Bray: Tess is the head veterinarian and Rose is the Education and Community Manger at Ten Lives. They are the largest dedicated cat shelter in Tasmania, and a voluntary, not-for-profit organisation. Ten Lives is dedicated to caring for and rehoming the unwanted cats and kittens of Southern Tasmania.

Nikki Brookman: Nikki is the Regional Cat Management Coordinator for the Southern Region based at Kingborough Council in Kingston.

John Bowden: John has many years of working as a feral can management contractor across Tasmania, and now works also as the feral cat management officer for Latrobe Council.

The State Government’s Landcare Action Grants funding is supported by donations to Landcare Tasmania’s Tasmanian Landcare Fund through the JM Roberts Charitable Trust and supported by our partners Waratah Wholesale.

A COVID Risk Management Plan has been developed by Landcare Tasmania in line with the current COVID requirements. Please follow social distancing rules and stay at home if you are feeling unwell.

This event is part of our 2021 Outreach Events Program, leading up to the 2021 Tasmanian Community Landcare Conference in October.