Hi
I have found literature saying that bells are not effective at protecting wildlife from domestic cats and am wondering if the new collars (believe they are marketed as leap-activated light collars) have been found to be effective - if there is any research or knowledge out there?!
My organisation is looking at buying some to make available to cat owners in our region, which will also help get our web address into the community/people's homes, but I cannot find good informaiton on them.
thanks
Clare Kinloch
Community Engagement Coordinator
Adelaide Mount Lofty Natural Resources Management Board
Australia
Domestic cat Collars for Protecting Wildlife
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Have a look at http://www.catbib.com.au/ for a cat bib which is supposed to be more effective than bells.
Bernie Masters
environmental consultant
...
Even if the collars are effective at alerting wildlife to a cat's presence, the cats are still roaming around, defecating, and disrupting wildlife. I've witnessed the reactions of squirrells and birds here. Long before the cat reaches them they alter their behavior and start alarming. Better for domestic cat owners to be responsible and keep their cats contained. It could also be viewed as an impingement on non-cat owners rights. Owners of any other animal must control the range of the animal. Yet cat owners are free to allow the cats to occupy anyone else's property. In my municipality it is actually legal to trap a loose cat (or any other domestic animal) on one's property, collared or not, and deliver it to animal services. I don't think most people know that though, so we have cat problems too.
j mcgee
Chief Environmental Scientist
Hillsborough County Specialized Services
United States
www.hillsborough.wateratlas.org