1788 – Cats Arrive with the First Fleet

European settlers brought domestic cats to Australia in 1788, mainly as pets and for pest control on ships. Within decades, cats were released or escaped, spreading across the continent. By the mid-1800s, feral cats had established populations in the wild.

Today, Australia has an estimated 2.1 to 6.3 million feral cats, and during peak conditions, numbers can reach over 10 million. These predators kill over 1.7 billion native animals every year, including mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects. Many species, such as the lesser bilby and desert bandicoot, are believed to have been driven to extinction in part due to cat predation.

Late 1800s – Dingoes and Domestic Dogs Collide

Dingoes, Australia’s native wild dog, have been part of the ecosystem for around 3,500–4,000 years. But in the late 1800s, European settlers began bringing large numbers of domestic dogs. Some escaped or were abandoned, forming feral populations that competed with dingoes and hunted native wildlife.

Today, feral dogs and dingo hybrids roam large parts of the continent. While dingoes play an ecological role by keeping kangaroo and rabbit populations in check, feral dogs often cause direct harm to livestock and wildlife. In northern Australia, packs of wild dogs can wipe out entire groups of wallabies or ground-dwelling birds in a single night.

20th Century – The Growing Toll of Feral Predators

By the early 20th century, Australia began to recognize the scale of the problem. Rabbits, foxes, cats, and dogs were devastating native species. Unlike rabbits (controlled with fences and viruses), cats and dogs proved nearly impossible to manage because of their intelligence and adaptability.

Studies show that cats now threaten over 124 species, while wild dogs threaten at least 36 species, many of them already endangered. Together, they are considered one of the leading drivers of Australia’s world-record rate of mammal extinctions.

1980s–2000s – Conservation Action and New Strategies

Efforts to control cats and dogs accelerated in the late 20th century. Programs included:

• Baiting and trapping campaigns across rural Australia.
• Fenced reserves (starting in the 1980s) to protect small marsupials from predators.
• Community initiatives to desex and contain domestic pets, reducing their spread into the wild.

Despite these measures, feral populations persisted. By the 2000s, research confirmed cats as a key factor in almost every mammal extinction since European arrival.

2015 – National Threat Abatement Plan for Feral Cats

In 2015, the Australian government launched a 10-year plan to cull 2 million feral cats by 2020. Methods included baiting with poisoned sausages (Eradicat) and aerial culling. While controversial, the program highlighted the urgency of protecting endangered species such as the night parrot and numbat.

Today – A Continuing Environmental Crisis

As of 2025, Australia faces a stark reality: cats and dogs remain among the top threats to biodiversity. Conservation scientists stress that:

• Feral cats cover 99.8% of the continent, including deserts and remote islands.
• Wild dogs (including dingo hybrids) kill not just wildlife, but also cause up to $100 million annually in livestock losses.
• At least 30 mammal species have gone extinct since 1788, many linked to predation by cats and dogs.

New strategies now focus on integrated approaches: combining predator-proof sanctuaries, advanced tracking technologies, community education, and stricter pet ownership laws.

Lessons for the Future

Australia’s battle with cats and dogs is not just about protecting wildlife — it is about restoring ecological balance. The timeline reveals that each introduction, whether intentional (cats for pest control) or accidental (dogs turning feral), had long-lasting and unforeseen consequences.

The lesson is clear: when ecosystems are fragile, even familiar animals like pets can become environmental threats. Australia’s story underscores the importance of careful management, global cooperation, and respect for natural balance in the fight against biodiversity loss.

Resources:

Australian Government – Feral Cats
https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/invasive-species/feral-animals-australia/feral-cats

Woinarski, J.C.Z., et al. (2015). The contribution of cats to the extinction of Australian mammals. PNAS.
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1500751112

Doherty, T.S., et al. (2017). Impacts and management of feral cats in Australia. Mammal Review.
https://doi.org/10.1111/mam.12080

The Guardian (2020). Australia kills millions of feral cats each year. But how many more are out there?
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jan/10/australia-kills-millions-of-feral-cats-each-year-but-how-many-more-are-out-there