How many reptiles are killed by cats in Australia?

Extending their continental analysis of cat predation, Woinarski and colleagues estimated the number of reptiles killed by cats in Australia. Using data on cat density, dietary frequency of reptiles and the spatial distribution of both cats and reptile communities, they calculated that cats kill on the order of hundreds of millions of reptiles per year, affecting a large number of reptile species including many small lizards and snakes. The study documented that reptiles feature prominently in feral cat diets, especially in arid regions, and that the cumulative impact represents a substantial pressure on Australia's exceptionally rich reptile fauna. Together with companion analyses of birds and mammals, the work built a comprehensive quantitative case that cats are a leading threat to Australian terrestrial vertebrate biodiversity and a priority for management.