A global review of the impacts of invasive cats on island vertebrates

Medina and colleagues reviewed the worldwide evidence for the effects of feral cats on island vertebrates, where naive and often endemic faunas are especially vulnerable. Compiling records across many islands, they documented that cats prey on a wide range of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians and have contributed to numerous population declines and species extinctions, particularly of seabirds and small island endemics. The review quantified the breadth of species affected and identified cats as one of the most damaging invasive predators on islands globally. It also discussed the conservation benefits and complexities of cat eradication, including the risk of mesopredator release. The work provided an authoritative synthesis establishing invasive cats as a major driver of island biodiversity loss and a frequent target of eradication efforts.