Home range, habitat use and activity of free-roaming domestic cats

This study used radio-telemetry to characterise the movements of owned and un-owned free-roaming domestic cats in an urbanising landscape, revealing that un-owned cats ranged over far larger areas than pets and that cats used natural and edge habitats where they could affect wildlife. By contrasting owned and unowned individuals, the authors clarified how ownership status and supplemental feeding shape ranging and potential ecological impact. The work provided foundational spatial data underpinning estimates of domestic-cat predation and informing management of free-ranging cat populations. It demonstrated that domestic cats are genuine components of urban carnivore communities, with movement patterns relevant to both conservation and disease.