Research overview: domestic cat predation on native urban wildlife

Free-ranging domestic cats prey on a wide range of urban and suburban wildlife, with documented effects on birds, small mammals, reptiles and amphibians. This overview synthesises predation-rate studies, prey-return surveys, camera and accelerometer methods, and population-level analyses estimating the cumulative toll cats impose, especially near natural areas. It examines which native species are most vulnerable, the difference between owned and unowned cats, and the sublethal effects of cat presence on prey behaviour and reproduction. The synthesis frames domestic-cat predation as a major component of urban wildlife mortality and a central issue in reconciling pet ownership with biodiversity in human-dominated landscapes.