Outdoor domestic cats can be found in virtually every ecosystem in the world and, when left unsupervised, represent a significant threat to wildlife, including birds. However, there is still a high degree of uncertainty around how many cats are actually out there and what their real impact is on wildlife populations in different landscapes. To address these uncertainties, we have been undertaking a number of studies in the southern Ontario region and beyond. For the last few years, in collaboration with Elizabeth Gow, we have been deploying custom-designed, miniaturized on-board cameras (“Cat-cams”) so we can track where cats go and what they do when they are outside. We are finding some pretty amazing things so stay tuned for more soon.

Publications

4. Chu, J. J., Norris, D. R., Bourque, J., Roy, C., Wilson, O., & Gow, E. A. An updated estimate of the number of birds killed by outdoor cats in Canada. In review: Avian Conservation and Ecology

3. Pyott, M, Norris, DR, Mitchell, G, Custode, L & Gow, EA. 2024. Home range size and habitat selection of owned outdoor demestic cats (Felis catus) in urban southwestern Ontario. PeerJ 12:e17159.

2. Clyde, HE, Norris, DR, Lupton, E, & Gow, EA. 2022. Estimating habitat characteristics associated with the abundance of free-roaming cats across the annual cycle. Wildlife Research 49(7): 583-595.

1. Flockhart, DTT, Norris, DR & Coe, J. 2016. Predicting free-roaming cat population densities in urban areas. Animal Conservation 19: 472-483.