Cuddly killer cats threaten Mt. Makiling wildlife
By Gloria Therese Eusebio and Sophia Margaux Mueco
If you’re a UPLB student and a cat owner, and your pet offers you the lizards or rats they hunt, you may want to think about where they came from.
A recently published journal article revealed that domesticated cats prey on the vibrant wildlife in Mt. Makiling.
Mt. Makiling, a protected rainforest, houses 72 threatened species– from flying bats to crawling lizards. With households and communities like Bagong Silang residing in Mt. Makiling, cats are sure to roam the forest and prey on other animals freely.
However, the seemingly nonchalant fluffball we call cats has been recorded to hunt hundreds, if not thousands, of species. Not only do they consume their prey but they also play with them. Thus, their natural predatory behavior impacts the conservation of various native species in Mt. Makiling.
“More on sa wildlife ‘yung impact niya kasi dahil nga sa predation and then, ‘yung paglalaro ng cats doon sa wildlife na not necessarily kinakain nila. Minsan pinaglalaruan lang nila” reports Frances Tenorio, the lead researcher, in an interview.
(Their impact is more on the wildlife due to their predation including playing with their prey– not necessarily eating them. Sometimes they just play with them.)
Led by Frances Tenorio from the Museum of Natural History in the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), a group of UPLB scientists measured the home range or the area cats explore, and identified the prey they bring back. The study entitled “Cat’s Paw: Tracking the Home Range of Domestic Cats in Mount Makiling Forest Reserve,” lets us take a peek at the extent of domestic cats’ impact in the forest.
Feline like climbing up the mountain
Using GPS collars, six participating cats, from Station 7 and Agila Base, were tracked about their whereabouts for four months. To Tenorio’s surprise, the average home range of the cats is 81.7 hectares– imagine eleven Freedom Parks. With a large home range, the cats go as far to visit the Rafflesia area beyond the Agila Base and even reach Bagong Silang.
Compared to prior studies on forest and suburban cats, the home range of the cats from this study is larger. The home range of different cats differs individually due to many factors. Recent studies show that sex, age, personal characteristics, availability of food, and more contribute to the varying home ranges. Considering the large area cats can access, the number and variety of prey broadens.
Makiling’s prey-cious species needs protecting
Before becoming domesticated, cats were known to be skilled hunters and predators. Even as pets, they still have strong hunting instincts and may chase after small animals.
After tracking the activity of the cats for four months, it was discovered that the cats took home different species such as rodents (Rattus sp. and Rattus tanezumi, also called Asian house rat) and skinks, which are species that belong to the lizard family. The most common skink species taken home were the Luzon giant forest skink (Otosaurus cumingi), a species endemic to the Philippines, and sun skinks (Eutropis sp.) To the researcher's surprise, one roundleaf bat (Hipposideros sp.) was also retrieved from the cats.
It is noted by Tenorio and her team that her study likely underestimates the impact of cats on wildlife due to the low sample size. Thus, part two of the study is currently brewing to study the behavior of cats and their environmental impact.
Forests are a complex ecosystem where different species, such as bats, lizards, skinks, and rats, play an essential role. Each of these species has unique abilities that contribute to the health and balance of the forest.
Bats are natural pest controllers that help keep insect populations in check, preventing damage to young trees. A 2022 study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign found that forest areas without bats had three times as many insects and five times more defoliation, or loss of leaves than areas with bats.
Lizards and skinks are also important as they help control animal populations and are prey for larger predators. Skinks are smaller predators and feed on insects that can damage plants.
Rodents are also important contributors to the ecosystem. Rats, in particular, eat various foods available in their environment, including fruits, seeds, and insects. Their habit of collecting and hoarding seeds aids in the dispersal and growth of plants and trees, which helps restore forests.
Different species in the forest are vital to maintain a healthy ecosystem. They help regulate insect populations, including tree-killing pests. They are also a food source of predators, which maintains the food web dynamics of the forest ecosystem. Lastly, most species engage in seed dispersal, which contributes to forest health and restoration. These animals show us how they are all interconnected and how important it is to protect biodiversity.
Prof. Myra Abueg, a cat owner and animal welfare advocate, reported that her cats also took home snakes and roaches.
‘”Yung isa kong pinulot dito sa SEARCA, ang dami niyang alay. May ahas, may palaka, may malaking daga, ano pa ba, ‘yung marami’y butiki at tsaka ‘yung kulay green na malalaking lizards,” Prof. Abueg said.
(“The cat I rescued in SEARCA has a lot of offerings like snakes, frogs, and big rats. There’s a lot of lizards and the large green lizards as well.”)
Responsible Cat Ownership
Mt. Makiling is a significant area for biodiversity as it is home to many endemic species. Overpopulation of cats can lead to a greater risk of them preying on wildlife, which could have a negative impact on the native fauna of Mt. Makiling.
It is highly recommended to spay or neuter cats to control the population of both domestic and stray cats in Mt. Makiling. It is important for cat owners to keep their pets indoors both day and night. Catching cats and placing them in shelters for adoption can also help control their population.
Tenorio also advises owners to provide their cats with activities to keep them occupied, ensuring that they do not wander outside. “Kung magiging responsible pet owners tayo, i-vaccinate natin yung mga alagaan natin, i-neuter or spay natin sila. Tapos, we keep them indoors provided that bibigyan natin sila ng mga activities para hindi sila ma-bore. So, malaki yung impact nun sa environment natin and then sa wildlife din natin. Kasi makakatulong tayo sa environment. Mababawasan yung negative impact ng mga domestic pets natin,” Tenorio advises cat and pet owners.
(If we were to be responsible pet owners, we should vaccinate, and neuter or spay our pets. Also, we keep them indoors provided that we give them activities that entertain them. We will then have a big impact on our environment and our wildlife. Because we will help the environment. We will lessen the negative impact of our domestic pets.)
Various organizations in Los Banos provide support to community and domestic pets. Compassion for Animals Through Service or CATS of UPLB takes care of the UPLB community pets through feeding, vaccinations, neutering, and raising funds. The Makiling Campus Runners hosted the Makiling Challenge last December to raise funds to neuter stray cats and dogs in partnership with the university. The Elbi Community Events are also organizing the Elbi Community’s Low-Cost Kapon by the end of June to promote responsible pet ownership.
Photo retrieved from Tenorio et al.
