9 Dec 2013

Cats filmed to reveal predatory habits

1:12 pm on 9 December 2013

Researchers at Victoria University are trying to find out just how dangerous cats are to native birds.

Millionaire and philanthropist Gareth Morgan has been campaigning against the risk family pets can pose to native fauna.

Some critics have objected to that, saying the extent of cats' predation on native birds compared with pests like mice is not known.

Researchers at Victoria University say they want to answer that question with a pilot project which might later bloom into a full research scheme.

Small cameras are being put on the collars of 10 cats and the footage will be reviewed to find out just what the cats have been preying on.

The researchers say they hope the findings will produce a more informed debate on the dangers of the household cat.