Standard Operating Procedure

CAT001: Ground
shooting of feral cats
Prepared by Trudy Sharp

Background Application
Feral cats prey upon a wide range of • Shooting should only be used in a
mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians strategic manner as part of a co-
and insects. In some areas of Australia, ordinated program designed to achieve
especially many of the offshore islands, sustained effective control.
feral cats represent a significant threat • A
lthough shooting can result in
to vulnerable and endangered native a localised reduction in feral
fauna. They may also have an indirect cat numbers, it is ineffective in
adverse impact on wildlife and livestock significantly reducing feral cat
through the transmission of diseases such populations, particularly over the
as toxoplasmosis and sarcosporidiosis. A longer-term. Feral cats generally avoid
variety of control methods have been used human contact making them difficult
including shooting, trapping, poison baiting to shoot.
and exclusion fencing.
• S hooting is more successful in areas
Shooting is one of the main methods of with flat topography and open
control currently used but it is labour vegetation. It is not suitable where
intensive and not considered an effective dense cover exists or in the vicinity of
broad-scale control method. It may be of human habitation.
use in reducing the local number of feral
• B
efore shooting a cat, first establish
cats or targeting problem animals. Shooting
that it is a feral cat, rather than
is usually done at night from a vehicle
a domestic pet or stray cat. Cats
with the aid of a spotlight, but can also
wearing collars should not be shot.
be conducted during the day. Drives or
It is recommended that landholders
‘battues’, using a line of beaters often with
and neighbours be notified before
trained dogs, are sometimes used to flush
commencement of a feral cat shooting
feral cats out from vegetation.
operation so that they can take action
Shooting can be a humane method of to protect their domestic cats.
destroying feral cats when it is carried out
• S hooting of feral cats should only be
by experienced, skilled and responsible
performed by skilled operators who
shooters; the animal can be clearly seen
have the necessary experience with
and is within range; and, the correct
firearms and who hold the appropriate
firearm, ammunition and shot placement is
licences and accreditation. Storage
used.
and transportation of firearms and
This standard operating procedure (SOP) ammunition must comply with relevant
is a guide only; it does not replace or legislation requirements.
override the legislation that applies in the
relevant state or territory jurisdiction.
The SOP should only be used subject
to the applicable legal requirements
(including OH&S) operating in the relevant
jurisdiction.

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 CAT001: Ground shooting of feral cats

preferably directed to the head. If left, wounded

animals can suffer from the disabling effects of the
injury, from sickness due to infection of the wound,
from pain created by the wound or from thirst or
starvation if unable to drink or capture food.
• T
o minimise the animal welfare implications of
leaving dependant kittens to die a slow death from
starvation, it is preferable not to undertake shooting
when females are lactating eg September to March in
non-urban habitats. There is a high probability that
any female cat over six months old that is caught
during this time will be pregnant or lactating.
• I f lactating females are shot, efforts should be made
to find dependent kittens and kill them quickly and
humanely. Litters may be found near to the trap site
in the base of hollow tree trunks, among boulders
etc.
Image: Jason Wishart
Impact on non-target animals
Animal welfare considerations • S hooting is relatively target specific and does not
usually impact on other species. However, there is
Impact on target animals always a risk of injuring or killing non-target animals,
• H
umaneness of shooting as a control technique including livestock, if shots are taken at movement,
depends almost entirely on the skill and judgement colour, shape, sound or, when spotlighting, eye
of the shooter. If properly carried out, it is one of the reflection (‘eye shine’). Only shoot at the target
most humane methods of destroying feral cats. On animal once it has been positively identified and
the other hand, if inexpertly carried out, shooting never shoot over the top of hills or ridges as other
can result in wounding which may cause considerable animals or people may be out of sight beyond the hill
pain and suffering. in the danger zone.
• S hooting must be conducted in a manner which aims
to cause immediate insensibility and painless death.
Health and safety considerations
The appropriate firearms and ammunition must • F
irearms are potentially hazardous. All people should
always be used. stand well behind the shooter when an animal is
being shot. The line of fire must be chosen to prevent
• S hooters should not shoot at an animal unless it is
accidents or injury from stray bullets or ricochets.
clearly visible and they are confident of killing it with
a single shot. • S hooting from a vehicle is potentially dangerous. An
agreed safety procedure between the shooter and
• O
nly head (brain) or chest (heart-lung) shots must
others in the vehicle must be in place to ensure that
be used. Shots to the head are preferred over chest
people do not enter the field of fire or disturb the
shots as they are more likely to cause instantaneous
taking of a shot.
loss of consciousness. Chest shots do not render the
animals instantaneously insensible and are likely to • F
irearm users must strictly observe all relevant
result in a higher incidence of wounding. Shooting at safety guidelines relating to firearm ownership,
other parts of the body is unacceptable. possession and use.
• T
he shooter must be satisfied that each animal is • F
irearms must be securely stored in a compartment
dead before another is targeted. that meets State legal requirements. Ammunition
must be stored in a locked container separate from
• W
ounded cats must be located and killed as quickly
firearms.
and humanely as possible with a second shot

2 pestsmart.org.au
 • A
dequate hearing protection should be worn by the • Feral cats are predominately short-haired with coat
shooter and others in the immediate vicinity of the colours ranging between ginger, tabby, tortoiseshell,
shooter. Repeated exposure to firearm noise can grey and black. White markings may be present,
cause irreversible hearing damage. particularly on the chest, paws and abdomen, but
• S afety glasses are recommended to protect the eyes completely white cats are very rare. Ginger cats
from gases, metal fragments and other particles. are more likely to be found in semi-arid and desert
areas, while grey and black cats are found in scrub
• W
arm, comfortable clothing and stout footwear is
and forests.
recommended, especially when shooting at night.
• C
are must be taken when handling feral cat carcasses Shooting at night
as they may carry diseases such as toxoplasmosis, • Most shooting of feral cats is done at night from a
ringworm and sarcosporidiosis that can affect humans vehicle with the aid of a spotlight. This method relies
and other animals. Routinely wash hands after on the ability of the shooter to approach the animal
handling all carcasses. until it is within shooting range. Some shooters have
had success luring feral cats into range using whistles
Equipment required that mimic rabbit distress calls.
Firearms and ammunition • When illuminated by the spotlight, cats have a
• S mall bore, high velocity, centre fire rifles fitted distinctive brilliant green eye reflection (‘eye shine’).
with a telescopic sight are preferred eg .22-250, .22 • Feral cats must NOT be shot from a moving vehicle or
Hornet, .222 Remington, .223 or .243 Winchester. other moving platform. Ensure you are in a firm, safe
Hollow-point or soft-nosed ammunition should always and stable position before taking a shot.
be used. • It is recommended that during daylight hours
• R
imfire weapons with lower muzzle energy are not shooters familiarise themselves with the terrain they
recommended because of the greater risk of non- are to cover. Take note of potential hazards and also
lethal wounding. any landmarks that may help with navigation.
• 1
2-gauge shotguns with heavy shot sizes of No. 2, • Shooting over the top of hills or ridges produces
SSG, BB or AAA may be effective, but only up to a unacceptable risk. Be aware that the spotlight only
distance of 20 m from the target animal. illuminates a small portion of the danger zone and
• T
he accuracy and precision of firearms should only a fraction of the projectile’s range.
be tested against inanimate targets prior to the Shooting in the day
commencement of any shooting operation.
• F
eral cats are most active at night, so shooting during
Other equipment the day is less effective than shooting at night with a
• i f shooting at night, a handheld spotlight (at least spotlight.
100 watt), or a helmet or headband mounted 12 volt • D
aylight drives or ‘battues’ may be effective. These
(35 watt) spotlight involve the use of unarmed beaters, often with
• f ox whistle (for making artificial rabbit distress calls), trained dogs, to drive feral cats either into a line of
if desired people waiting with firearms or up into trees where
• first aid kit they are shot. This method requires the use of many
people and only small areas can be covered.
• lockable firearm box
• I f dogs are used to flush feral cats out from
• lockable ammunition box
vegetation and/or up into trees, they must be
Procedures adequately controlled to prevent them from
attacking cats. Dogs should only be trained to drive
Identification of feral cats cats from cover, not to capture or attack them.
• F
eral cats are similar in appearance to domestic For further information on the use of dogs refer to
cats; however when in good physical condition, the GEN002 The care and management of dogs used for
feral cat has increased overall muscle development, pest animal control.
which is especially noticeable around the head, • D
aylight drives are not selective, so there is a risk of
neck and shoulders, giving the animal a more robust encountering other animals, including pet cats, which
appearance.
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 CAT001: Ground shooting of feral cats

can be mistaken for a feral cat and shot. Also, if dogs Temporal position (side view)
are used, they may pursue and sometimes catch non- Aim horizontally from the side of the head at a point
target animals. Capture of feral cats or non-target midway between the eye and the base of the ear.
species by dogs is unacceptable on animal welfare
grounds. Chest Shot
Side view
Target animal and point of aim
The firearm is aimed horizontally at the centre of
• The objective is to fire at the closest range
a line encircling the minimum girth of the animal,
practicable in order to reduce the risk of non-
immediately behind the forelegs. The shot should
lethal wounding. Accuracy is important to achieve a
be taken slightly to the rear of the shoulder blade
humane death.
(scapula). This angle is taken because the scapula
One shot should ensure instantaneous loss of
provides partial protection of the heart from a direct
consciousness and rapid death without resumption of
side-on shot.
consciousness.
• When using a rifle, the target animal must be
• A feral cat should only be shot at when:
stationary and within a range that permits accurate
―― it can be clearly seen and recognised placement of the shot. Shots to the head are
―― it is within the effective range of the firearm and preferred over chest shots.
ammunition being used • When using a shotgun, the target animal may be
―― a humane kill is highly probable. If in doubt, do NOT stationary or mobile, but must be no more than 20
shoot. metres from the shooter. The pattern of shot should
• The shooter must aim either at the head, to destroy be centred on the head or chest. It is essential that
the major centres at the back of the brain near the the distance to the target animal is accurately judged.
spinal cord or, at the chest, to destroy the heart, To achieve adequate penetration of shot, the animal
lungs and great blood vessels. This can be achieved must be in range. It is recommended that shooters
by one of the following methods (see Diagrams): practice estimating distances before a shooting
operation.
Head Shot (this is the preferred point of aim)
• T
he target animal should be checked to ensure it is
Frontal position (front view) dead before moving on to the next animal.
The firearm is aimed at the centre of the head When targeting multiple cats in a group (eg mother
slightly below a line drawn midway between the and sub-adult offspring), a number of animals will
ears. need to be shot in rapid succession. In this case, the
animals in the group should be checked to ensure
they are dead before moving on to the next group.
Death of shot animals should always be confirmed by
observing the following:
―― absence of rhythmic, respiratory movements
―― absence of eye protection reflex (corneal reflex) or
‘blink’
―― a fixed, glazed expression in the eyes
―― loss of colour in mucous membranes (become mottled
and pale without refill after pressure is applied).
If death cannot be verified, a second shot to the
head should be taken immediately.

Image: Daryl Panther

4 pestsmart.org.au
Diagram 1: Recommended shot placements for feral cats

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 CAT001: Ground shooting of feral cats

Further information 3. Denny EA and Dickman CR (2010). Review of cat

Contact the relevant federal, state or territory govern- ecology and management strategies in Australia.
ment agency from the following list of websites: Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre,
• Australian Department of the Environment and Canberra.
Energy 4. Environment Australia (1999). Threat Abatement
http://www.environment.gov.au/ Plan for Predation by Feral Cats. Biodiversity Group,
• Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Environment Australia, Canberra.
Resources 5. Gregory N (2003). Assessing the humaneness of pest
http://www.agriculture.gov.au/ control methods. In: Solutions for Achieving Humane
• ACT Transport Canberra and City Services Vertebrate Pest Control. Proceedings of the 2003
http://www.tccs.act.gov.au/city-living RSPCA Australia Scientific Seminar held at the Telstra
Theatre, Australian War Memorial, Canberra 25
• NSW Department of Primary Industries
February, 2003. Royal Society for the Prevention of
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au
Cruelty to Animals Australia, Canberra. Pp 65-84.
• NT Department of Land Resource Management
6. Longair JA, Finley GG, Laniel MA, MacKay C, Mould K,
https://landresources.nt.gov.au/
Olfert ED, Roswell H and Preston A (1991). Guidelines
• QLD Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for euthanasia of domestic animals by firearms.
https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/ Canadian Veterinary Journal 32:724-726.
• SA Department of Primary Industries and Regions 7. Mawson P (1991). Ethics, animal welfare and
http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/biosecurity operational guidelines for the humane shooting of
• TAS Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water pest animals. Agriculture Protection Board of Western
and Environment Australia Infonote.
http://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/ 8. Molsher RL (2001). Trapping and demographics of
• VIC Department of Economic Development, Jobs, feral cats (Felis catus) in central New South Wales.
Transport and Resources Wildlife Research 28:631-636.
http://economicdevelopment.vic.gov.au/ 9. NSW Agriculture, NSW National Parks & Wildlife
• WA Department of Agriculture and Food Service, Rural Lands Protection Boards and NSW
https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/ Police (2003). Feral Animal Aerial Shooting Team
(FAAST) Management and Training System.
Also refer to:
10. Smith G (1999). A guide to hunting and shooting in
The Centre for Invasive Species Solutions
Australia. Regency Publishing, South Australia.
https://invasives.com.au/
or http://www.pestsmart.org.au 11. Twyford KL, Humphrey PG, Nunn RP and Willoughby
L (2000). Eradication of feral cats (Felis catus)
References form Gabo Island, south-east Victoria. Ecological
Management & Restoration 1:42-49.
1. Department of Natural Resources and Mines (2003).
NRM facts. Feral cat ecology and control. Department 12. UFAW (1976). Humane destruction of unwanted
of Natural Resources and Mines, Queensland. animals. Universities Federation for Animal Welfare,
Potters Bar, England.
2. American Veterinary Medical Association (2007).
AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia (formerly The Report 13. UFAW (1980). The ecology and control of feral cats:
of the AVMA Panel on Euthanasia). Proceedings of a symposium held at Royal Holloway
College, University of London, 23—24 September,
1980. Universities Federation for Animal Welfare,
Potters Bar, England.

The Centre for Invasive Species Solutions manages these documents on behalf
of the Invasive Plants and Animals Committee (IPAC), and has reformatted these
in accordance with IPAC meeting no 9, agenda item 3.5. The authors of these
documents have taken care to validate the accuracy of the information at the time
of writing [June, 2012]. This information has been prepared with care but it is
provided “as is”, without warranty of any kind, to the extent permitted by law.

6 pestsmart.org.au Cover image: Bill Crisp