Patrick A. Biñas, Royce Clea Maristel A. Gonzaga, Krystal Lin Grace A. Navarro (March 2013)
Philippine Science High School Western Visayas Campus – Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PSHS WVC), Brgy. Bito-on, Jaro, Iloilo City 5000, Philippines
Abstract
As feral cats abundance increase, they can cause significant losses to populations of native birds, small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. Feral cats can also transmit several disease to human and to other animals, as these diseases pose risks to public health. These diseases include cat scratch fever, plague through fleas, rabies, ringworm, salmonellosis, and toxoplasmosis (Hildreth and others 2010). A plant, a microorganism, or an animal is considered a pest when it has harmful effects on humans, their food and/or their living conditions. Pests include animals which carry disease-causing microorganisms and parasites (Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing 2010). As feral cats can be considered to be a disease-carrying organism, they can be considered as pests. The most effective approach to deal with feral cats is through Integrated Pest Management, which is the timely use of a variety of control methods to reduce impacts of tolerable levels. There is only a need of feral cat management when feral cats are presented as a public health risk to humans, either through the transmission of zoonotic disease or contamination of the environment through urine and feces. In Philippine Science High School WVC, feral cats are observed roaming around the school compound. This presents them as a risk or a threat to PSHS scholars’ health and safety. As we don’t know the specific number of feral cats roaming in PSHSWVC, we will determine their relative abundance, through Cat Sighting Reports. Information about the population of the feral cats in PSHSWVC is needed before considering pest management options. There are 133 cat sightings in one month in different areas of Philippine Science High School. This is not much of a number considering the average of number of cat sightings is 4 cat sightings in one day. Pest management may not be an option considering also that there were no incidents of any of the students, including the staffs and the teachers, acquiring diseases or wounds that feral cats may cause.