Data and code from: Personality matters: Owner-€ascribed personality predicts range size tendencies and predation behavior in domestic cats

Free-ranging domestic cats (Felis catus) are recognized as invasive and
efficient predators on islands, although their impact on continental
wildlife remains poorly understood. Predation behavior and space use are
key indicators for estimating the influence of these felines on prey
populations through direct killings and sublethal effects (landscape of
fear). Previous work highlighted – and debated – the importance of
biological (sex, age) and environmental (habitat type) factors as well as
owner-related habits (feeding, play, hygiene) in shaping hunting and
roaming behaviors. However, the influence of individual behavioral
characteristics, known as personality, remains largely unexplored. In this
study conducted in a suburban area south of Paris, we monitored 23
domestic cats using combined GPS and animal-borne camera devices (or
“kittycams”) between March and May 2025. Cat predation behavior was
analyzed using a detailed ethogram, and space use was studied through two
parameters: core range (aKDEc50) and full range (aKDEc95). Although
additional data would certainly strengthen our conclusions, our results
already reveal that personality affects both range size and hunting
propensity. More precisely, cats with high levels of agreeableness and
neuroticism have smaller range sizes and hunt less than other individuals.
Moreover, animal-borne cameras are far more reliable than the prey-report
method to assess predation events and prey diversity, as only one prey was
discovered of the 31 caught in total. These results pave the way for
tailored, effective, and ethical management measures to mitigate the
impact of domestic cats on wildlife.