Attitudes towards predation by domestic cats in UK nature reserves differs between conservation researchers and conservation practitioners and is affected by cat ownership

Domestic cats are the most abundant vertebrate predator in many regions, but the acceptability of management strategies to reduce their effects on wildlife among conservation researchers and practitioners is unclear. We conducted a survey of UK-based conservation researchers and practitioners, using eight key statements on cat risks and management strategies, and assessed whether cat ownership influenced attitudes. While both researchers and practitioners agreed that cats were harmful to wildlife and management was needed, researchers were more concerned about cats entering nature reserves and less supportive of trap-neuter-release (TNR) than practitioners. Furthermore, cat ownership affected perceptions, with cat owners less likely to agree that cats threaten wildlife or support management strategies such as building buffer zones around nature reserves. Together, both occupation and cat ownership affected attitudes toward cats. This study could guide future campaigns in designing management strategies for nature reserves to reduce the effects of domestic cats on wildlife.