OUTDOOR CATS -- One of most destructive wildlife 
predators in Texas might be curled up on your lap ... we'll 
tell you more just ahead on Passport to Texas. 
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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

It's estimated there are more than 100-million cats in America; 
in fact, there are more than 300-thousand in the city of Austin 
alone. While most are considered "house cats" that don't 
venture outside their owner's home, an increasing number are 
free-ranging, or feral cats ... 

"A feral cat is not under the direct care of humans ... they are the ones out 
roaming around." :06

Kelly Bender is a Wildlife Biologist for Texas Parks and Wildlife. 
Because cats are natural predators, feral cats are competing 
with wildlife predators for the same food sources ... 

"They outnumber them and they out-compete them. So they are using the same 
kinds of prey animals that our native predators are using, like hawks and 
exerting an amount of pressure on them." :10

It's estimated that while small mammals such as mice make up 
about 70 percent of a feral cats' prey, birds make up at least 20 
percent. A single cat can kill up to 1,000 animals -- including 
200 birds -- a year.

"They can even cause the endangerment of some species, especially those species 
that are already under pressure from habitat loss or habitat derogation." :11

But it's not all feral cats doing this damage. Coming up on 
tomorrow's show ... 

"From a wildlife management standpoint, we really should be keeping our cats 
indoors." :06

That's our show for today ... .thank you for joining us ... Joel 
Block engineers our program
 
For Texas Parks and Wildlife, I'm Cecilia Nasti