Mundane as Australian suburbia might be, we often do get interesting visitors. This multi-part web page contains a selection of recent suburban wildlife pictures of interest, many from test shoots with professional equipment.

A neighbour's four year old Maine Coone on the fence (22/06/2011 D90 / 18-55 mm DX).

Reading Topics on Domestic Cats vs. Australian Environment

1. Lilith, Maggie, Do pet cats (Felis catus) have an impact on species richness and abundance of native mammals in low-density Western Australian suburbia?, PhD Thesis, 2007, Murdoch University.
   
2. Seymour, Frankie, The Great Feral Cat Con Job: The Ungentle Art of Scapegoating and Scaremongering, Position Paper, Animals Australia, North Melbourne, Australia.
   
3. Seymour, Frankie, Cats - An Annotated Bibliography, Position Paper, Animals Australia, North Melbourne, Australia.

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Domestic cats are abundant in Australia, in urban, rural and outback environments. They are agile and highly intelligent predators. Suburban cats may be pets, abandoned pets or feral. Despite being well fed, cats will often hunt for enjoyment. This young Maine Coon tomcat, owned by a neighbour, decided to pose for the camera (19/04/2007).

Maine Coone yawning (06/09/2007)






A neighbour's Maine Coone on the fence (22/06/2011 D90 / 18-55 mm DX).

A neighbour's Maine Coone on the porch (22/06/2011 D90 / 18-55 mm DX).

A neighbour's Maine Coone on the fence (22/06/2011 D90 / 18-55 mm DX).

Portrait of a Maine Coone (22/06/2011 D90 / 18-55 mm DX).

Another well fed specimen of the household Moggie, slightly annoyed at being disturbed (25/04/2007).

Another frequent visitor poses for the camera (07/05/2007).

This seven year old Persian cross tomcat named Smokey, was a frequent but very shy backyard visitor through much of 2009 (above early May, below late July, 2009). Some weeks after the lower image was taken, this animal sought refuge in my laundry, crying for help while dripping blood and pus from a severely infected face wound and left eye. Due to the wound, it had starved for some time and suffered severe weight loss. It was immediately taken to the local veterinary practice. The animal was microchipped, but abandoned by its previous owners, who would appear to have used a bogus backup telephone number during registration, and failed to update the registry when moving out  of the suburb. As a result they were impossible to locate.  After 24 hours the cat was sadly put down, as its odds of survival even if treated were extremely low due to its emaciated condition - had it sought refuge sooner it could have been saved. A very sad ending for an attractive, and as I learned, a very affectionate animal. The lower image actually shows the face wound in its early stages - not obvious without the zoom lens and enhancement.

Unexpected backyard tenants arrived on the 8th October, 2009, aged around three and a half weeks. All four and the abandoned mother were fed and sheltered, and all kittens placed with private owners or pet shops at 8-10 weeks of age (08/10/2009).

Two of four. The brown kitten was the Alpha female in the litter (11/10/2009)



This shy little tomcat went to a private owner at ten weeks of age (16/10/2009)



Another image of same (23/10/2009).



Three out of four plus mother (23/10/2009).



Smaller of two toms (23/10/2009).

Alpha female in the litter (29/10/2009)

Tomcat circa seven weeks of age. Note the ghost mackerel tabby pattern in the black coat (09/11/2009).

The same tomcat circa twelve weeks of age (above) and (below) seven months of age  (courtesy of new owner in rural Victoria).

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Kitten Development 1 - 8 Weeks (Jan - Feb 2010)

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One day old kittens (05/01/2010).

Kittens at 10 days (15/01/2010).

Kittens at two weeks (19/01/2010).

Kittens at three and one half weeks (29/01/2010).

Kitten at four weeks (06/02/2010).


Above, below: kittens at five and one half weeks (14/02/2010).

Above, below: kittens at six and one half weeks (29/01/2010).

Kitten at seven weeks (25/02/2010).

Above, below: kittens at eight weeks. Weight between 900 - 1,100 grams each (02/03/2010).

All four depicted kittens were placed in new homes by mid March, 2010.

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Australian Suburban Wildlife

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