Feral cats

Felixer grooming traps are a novel, targeted and automated device to help control feral cats using 1080 gel.

Felixer grooming traps are more targeted than traditional baits and less labour-intensive than trapping or shooting. Currently, they are used for controlling feral cats in targeted areas such as sites of high value; threatened species populations in limited areas (e.g. rock wallabies and ground parrots); likely movement corridors, such as along exclusion fences, peninsulas; or riparian vegetation along waterways or areas with high food resources, such as tips. Research is underway to determine their potential for landscape-scale control. Up-front long-term lease costs can be relatively expensive.

Felixers use rangefinder sensors (old units) or a camera-based artificial intelligence system working in tandem with Lidars (new units) to distinguish target feral cats from non-target animals and humans. Targeted feral cats that pass within range of the unit are sprayed with a lethal dose (8 mg) of 1080 toxic gel.

Cats instinctively and fastidiously groom themselves, so a feral cat that has been hit with a dose of toxic gel will inevitably ingest this toxin. The Felixer takes a photograph every time the detection beam is crossed. Managers can use these photos to determine the effectiveness of the unit in targeting feral cats and potential risk to off-target animals as well as monitoring population changes in prey species.

The Felixer is solar-powered and automatically resets after firing. Each unit can hold 20 sealed cartridges of toxic gel before it needs to be reloaded with new cartridges. Currently, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority only allows 10 cartridges to be used at a time, unless it is impractical to service Felixers monthly.

Contact Thylation for costs, training modules and availability of Felixer units.