Today is International Cat Day

My mother claimed that my first word was “cat.” By the time I was 5 years old, we had three pet cats in our home. Additionally, one of those cats had kittens, which was an unforgettable experience for a young child. Of course, this was before the days of the awareness that it is better to spay and neuter family cats. People now are conscious of the damage domestic cats can do to local ecosystems, and how unwanted cats become strays, without homes or families to love them. 

Domesticated cats have been our companions for thousands of years, as far back as 12,000 years ago. Unlike other animals, scientists believe that cats domesticated themselves! That makes perfect sense. Anyone who has spent time with cats knows everything they do has to be their own idea. Cats are fiercely independent and do as they please. It is believed that cats originally started hanging out near human settlements seeking food, and possibly protection and shelter. 

In Florida, we have two wild cat species, the Florida panther and the bobcat. The bobcat is considered common and fairly abundant, whereas the Florida panther is critically endangered due in large part to loss of their habitat. Bobcats have a home range of 5-30 square miles; in contrast, male Florida panthers need 200-250 square miles, and female panthers need 50-80 square miles. Female territories can overlap, but males, on the other hand, aggressively defend their territories. These large territories are just not available anymore; habitat fragmentation is a real problem. Panthers cannot roam safely in Florida without running into housing developments, golf courses, cities, or without the risk of crossing roads and highways.

It is hard to imagine that anywhere in Florida can accommodate these big cats. Humans are taking up all the space, cutting down forests, building over swamps, encroaching on critical panther habitat. We are not considerate enough to leave room for Florida’s true locals and official state animal.

Florida panthers have been endangered since March 11, 1967. In 1995, scientists believed there were fewer than 30 adult panthers in the wild and the population was weak because of inbreeding. The genetic health of this small population was at risk. Both birth defects and genetic abnormalities occurred, including kinked tails, swirling hair whorls (cowlicks), and internal issues such as congenital heart defects and undescended testicles.

In an effort to save the species, the Florida Panther Genetic Restoration Program brought eight female Texas cougars to South Florida in 1995 and released them there. By 1997, the cougars had bred with Florida panthers and produced offspring. The population has since grown to nearly 200 individuals. Unfortunately, habitat loss, deaths from road accidents, and a lack of prey species are worse than ever. You can save a species, but you also have to save space for them to live, roam, hunt, and find mates outside their home range. 

Currently, conservation efforts focus on physically rehabilitating injured panthers or orphaned juveniles and on landowner incentive programs that encourage habitat restoration on private property. The Florida Wildlife Corridor and the construction of dedicated highway wildlife underpasses are important tools for panther survival.

The species Puma concolor includes many regional variants across the United States, including the Florida panther, the mountain lion of the West, the catamount (short for "cat of the mountain”) in New England, and the cougar in Texas and the Eastern United States. 

These pumas are truly impressive animals. The largest individuals of this species live the furthest north of the equator, and males can weigh over 200 pounds. Florida panthers are large cats, but they are small pumas because they live in a hot climate, which limits their size. Pumas can leap 15-18 feet vertically and up to 45 feet horizontally. In Florida, they are generally very shy, secretive, and elusive. But because of their shrinking habitat and habitat fragmentation, it is inevitable that they encounter humans more often. We are in THEIR territory. 

If you have a cat at home, do something special for them today, on International Cat Day. It is wonderful to have a cat in your life; they are amazing animals who have chosen to live their lives with us. I truly appreciate that!

Comments and suggestions welcome: naturesreflectionfo@gmail.com