Australian Cats And Their Impact A Major Environmental Issue By Mahdawi

Kevin Roy
Eli Long
Essay 2
Engl 200
Environmental Threat in Australia In the editorial, “It’s time Australia recognized cats and their impact as a major environmental issue” by Arwa Mahdawi, Mahdawi makes the claim that cats are the number one threat to the environment in Australia. Throughout the editorial Mahdawi provides several pieces of evidence from sources such as the Australian State of the Environment report as well as the National Parks and Wildlife Service, that show that cats have been negatively affecting the Australian environment ever since their introduction and increased popularity. Furthermore, Mahdawi emphasizes her claim to her audience of Australian cat owners, as she states that the most effective way in saving the Australian

The increased impact of climate change on the environment has been rising at a rapid rate in recent years due to the release of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere, which directly leads to increases in temperature, coral bleaching, and a change in rainfall patterns. According to the Australian Government’s Department of Agriculture “In the 2019-2020 fire season, it is estimated that over 1 billion animals were killed, including many endangered species.” This number is quite staggering as a large majority of forest fires are either started or made worse by climate change as there is less moisture in the air and an increase in temperature which makes the fire harder to control. More so, Mahdawi states that “The State of the Environment report found (cats) kill up to 2.4 billion animals each year – mostly native species.” This figure combined with the forest fire number amounts to over 3.4 billion animals that are killed yearly due to just climate change and cats. This number is only continuing to rise annually as the increase in forest fires and cat-related deaths is continuing to grow at an exponential rate. The impact that cats and climate change have on the environment doesn’t just affect animals, it is also estimated that in 2019-2020 the economic impact of these causes amounted to over 100 billion dollars affecting every person living in Australia in some

Other issues such as habitat loss, climate change, and invasive species pose just as much if not more of a threat to the Australian environment and its native species, than cats. Although cats are estimated to kill billions of native animals every year, other invasive species such as foxes, rabbits, and cane toads also pose a significant threat to not only Australian wildlife, but also the Australian economy in that billions of dollars are lost each year. It is important to prioritize efforts to limit these larger and more pressing threats to the environment while simultaneously addressing the impact of cats. This can include measures such as restoring and protecting habitats, reducing greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate the effects of climate change, and investing in research and management efforts to control the spread of invasive species. By addressing these larger issues, rather than focusing on the smaller ones, we can create a healthier and more sustainable environment for all species, including our beloved pets and family.
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Works Cited
"(N.D.). Issues with No End in Sight." Panda.Org, 31 Dec. 2021, wwf.Panda.Org/wwf_offices/australia/environmental_problems_in_australia/.

"Habitat Loss Is the Top Threat to Australia's Species." Phys.Org, 17