Picture this: walking through a dark path on a remote Scottish island on a cold spring evening, feeling like you’re being watched. As you walk on, the unsettling feeling continues, until you switch on your phone torch, only to discover dozens of luminescent eyes glowing in the dark, revealing multiple dark beings watching you. This is how we imagine world cat domination would start if it was an apocalypse movie, as the Isle of Barra in the Outer Hebrides has revealed a huge amount of feral cats present on the small island.
Not-for-profit organisation Western Isles Support for Cats and Kittens (Wisck) has reported a colony of around 20 feral cats living on the island right now, presenting a significant risk to the local ecosystem due to inevitable overpopulation if nothing gets done. However, local volunteers have now started trapping the cats and bringing the animals to Stornoway for neutering and checkups.
The charity has commented the Isle of Barra has had a problem with feral cats for years, as locals kept barn cats for pest control years ago, which resulted in more homeless descendants. Now, there are few rodents on the island, meaning the cats could start catching local wildlife, presenting new risks to the fragile ecosystems.
Karen Cowan, of Wisck, told the BBC: “You see 20 cats but there could be 30 because some don’t appear at a house for food, but they are members of the same colony.”
“The breeding season for feral cats is April to September, depending on the weather and how well-fed they are. Their number could triple by next winter.”
Karen Cowan further expressed: “We need to protect the fragile eco-system as well as the welfare of the cats.”
Plus, the Isle of Barra is not only being taken over by cats – it is also home to the only beach airport in the world, Barra Airport. The runway is a tidal beach, where visitors can go for a stroll when the airport is closed.
Could you adopt the cats?
As a matter of fact, the cats will be up for adoption once they are neutered, checked and recovered through Western Isles Support for Cats and Kittens (Wisck). However, not all of the cats have been trapped yet, so it might take some time.
What is more, the charity is asking for donations to help with the trapping and neutering process, and you can donate on their website.
When is World Cat Domination Day?
World Cat Domination Day takes place on June 24. It celebrates the unique kinship cats have developed with humans over thousands of years, making it a truly unique holiday.