Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38086838›Full record

ArticleNature communications2023

A global synthesis and assessment of free-ranging domestic cat diet.

Christopher A Lepczyk, Jean E Fantle-Lepczyk, Kylee D Dunham, Elsa Bonnaud, Jocelyn Lindner, Tim S Doherty, John C Z Woinarski

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 20 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
20citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

20 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Is the Cat-Owner Relationship Related to Cat-Wildlife Conflicts?Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2026
    Article
  2. Article
  3. Pathogens Associated with Domestic Cats (Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026
    Review
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Variations in the Gut Microbiota of Stray and Domestic Cats.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2026
    Article
  10. Article
  11. Do Peri-Urban Areas Act as Refuges for the European Rabbit (Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2025
    Article
  12. Review
  13. Article
  14. The Wildcat That Lives in Me: A Review on Free-Roaming Cats (Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2025
    Review
  15. Article
  16. Review
  17. Article
  18. Article
  19. Density and Home Range of Cats in a Small Inhabited Mediterranean Island.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2024
    Article
  20. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Christopher A LepczykCollege of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA. lepczyk@auburn.edu.ORCID 0000-0002-5316-3159
Jean E Fantle-LepczykCollege of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-5388-0871
Kylee D DunhamDepartment of Biological Sciences, Nunavut Wildlife Cooperative Research Unit, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2R3, Canada.
Elsa BonnaudEcologie, Systématique et Evolution, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Ecologie Systématique Evolution, 91190, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
Jocelyn Lindner134 Moturata Rd, Taieri Mouth, 9091, New Zealand.
Tim S DohertySchool of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-7745-0251
John C Z WoinarskiResearch Institute of the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, Northern Territory, 0909, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Free-ranging cats (Felis catus) are globally distributed invasive carnivores that markedly impact biodiversity. Here, to evaluate the potential threat of cats, we develop a comprehensive global assessment of species consumed by cats. We identify 2,084 species eaten by cats, of which 347 (16.65%) are of conservation concern. Islands contain threefold more species of conservation concern eaten by cats than continents do. Birds, reptiles, and mammals constitute ~90% of species consumed, with insects and amphibians being less frequent. Approximately 9% of known birds, 6% of known mammals, and 4% of known reptile species are identified in cat diets. 97% of species consumed are <5 kg in adult body mass, though much larger species are also eaten. The species accumulation curves are not asymptotic, indicating that our estimates are conservative. Our results demonstrate that cats are extreme generalist predators, which is critical for understanding their impact on ecological systems and developing management solutions.

Indexed as

BiodiversityMammalsAnimalsBirdsCatsDietEcosystemReptiles

Identifiers

PMID38086838
PMCPMC10716121

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.