Rhetorics of Invasiveness. Cat Management Policies in Italy, Australia, and Scotland

Abstract

In many areas of the world, cats are considered legitimate and significant actors within a shared cultural and ecological landscape, but in other areas of the world, concerns over their predatory behaviour and widespread distribution have led conservation biologists and policy makers to list Felis catus as an invasive alien species. This new categorisation and the ensuing debate have had great resonance where there are conservation projects for native or presumed native wild feline species (such as in Scotland) and in areas such as Australia, where several species are considered endangered. In Italy this debate is less well known and has taken shape in other terms. Starting with a brief comparison of some studies referring to the two examples mentioned, the contribution looks at Italy as a case study to examine how policies and practices surrounding the idea of invasiveness contribute to shaping multi-species relations in a scenario profoundly modified by humans.