Spatiotemporal dynamics of free-ranging cats in a peri-urban insular protected area

Across most of their nearly global range, free-ranging cats occupy a complex position at the intersection between invasive species and companion animals, making their management particularly challenging. Despite their cultural and emotional value, they have severe impacts on biodiversity, particularly in insular ecosystems where they frequently prey on conservation-sensitive species. We conducted protected area–wide camera trap surveys in 2021 and 2023 to investigate the spatiotemporal dynamics of free-ranging cats on Madeira Island, off northwest Africa. Using data from 588 trap-nights in 2023, we identified 30 individual cats from 276 detections, indicating a population turnover of 76%. Cat density was estimated at 1.5 cats/km ² − 7% higher than in 2021, corresponding to a population of up to 58 individuals. Cat activity increased over time and with greater open/rocky area cover and cat abundance was negatively associated with rodent activity. Compared to 2021, cat activity was significantly higher at closer proximities to human food resources, while open/rocky areas and rodent activity no longer had a detectable effect. The population of free-ranging cats is increasing within the protected area, and their activity appears less habitat-specific and more dependent on human food subsidies. These findings underscore the importance of revisiting policies that may inadvertently promote cat population growth, and of implementing evidence-based management to reduce their ecological impacts and protect vulnerable native species.