Development of the Mata Hari Judas Queen (<i>Felis catus</i>)
Cats (<i>Felis catus</i>) are significant predators of mammals, birds, frogs and reptiles and are implicated in mammal species extinctions in Australia. Current controls fail to eradicate entire populations allowing survivors to re-establish. The use of the Mata Hari Judas (MHJ) techniqu...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-10-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/10/1843 |
| _version_ | 1797551447204691968 |
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| author | Peter J. Murray Melanie Rogie Natalie Fraser Julia Hoy Samantha Kempster |
| author_facet | Peter J. Murray Melanie Rogie Natalie Fraser Julia Hoy Samantha Kempster |
| author_sort | Peter J. Murray |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cats (<i>Felis catus</i>) are significant predators of mammals, birds, frogs and reptiles and are implicated in mammal species extinctions in Australia. Current controls fail to eradicate entire populations allowing survivors to re-establish. The use of the Mata Hari Judas (MHJ) technique, i.e., inducing prolonged oestrus using hormone implants, can enhance the eradication of remnant animals and would greatly improve conservation efforts. The hypotheses tested were that hormone implants could induce prolonged oestrus in queens (adult female cats), and that prolonging oestrus would result in sustained attractiveness to toms (adult male cats). Queens (<i>n</i> = 14) were randomly allocated to five treatments including a control and four treatments using hormone implants. Queens were observed daily; alone and during indirect contact with a tom for 30 consecutive days. There were significant increases (<i>p</i> < 0.001) in oestrus duration (19 to 27 days) for entire and ovariohysterectomised queens given Compudose100™ implants (1/8 or 1/4 implant). This study shows that it is possible to induce and prolong oestrus in queens using Compudose100™ implants where these queens are attractive to toms. The MHJ queen is a new tool with the potential to enhance the detection and thus the control of feral cats in remnant populations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:45:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e042acdf26ee4d849ee60fd6aa3dcbc1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:45:14Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-e042acdf26ee4d849ee60fd6aa3dcbc12023-11-20T16:34:21ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152020-10-011010184310.3390/ani10101843Development of the Mata Hari Judas Queen (<i>Felis catus</i>)Peter J. Murray0Melanie Rogie1Natalie Fraser2Julia Hoy3Samantha Kempster4School of Sciences, Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba QLD 4350, AustraliaSchool of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland Gatton campus, Gatton QLD 4343, AustraliaSchool of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland Gatton campus, Gatton QLD 4343, AustraliaHidden Vale Wildlife Centre, The University of Queensland, Grandchester QLD 4340, AustraliaSchool of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland Gatton campus, Gatton QLD 4343, AustraliaCats (<i>Felis catus</i>) are significant predators of mammals, birds, frogs and reptiles and are implicated in mammal species extinctions in Australia. Current controls fail to eradicate entire populations allowing survivors to re-establish. The use of the Mata Hari Judas (MHJ) technique, i.e., inducing prolonged oestrus using hormone implants, can enhance the eradication of remnant animals and would greatly improve conservation efforts. The hypotheses tested were that hormone implants could induce prolonged oestrus in queens (adult female cats), and that prolonging oestrus would result in sustained attractiveness to toms (adult male cats). Queens (<i>n</i> = 14) were randomly allocated to five treatments including a control and four treatments using hormone implants. Queens were observed daily; alone and during indirect contact with a tom for 30 consecutive days. There were significant increases (<i>p</i> < 0.001) in oestrus duration (19 to 27 days) for entire and ovariohysterectomised queens given Compudose100™ implants (1/8 or 1/4 implant). This study shows that it is possible to induce and prolong oestrus in queens using Compudose100™ implants where these queens are attractive to toms. The MHJ queen is a new tool with the potential to enhance the detection and thus the control of feral cats in remnant populations.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/10/1843compudoseoestrusoestrousferal catJudasMata Hari |
| spellingShingle | Peter J. Murray Melanie Rogie Natalie Fraser Julia Hoy Samantha Kempster Development of the Mata Hari Judas Queen (<i>Felis catus</i>) Animals compudose oestrus oestrous feral cat Judas Mata Hari |
| title | Development of the Mata Hari Judas Queen (<i>Felis catus</i>) |
| title_full | Development of the Mata Hari Judas Queen (<i>Felis catus</i>) |
| title_fullStr | Development of the Mata Hari Judas Queen (<i>Felis catus</i>) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development of the Mata Hari Judas Queen (<i>Felis catus</i>) |
| title_short | Development of the Mata Hari Judas Queen (<i>Felis catus</i>) |
| title_sort | development of the mata hari judas queen i felis catus i |
| topic | compudose oestrus oestrous feral cat Judas Mata Hari |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/10/1843 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT peterjmurray developmentofthemataharijudasqueenifeliscatusi AT melanierogie developmentofthemataharijudasqueenifeliscatusi AT nataliefraser developmentofthemataharijudasqueenifeliscatusi AT juliahoy developmentofthemataharijudasqueenifeliscatusi AT samanthakempster developmentofthemataharijudasqueenifeliscatusi |