Researchers study feral and free-roaming cats to understand disease risks and conservation impacts
A NEW research project exploring the hidden lives of feral and free-roaming cats in rural Wales could play a key role in efforts to reintroduce the European wildcat to parts of the country.
Scientists from Aberystwyth University, Queen’s University Belfast and the Vincent Wildlife Trust are investigating how free-roaming cats behave, how large their populations are, and the role they may play in spreading diseases to humans, livestock and wildlife.
The findings will help inform ongoing work by the Vincent Wildlife Trust, which is assessing the feasibility of restoring wildcats to areas they once inhabited in Wales.
The true number of feral and free-roaming cats in the UK is unknown. Living largely independently of people, these animals often form loose colonies around sources of food and shelter, such as farms, rural outbuildings and industrial sites. Their elusive nature means they are difficult to monitor, particularly in rural areas.
Researchers warn that such cats can act as reservoirs for zoonotic diseases – infections that can be passed from animals to humans – making them a potential public and veterinary health concern.
The new study will examine free-roaming cat populations across Wales, using camera traps and genetic testing to estimate numbers and track movements across the landscape. By analysing DNA from collected samples, scientists will be able to identify individual cats, determine their sex and assess genetic relationships between populations.
This will help build a clearer picture of how connected different groups are, how far cats travel and whether factors such as inbreeding influence the spread of disease.
Lead researcher Sophie Harries, a OneZoo-funded PhD student at Aberystwyth University, said the study would address a major gap in current knowledge.
“This is the first study of its kind to focus specifically on free-roaming cats in rural environments,” she said. “While urban populations have been studied extensively, rural cats remain largely overlooked.
“Our research will provide vital insights into how zoonotic diseases spread in these landscapes, which is crucial for both public health and wildlife conservation. It will also help organisations refine and target strategies for potential wildcat reintroduction in Wales.”
The project will also explore how free-roaming cats interact with other species, particularly through hunting and feeding behaviours, which can play a significant role in transmitting diseases between animals and people.
To understand what the cats are eating, scientists will analyse faecal samples to identify prey species and dietary patterns. These samples will be processed at Aberystwyth University’s VetHub1 facility, where they will be screened for a wide range of parasites, viruses and bacteria.
Researchers will also examine how factors such as land use, vegetation and human population density influence the spread of disease.
Dr Niall McKeown, a wildlife ecology expert at Aberystwyth University, said feral cats were an important but often overlooked part of rural ecosystems.
“By understanding their movements, interactions and roles as reservoirs for pathogens, we can address key knowledge gaps relevant to animal and human health,” he said. “This research will support disease-prevention strategies across Wales while also benefiting biodiversity conservation.”
Dr Jenny MacPherson from the Vincent Wildlife Trust added that understanding how feral and farm cats interact with wildlife and rural communities was essential.
“Evidence-based research like this helps create solutions that support both farmers and wildlife to thrive side by side,” she said.
The project, titled Investigating the zoonotic infection risk from feral cats in rural landscapes, forms part of the OneZoo initiative, which brings together experts from across the UK to tackle the complex links between wildlife, livestock and human health.
