The diet and feeding behaviour of feral cats, Felis catus at

Analyses of prey remains (n = 1 224) and stomach contents (n = 125) of feral domestic cats at Marion Island indicated that these exotic predators mainly feed on nocturnal burrow ing petrels (fam. Procellariidae). Seasonality in their diet is discussed and predation rate on the various prey species seems to be a factor of availability rather than selection. An estimate of predation rate based on the energy requirements of the cat population and the caloric content of their most im portant prey species suggested that a single cat kills approxi mately 213 petrels per year. S. Atr. J. Wi/dl. Res. 1980, 10: 123-128 'n Analise van prooioorblyfsels (n = 1 224) en maaginhoude (n = 125) van wilde huiskatte op Marioneiland toon aan dat hierdie uitheemse roofdier hoofsaaklik op naglewende, grawende stormvoels (fam. Procellariidae) voed. Seisoenaliteit in die dieet van huiskatte word bespreek en predasiedruk op die verskillende prooisoorte blyk eerder 'n faktor van beskikbaarheid as seleksie te wees. 'n Skatting van predasiedruk gebaseer op die energiebehoeftes van die katbevolking en die kaloretiese inhoud van hul prooisoorte toon dat 'n enkele kat op ongeveer 213 stormvoels per jaar proo