Of place' or 'of people

Exploring the animal spaces and beastly places of feral cats in southern Ontario

Bibliographic Data

ID3977822
AuthorsLauren E Van Patter (0000-0002-5317-9484, University of Guelph, corresponding author), Alice J Hovorka (Queen's University)
Year2018
Volume19
Issue2
Pages275-295
Publication date2018-02-17
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueSocial & Cultural Geography (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1464-9365 • E-ISSN: 1470-1197
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/14649365.2016.1275754
OpenAlexW2568527087
LanguageEN
Citations received38
References cited53

Feral cats are contentious and transgressive, with opposing views on whether to classify them as abandoned pets, wild animals, or invasive species. Concerns about their welfare often conflict with fears that they are impacting native fauna. This paper presents the results of a case study of human–feral cat relations that took place in southern Ontario, Canada in 2014. This research investigates the discursive constructions of feral cats and their 'animal spaces' using the results of 40 semi-structured interviews. Following recent calls to move beyond human representations of animals and better integrate animals' geographies, this study also explores the 'beastly places' of feral cats using the results of field observations of 20 feral cat colonies and anecdotal evidence from colony caretakers. The results emphasize the diversity of free-living contexts and the complexity of management options. This paper ends by discussing the place-making practices of cats, along with their potential ethical ramifications. Overall, it illustrates the importance of spatial factors in understanding the complex social and ethical dynamics of human–animal relations, and advances an understanding of nonhuman animals as inhabitants of personally meaningful homes

Criminology · Geography · Sociology · Geographies of human-animal interactions · Human-Animal Interaction Studies · Indigenous Studies and Ecology

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