It is an interesting if slightly bizarre thought. The theory is that over a period of say 500 years (my estimate) feral and stray cats will shape-shift to have greater surface to volume ratios which will allow for the dissipation of body heat in animals which maintain a constant temperature (homeothermic). Climate change will and is placing demands on animals who thermoregulate a constant body temperature.

Genes and chromosomes. Image in the public domain.

In order to increase surface area to volume ratios cats’ appendages such as legs will grow. The theory is based on Allen’s rule, a scientific principle from the 1870s which states that animals in warmer climates tend to have larger appendages relative to their body size.

I understand this to mean that in order to dissipate heat from their bodies, evolution gave them large appendages which in turn means the surface area to volume ratio increases.

The larger ears also allow heat to be released from the body. It is why a cat’s ears are warm. The blood vessels are near the surface. This allows internal body heat in the blood to be released to the exterior.

It has been suggested that some animals will develop ‘Dumbo-like’ ears. Researchers have found that species are evolving to allow for heat dissipation due to a warmer planet. Wood mice in Europe have developed larger ears. Galapagos finches have larger beaks.

I have stated that the evolutionary change may affect feral and stray cats for the simple reason that they are outside all the time. Over the forthcoming years domestic cats will be kept inside more often. There will be no evolutionary change as temperatures inside homes are far more stable.

The study is published in the journal Trends in Ecology and Evolution. The research was carried out at Deakin and Brock Universities and the Australian National University.

Australian feral cat described as ‘enormous’. This cat is not enormous but a large feral cat weighing an estimated 23 pounds.

It is said that the feral cats of Australia are larger than normal. Perhaps they have very slightly bigger appendages too in relation to overall body size! They have been on the Australian continent for getting on for 200 years so perhaps they might be an example of evolutionary change due to a warming climate as these were European cats. 200+ years in the blistering heat of Australia has made them rangier. Someone should do a scientific study on the shape-shifting Aussie feral cat.

SOME MORE ON SHOOTING FERAL CATS:

Alley Cat Allies v East Bay Regional Park District over the shooting of feral cats

Alley Cat Allies is engaged in a battle of wills with the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD). I will ...
Read More

Mindless massacre of managed feral cats should be decried internationally

PORT OF NEWCASTLE, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA -- NEWS AND COMMENT: Observers of the way the Australian authorities are dealing ...
Read More

Meet Bill Lewis the feral cat terminator (audio)

Peter Goer interviews Bill Lewis for ABC Radio Adelaide. Peter Goer is a gentleman and asks his guest if he ...
Read More

East Bay Regional Park District staff admit to shooting cats and failing to communicate beforehand

East Bay Regional Park District is a system of parklands and trails in Alameda and Contra Costa counties to the ...
Read More

Coronavirus tells us that Americans love their freedoms

The coronavirus pandemic is escalating rapidly in the United States, as at the date of this post. There were 121,888 ...
Read More

Tasmanian farmers are unnecessarily cruel to feral cats

Background Tasmania is an island state of Australia and sheep farming is a major component of Australia's agricultural industry. The ...
Read More

Can a BB gun kill a cat?

It is sickinening for me that people are asking Google whether a BB gun can kill a cat. When people ...
Read More

City legislators encounter the problem of differentiating between feral and domestic cat

This little feral cat story, from Philip Joens of the Des Moines Register, highlights a problem which is at the ...
Read More