Animal experts say there has been an unexpected side effect of longer warm periods in Australia — a marked spike in cat numbers.
Extended warmer weather is causing longer kitten "seasons" and for cat breeding to unusually occur in winter, Cat Protection Society of New South Wales chief executive Kristina Vesk said.
"Observationally, no doubt that the weather is having an impact," Ms Vesk told AM.
"Cats' breeding cycles are triggered by hours of daylight, and sunshine and warmth. So when you do have exceptionally warm winters — or you get a burst of warm weather in winter — it does lead cats to believe that it is time to breed."Loading...
Ms Vesk said the so-called "kitten season" is extending for a much longer period.
"I've seen 10 kitten seasons now in my time at Cat Protection and one thing that has been very noticeable is the extension of the season, the fact that it keeps going right through winter," she said.
Ms Vesk said 2013 — officially Australia's hottest year on record — experienced a noticeable spike in kitten numbers.
"Just looking at data going back over several years, we had a quite extreme number of intake of kittens in 2013 and that was pretty much nearly double 2009," she said.
"Freakish warm days in winter can really trigger a whole lot of breeding."
We know that the cat breeding cycle is influenced by the number of hours in the day, and that's why many cats, particularly in colder climates, don't breed during the cold winter months
Feline medicine professor at University of Sydney, Vanessa Barrs, said the science backs up Ms Vesk's observations.
"Absolutely, I think that those observations probably reflect the fact that cats in Australia are more likely to be breeding all year round," Professor Barrs said.
"We know that the cat breeding cycle is influenced by the number of hours in the day, and that's why many cats, particularly in colder climates, don't breed during the cold winter months."
Professor Barr said one female cat can produce up to 40 kittens a year and cat numbers could explode in Australia if owners do not act responsibly.
"What we know is that there are already a large number of unwanted cats in Australia and I think the thing that will influence the most is our ability to desex them early," she said.
Ms Vesk said she agreed desexing cats is critical.
"For the owned-cat population, early age desexing can prevent that," she said.
"But again, some people might be thinking 'well it's the middle of winter and, you know, I can wait until spring'.
"I'd say, don't wait. They will breed when the conditions are right and much of the time the conditions appear to be right."
Wataalamu wa wanyama wanasema kumekuwa na athari isiyotazamiwa ya vipindi virefu vya joto nchini Australia - ongezeko kubwa la idadi ya paka. "Mwaka wa kuzaa kwa paka unaendelea kwa muda mrefu na kwa sababu ya hali ya hewa ya joto, ""wakati wa baridi kali"" ni muhimu kwa jamii ya paka, ""alisema Kristina Vesk, mkurugenzi mtendaji wa Jumuiya ya Ulinzi wa Paka ya New South Wales." "Kwa uchunguzi, hakuna shaka kwamba hali ya hewa ina athari", Bi Vesk aliiambia AM. "Mzunguko wa uzazi wa paka huchochewa na saa za mchana, jua, na joto. "Kwa hivyo wakati una majira ya baridi kali sana au unapata hali ya hewa ya joto wakati wa majira ya baridi kali, inawaongoza paka kuamini kuwa ni wakati wa kuzaliana. """ "Wakili wa Usalama wa Wanyama wa Vesk alisema ""wakati wa kitten"" ni ""wakati wa kutisha"" na ""wakati wa kutisha.""" """Nimeona misimu kumi ya kitten sasa katika muda wangu katika Cat Protection na kitu kimoja ambacho kimekuwa cha kuvutia sana ni upanuzi wa msimu, ukweli kwamba unaendelea kwenda moja kwa moja kupitia majira ya baridi,"" alisema." Ms Vesk alisema mwaka 2013 - rasmi mwaka wa joto zaidi nchini Australia - ulipata ongezeko kubwa la idadi ya paka. "Kulingana na takwimu za miaka kadhaa iliyopita, tulikuwa na idadi kubwa ya watoto wa paka mnamo 2013 na hiyo ilikuwa karibu mara mbili ya 2009,"" alisema." "Siku zenye joto sana wakati wa majira ya baridi kali zaweza kusababisha uzazi mwingi sana". "Kama ilivyoelezwa hapo juu, ""Mwaka wa kuzaliana wa paka huathiriwa na idadi ya masaa katika siku, na hiyo ndiyo sababu paka wengi, haswa katika hali ya hewa baridi, hawazaliani wakati wa miezi baridi ya majira ya baridi, "" profesa wa dawa ya paka katika Chuo Kikuu cha Sydney Vanessa Barrs alisema." """Hakika, nadhani uchunguzi huo unaonyesha ukweli kwamba paka wa Australia wana uwezekano mkubwa wa kuzaliana mwaka mzima,"" alisema Profesa Barrs." "Tunajua kwamba mzunguko wa uzazi wa paka unaathiriwa na idadi ya saa za mchana, na hiyo ndiyo sababu paka wengi, hasa katika hali ya hewa baridi, hawazaliani wakati wa miezi ya baridi ya majira ya baridi kali.""" "Mwanamke mmoja wa paka anaweza kuzaa watoto hadi 40 kwa mwaka na idadi ya paka inaweza kuongezeka sana nchini Australia kama wamiliki hawatende kwa uwajibikaji.""" """Kile tunachojua ni kwamba tayari kuna idadi kubwa ya paka wasiohitajika nchini Australia na nadhani kitu ambacho kitakuwa na ushawishi mkubwa zaidi ni uwezo wetu wa kuwaondoa mapema,"" alisema." Bi Vesk alisema alikubaliana kwamba kuondoa paka ni jambo la muhimu. "Kwa idadi ya paka walio na wamiliki, kuondoa paka wakiwa na umri mdogo kunaweza kuzuia jambo hilo", akasema. "Lakini tena, baadhi ya watu wanaweza kuwa kufikiri 'naam ni katikati ya majira ya baridi na, unajua, naweza kusubiri hadi spring'. "Ningesema, usisubiri. Wao huzaana wakati hali zipo sawa na mara nyingi hali hizo huonekana kuwa sawa".