Paper short abstract:

Domestic cats pose a biodiversity threat, triggering social conflicts. This paper examines the (de)humanisation of cats in Tenerife, exploring the terms used by key social groups that navigate the boundary between the domestic, the wild, and the feral in the cat-biodiversity debate

Paper long abstract:

Tenerife, renowned for its endemic biodiversity amid tourism-driven urbanism, grapples with the intricate dynamic between domesticity, wildness, and ferality epitomized by the ubiquitous presence of cats. This study delves into the nuances of cat-human relations on the island, examining the divergent perceptions of cats as either domestic companions or wild predators. Ethnographic research unveils viewpoints from key social groups—biologists, hunters, vets, and caretakers—under five classificatory parameters (biology and law, function, property, placement, and human bonding) shaping their perceptions. The paper contends that the varied terms used by these groups reflect different moral ecologies navigating through the domestic, the wild, and the feral in the pursuit of an idealized landscape in Tenerife. Despite a shared diagnosis and goal of addressing the overpopulation of free-roaming cats, conflicting parties differ in their approaches. Biologists define outdoor cats as an invasive alien species, as animals without history, out of place, dwelling in the wild nature. Cats are then conceived in terms of ferality and, hence, killability. Conversely, animal welfare associations claim that behind every single cat there is a story, a human being, framing them in terms of domesticity and care, and advocating for the Trap-Neuter-Return method under a sacrifice zero policy. The domestic/feral divide thus plays a pivotal role in the (de)humanisation of cats and in killing or taking care of them in the face of the threat they may pose to endemic species. Within this crux, when, where, and by whom a domestic cat is considered a feral animal?