The domestic cat as a possible modifier of vole dynamics

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Abstract
Density variation in population of the field vole Microtus agrestis were surveyed in areas in south-central Sweden with and without an abundance of domestic cats. The fluctuation patterns differed strongly, being non-cyclic in an area with many cats and clearly cyclic in more or less cat-free areas. However, vole density variations in the cat-rich area are still influenced by neighbouring cyclic fluctuations, presumably by mobile predators. Cats are assumed to be able to dampen vole fluctuations when numerous, supplied with continuous alternative food and surrounded by moderately cyclic voles in discontinuous habitat patches. Cats depending on a certain rodent species as sole food may instead increase the cyclicity of this species.

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