Paramount Importance
Paramount Importance, hosted by Marine Scientist Kurt Krispyn, is an educative, informative podcast aimed at sharing knowledge, research, and stories through an open-minded conversational interview about the world around us. The world is an exciting, creative, unknown place with incredible people in search of unravelling its mysteries through science, innovation or exploration. If you're into this, then this is the place you will find it.
Paramount Importance
2025 Ep 8 The Feral Cat Problem with Emeritus Professor Mike Calver and Dr. Heather Crawford
Cuddly companions or cunning killers? Kurt dives deep into the wild, weird, and dangerous world of cats in Australia. With special guests Emeritus Professor Mike Calver and Dr. Heather Crawford from Murdoch University, this episode unpacks the evolution, impact, and mysterious lives of domestic, stray, and feral cats. From ancient Egyptian grain stores to outback ecosystems, discover how cats went from pest control heroes to ecological threats. Hear wild stories—like a toothless feral cat still killing lizards—and learn why Australia's 2.7+ million feral cats are much more than misunderstood fluffballs.
If you’ve ever wondered what your cat really gets up to when it wanders the streets, this is the episode for you.
This episode was recorded in 2019 but released in 2025