The Tailless Whip Scorpion Population in my Garden is at Risk

[ampersand]

Hello. I have returned, once again, in need of advice in a relatively desperate situation.

We got a black kitten last Christmas named Shadow (I bet you can already see where this is going). The kitten has since grown into a young cat and goes hunting every evening. He normally brings back geckos, which I try to save, and cockroaches, which I kill. If you've read my previous threads, you'll know that tailless whip scorpions (specifically Damon annulatipes, as pointed out by a few comments from the threads) inhabit my garden because I live in quite a humid part of South Africa. It turns out that my garden is absolutely full of them because, occasionally, Shadow brings in a whip scorpion. I am always devastated by this as they usually die shortly after, and have cried a few times because I love these beautiful creatures.
There was a rare case recently in which one survived and seemed unharmed. I held it for a while to make sure it was ok. The weirdest tingling sensation came over my hand as I held it, kind of like I was afraid but also extremely protective. It was strange. But anyway, when I'd evaluated that it would survive (and taken these shaky pics) I let this whip scorpion go behind a big outdoor basin, which I've seen others living behind. Shadow seems to not be able to get to them or else he just hasn't discovered it yet. (Side note. A few nights, if not the night, after I let that one go, I noticed a large lizard behind the basin. I was afraid it had eaten all the whip scorpions there but I checked a few nights later and saw one poking it's anntenniform legs out the side.)
So this has really been stressing me out a bit. Even though there seems to be an infinite supply of whips from my garden, one day Shadow will find the last one and the population will have died, which saddens me. I try my best to keep an eye on Shadow at night, rush to where he is if I hear him playing with a small animal, but even then I'm usually too late.

Should I set up a proper tank with the right environment, and capture the whip scorpions that survive to try and save them? My last attempt at this failed, though that could have been for a number of reasons. Or would it be best if I just try to stay more alert and get to Shadow in time? Should I try to train him not to catch things? Is that possible for a cat? Should I try to keep him inside at night?
I would really love to keep whip scorpions but I'm afraid of my own inadequacy to keep them alive and well. What should I do?

Thanks for reading

 

[ThemantismanofPA]

1) I am so jealous
2) you might want to just contain the kitten? Or I would definitely make a tank. However, it seems like such a shame to let an entire population be killed off

 

[Albireo Wulfbooper]

If you care about the cat, it's best to keep the cat indoors anyway - it's far less likely to be killed by an animal or car, and less likely to contract a disease or parasite. This will also keep your whip spider population safer.

 

[chanda]

The best solution would be to just keep the cat inside. It is in their nature to hunt and kill smaller creatures, no matter how well-fed they are, so attempting to train the cat not to catch things will be pretty close to impossible. It is equally unlikely that you'll be able to beat him to the whip spiders when he's stalking them, or be able to rescue them after he's grabbed one.

Even though cats like to go outside and hunt things, it is better for the cat if it is kept indoors, where it will be protected from parasites, diseases, predators, and passing cars. The cat will live longer that way, will be healthier - and your whip spider population will be safe.

 

[RS4guy]

You cat should be an indoor cat only. ALL cats should. Domestic outdoor cats/feral cats are one of the biggest ecology disruptions, period.

 

[ampersand]

Thank you everyone. I managed to keep Shadow inside last night and will be doing so every evening from now on