How Free-Roaming Outdoor Cats Impact Birds
Feral and roaming cats are the leading human-related cause of bird deaths across the globe.
In fact, all of the other causes of bird deaths, such as building glass, poisons, and do not come close to the mortality rate attributed to cats.
There’s no question: cats are lovable companions and efficient hunters. But when left unsupervised, they can be harmful to birds and other populations.
Outdoor cats kill 2.4 billion birds annually, according to a 2013 study from the American Bird Conservancy. Photo by Darragh Furey on Unsplash
By the numbers:
100 million
2.4 billion
63 species
free-roaming cats in North America—most of which are not pets, but “wild” feral cats
birds kilirled yearly by outdoor cats in the U.S. and Canada
of birds, mammals, and other small animals whose extinction has been attributed to free-roaming cats
Solutions for Cats & Birds, Alike
To promote a safer environment for birds and cats, we’d recommend these best practices:
- Keep cats indoors. If they need to go out, ensure they are supervised or on cat patios.
- Spay or neuter cats to mitigate over-populating and stray cats.
- Ensure birdfeeders are high enough that cats can’t easily reach them.
- Support local shelters that rehome stray or wild cats.
- Learn more about birds and how to help them thrive.
Northern Flicker at a bird feeder | Photo via Bill Massaro, Buffalo Audubon
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Related Reading:
Explore these other helpful resources on how to create a positive environment for both cats and birds, and more.
Header photo by David Clode on Unsplash