Cats Killing Billions: Study Finds Domestic Cats Threaten US Wildlife

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A recent study published in Nature Communications reveals that domestic cats, particularly strays, are responsible for killing an estimated 1.4 billion to 3.7 billion birds and up to 20 billion small rodents annually in the U.S. This positions them as a significant threat to avian and mammal populations, with researchers from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute labeling them as the leading source of human-caused mortality for these species. The discussion highlights strong sentiments against feral and outdoor cats, with some participants advocating for stricter measures to control their populations due to their impact on wildlife. Concerns about the accuracy of the study's estimates are raised, with some arguing that the figures may be exaggerated and questioning the methodology behind them. The conversation also touches on the distinction between feral and domestic cats, with opinions divided on their roles in the ecosystem and the ethics of managing their populations.
  • #31
steve Parker said:
They should never kill wild / feral cats

You seem to be making a common mistake here. "Wild cats" and "feral cats" are two different things. Wild cats are part of the natural ecosystem. Feral cats are not. ("Wild cats" include anything from lions and tigers, down to the domestic-cat-sized "wildcat" (note: one word, not two) which is a different species (Felis silvestris) from the domestic cat (Felis catus).
 
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  • #32
Monique said:
My sister works in a zoo and once brought home one of the feeder mice for her cat. She lived in an apartment on the second floor, so the cat couldn't go outside and practice its instincts. So, she thought, by bringing the mouse the cat could rediscover its roots. She covered the floor in the hallway with newspapers, brought her cat there and released the mouse. Nothing happened, the cat was uninterested and didn't fancy to play or have a meal. Some cats are just cute and fluffy.

What a lazy cat! Maybe that's because your sister always feeds her cat and it doesn't have to make any effort to catch its own food.
 
  • #33
Lisa! said:
What a lazy cat! Maybe that's because your sister always feeds her cat and it doesn't have to make any effort to catch its own food.
I thought a well fed cat made a better mouser.
 
  • #34
Evo said:
We have laws here, it is illegal to allow your cat outdoors unless it's on a leash. It is very rare to see a loose cat now and usually the next day you see a missing cat poster on the grocery store bulletin board.

It's rare to see loose cats in my city, too. Just east of the city, you have coyotes. Just west of the city, you have mountain lions. Through most of the city, you have foxes.

Small outdoor pets, whether cats or small dogs, don't have very long lives.

In fact, workers at the humane society tend to be horrified when yet another small dog is adopted by a resident that seems to adopt a small dog almost once a year.

While baby birds are surely vulnerable to cats, even some of the birds are pretty scary. A pair of mountain magpies had some young very near my house. They would even attack my Golden Retriever, being so bold as to hop along behind my dog, pecking at her tail. My dog took to sitting down whenever the birds came back to harrass her.
 
  • #35
I had a GF in HS that had a cat who would try to to kill something every day. He would bring it to the back stoop of their house and would lug it off as soon as she had seen his kill. I have no idea if he was eating his kill, but he did a number on mice, voles, and ground-nesting birds. He was a friendly cat (to humans), but he was a killer. I would have hated to be an animal smaller than him.

An older friend (about 25 years ago) had a big black tom-cat who was very effective, too. He had lost an eye, probably in a fight with a 'coon, but he would wait in the weeds and tall grass and would bring home his kill day after day. Luckily they had a big barn full of hay, so there were plenty of rodents for winter-hunting. He would present the booty to my friend's wife, so Blackie (original name, huh?) could get some praise.
 
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