Feral and Free Roaming Cats and Wildlife

Cats are estimated to kill hundreds of millions of birds and more than a billion small mammals nationwide each year. Cats are not discriminate hunters and kill plentiful as well as rare and endangered species. Domestic cats are efficient, non-native hunters and are contributing to the decline of bird populations. They have advantages over native predators, they have a dependable source of food and do not have to rely on hunting to stay alive as wild predators do.

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act prohibits the hunting, taking, capturing, or killing or any migratory bird. Owners of free-roaming cats are allowing their pets to kill the very birds protected by this law. Many owners think that if their cat is well fed it will not hunt. This sadly is not true. Many owners think that by placing a bell on the cats collar will prevent their cat from killing wildlife, but cats will learn to silently stalk prey and the bell may ring too late. Bells offer no protection for nestlings, fledglings or infant mammals. Most cat attack birds and mammals die due to the bacteria cats carry in their mouth. The smallest puncture can cause severe damage and even if treatment is started immediately, only around 20% of these patients live.

The only way to prevent domestic cat predation on wildlife is for owners to keep their cats indoors!

Cats not only pose a risk to wildlife, but wildlife can pose a risk to cats. Outdoor cats are at risk of contracting rabies and other diseases.

The following are pictures of cat attack birds. None of these birds survived.