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Cats and Wildlife: How to Stop your Cat from Being a Killer
We think of our cats as adorable and cuddly but the truth is that they are natural predators, experts at hunting birds and small animals. Cats have excellent eyesight, hearing and sense of smell and are adept at silently stalking their prey. Unfortunately attacks on wildlife are common and cats have been blamed for the global extinction of up to 33 species.
According to Australian Geographic, t he Australian Wildlife Conservancy estimates that each free-ranging cat can hunt between 5-30 animals a night and "cats are the biggest human-linked cause of death for native animals in the US, with a bigger impact than habitat destruction, pesticides, pollution and collisions with cars… free-ranging pet and feral cats in the USA kill perhaps 2.4 billion birds and 12.3 billion mammals each year, most of which are natives, rather than introduced species such as brown rats.”
It is up to us as responsible cat owners to make sure that we protect wildlife, especially native species that are protected or already endangered. There are a number of steps that you can take to reduce the number of attacks -
Bells and mirrors
The simplest way to protect wildlife is to add a bell and mirror to your cat’s collar. The bell will warn wildlife that your cat is approaching and give them a chance to get away. A mirror will also give advance warning by reflecting light. You can also use collars with a sonar beeper that produces high-pitched tones that alerts birds but does not bother us or cats.
Neutering
Neutering or desexing your cat will make them less likely to roam, fight and hunt.
Night-time
Cats are mostly nocturnal hunters who can and will travel fair distances when looking for prey. Keep your cat indoors or enclosed during the night and for the hour before dusk and hour after dawn.
Enclosures and confinement
Even though pet cats are not hunting as their source of food, some cats will still want to hunt more than others. Also, you may live in an area where a lot of wildlife is present. If either is the case, you should consider keeping your cat indoors during the day as well, or having a suitably sized enclosed area outside on a verandah or in the garden. You will need to provide water, litter trays, shelter from the weather, bedding, perches, toys and activities for the cat.
Discipline and training
This may have limited success as hunting, stalking and pouncing are instinctual for cats but it will help discourage them. Spray your cat with water or use special scented deterrent sprays when you notice your cat hunting wildlife.
It is up to us as responsible cat owners to make sure that we protect wildlife, especially native species that are protected or already endangered. There are a number of steps that you can take to reduce the number of attacks -
Bells and mirrors
The simplest way to protect wildlife is to add a bell and mirror to your cat’s collar. The bell will warn wildlife that your cat is approaching and give them a chance to get away. A mirror will also give advance warning by reflecting light. You can also use collars with a sonar beeper that produces high-pitched tones that alerts birds but does not bother us or cats.
Neutering
Neutering or desexing your cat will make them less likely to roam, fight and hunt.
Night-time
Cats are mostly nocturnal hunters who can and will travel fair distances when looking for prey. Keep your cat indoors or enclosed during the night and for the hour before dusk and hour after dawn.
Even though pet cats are not hunting as their source of food, some cats will still want to hunt more than others. Also, you may live in an area where a lot of wildlife is present. If either is the case, you should consider keeping your cat indoors during the day as well, or having a suitably sized enclosed area outside on a verandah or in the garden. You will need to provide water, litter trays, shelter from the weather, bedding, perches, toys and activities for the cat.
Discipline and training
This may have limited success as hunting, stalking and pouncing are instinctual for cats but it will help discourage them. Spray your cat with water or use special scented deterrent sprays when you notice your cat hunting wildlife.
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Funny and Quirky
Sure, cats hunt, but they've been around for 10,000 years. It's only in the last 100 years that species are disappearing. Because of us.
I'd like to see the assault on house and feral cats be rethought because it is contributing to horrible abuse, torture, and killing. And it's escalating.
PetBucket.com, please do your part to stop the abuse. Thank you.