A neighbor has six cats, and they are all outdoors. I saw one of them with a small bird in its jaws in my front yard. The cats’ owner told me he witnessed another bird kill, which he found regrettable, but not very important. There have probably been more bird deaths we didn’t witness, because four of the six cats were last year’s kittens and are now this year’s energetic young adults, doing what comes naturally to cats, including hunting and killing birds.
Neighborhood cats also poop in our gardens, which make us want to wring their furry little necks. But we get over it after we wash our hands or hose off our shovels. You can’t stay angry with a cat for being a cat. But killing birds … that’s harder to forgive.
A big study of all the cat v. bird research published in 2013 estimated that cats kill between 1.3 and 4.0 billion birds in North America each year. The authors estimate that 69 percent of cat kills are the work of “un-owned” cats, including those people feed but don’t own, and those that are completely feral.
Still, even 31 percent of bird deaths caused by the cats we own is a lot of dead birds. And the decline of bird populations from all causes is alarming. A major 2019 study reported that in North America there is “a net loss approaching 3 billion birds, or 29% of 1970 abundance,” and that “A continent-wide weather radar network also reveals a similarly steep decline in biomass passage of migrating birds over a recent 10-year period.”
There is a passionate debate about whether the numbers are accurate. The uncertainty will create many jobs for future researchers.
In the meantime, we need to think about solutions.
BBC reported in 2018 that “A small village on the southern coast of New Zealand is planning to implement a radical plan to protect its native wildlife: ban all domestic cats. Under the initiative, proposed by Environment Southland, cat owners in Omaui will have to neuter, microchip and register their moggies with local authorities. After their pet dies, cat lovers in the community will then not be allowed to get any more.”
The same story quotes Dr. Peter Marra, the head of the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center and one of the authors of the controversial 2013 study, who said "Cats make wonderful pets - they're spectacular pets! But they shouldn't be allowed to roam outside - it's a really obvious solution. We would never let dogs do that. It's about time we treat cats like dogs."
Neither of those solutions is likely to be accepted here any time soon, but it’s not as if we have better alternatives.
Rounding up all the feral and semi-feral cats and euthanizing them would be one, but of course the very idea makes animal welfare advocates howl. Apparently, people are more likely to advocate for animals with fur than feathers.
Another obvious helpful measure would be for everyone who owns cats to keep them indoors. That works fine with cats who are raised indoors, if their owners make sure they get some exercise, don’t overfeed them, and comply with their demands for admiration and affection.
But once a cat is used to outdoor freedom, most cat owners would think it cruel to confine them indoors. That’s one reason outdoor cat enclosures – called catios – are becoming more popular.
Some cat owners also keep their cats indoors at night – from before dusk to mid-morning, during the times when birds are most active. That reduces the bird body count, but doesn’t end it. Still, when those cats lives end, we might hope that their owners might be ready for an indoor cat, or no cat at all.
Marra’s wish that the rules for outdoor cats match the rules for outdoor dogs might be a very long time coming, but it can and should happen. Keeping cats indoors or confined to a catio is a kindness to birds, but also a way to protect cats from cars and coyotes. A neighbor who found the mangled remains of his beloved cat in his yard one morning would testify to this.
There was certainly a time when dogs roamed freely and pooped in people’s yards. There was also a time when people smoked indoors – even in doctors’ waiting rooms.
We can, over time, mend our ways and change our habits. Today, it’s very rare to find dog poop on the lawn; someday, one hopes it will be even rarer to find cat poop in our gardens – or to count domestic cat-caused bird deaths in the millions or billions.
Jill Severn writes from her home in Olympia, where she grows vegetables, flowers, and a small flock of chickens. She loves conversation among gardeners. Start one by emailing her at jill@theJOLTnews.com
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KatAshe
I found Ms. Severn’s article of particular interest. I lived in the U.K. for many years where British government authorities estimate that pet and feral cats are responsible for massive bird depopulation.
I have been a cat owner most of my life. Mine are always spayed or neutered, fully vaccinated and exclusively indoors. I never have to worry about run ins with opossums, raccoons, dogs, automobiles, infectious deseases or other cats.
Saturday, March 9 Report this
KellyOReilly
Thank you Jill, for writing about this important topic. As a life-long animal lover, cat owner, and retired environmental scientist, I agree wholeheartedly that domestic cats should not be allowed to roam freely! As you point out in your article, free-roaming and feral cats impact avian populations all over the world and the cats end up suffering from depredation, vehicle strikes and disease. All of which can be prevented if human beings took more responsibility. As a cat lover, my heart sinks every time I see the all too common missing cat posters around town. And I hate seeing free roaming cats pass through our yard because I know they are hunting for birds and other wild prey. And I worry about those cats getting poisoned by taking small rodents that may have ingested rodenticides. Please keep your cats inside folks!
Saturday, March 9 Report this
JJmama
I am a convert.
I love cats....but any future cat pets will be exclusively indoor.
I grew up with, and have invited into my life many cats which weren't....thinking it was a bit cruel to keep a cat indoors only, disallowing it to exercise its catty-ness outdoors in the big world. They do have that nature....but we live in a world in which birds have become truly and alarmingly and catastrophically decreased in populations....and we must change that narrative.
That's the bottom line.
It's bad enough that we use toxic pesticides and herbicides to the extent we do, which harms the avian population. But cats are no doubt the #1 danger to our ''backyard' birds and it's up to each one of us to put an end to that danger.
If we want a cat, then we treat it like we would any other pet---whether it be a dog, a hamster, a ferret, a caged bird, a monkey, a snake or a fish: we don't let them run around outside, loose.
My last two beloved cats, which moved with our family to the NW, from Wisconsin....were both lost in the same 3 months, to the 'outdoors'. A combination of fireworks, racoons, coyotes and/or other wild predators took them away from us.
But now I know it was really WE--who let them go.
If they'd been indoor cats, they would have had long and rich lives being loved and tended to, and we could have shared much longer in their wonderful cat-ness.
I wish I'd known better, sooner.
Saturday, March 9 Report this
Terrilovesanimals
Both birds and cats have a place on this earth. Research also shows that cats most likely go after the sick, aging or young birds that have fallen out of the nest. This is all nature's way of population control. Indoor/outdoor cats tend to live longer since they get exercise and fresh air. As far as dog **** on lawns. You are too funny. Owners sure don't mind letting them **** and not picking it up in the little common areas in neighborhoods or in parks! Humans tried controlling wolves and look what a mess humans created. What happens when there are too many birds? Not enough food and other things. I love my birds but not the **** I find all over my patio! I will take the **** just so I can have the birds visit. My cats are out there with them and have never even chased ONE !!!
Saturday, March 9 Report this
PegGerdes
This article really struck a chord! Two young adult cats who belong to our neighbors kinda live in our yard - a lot. We love their slinkiness and furry presence - but hate that they lie in wait for the birds ... and probably, after some time, will deter birds from visiting our yard at all.
Sunday, March 10 Report this
AugieH
Scientists have determined that habitat loss is the biggest driver of bird declines. I don't see Jill protesting the loss of the trees cut down for new housing and business developments.
Tuesday, March 12 Report this
oldgar9
A cat owner that lets the animal roam is an irresponsible owner, roaming cats not only kill BILLIONS of birds, (not only the sick or injured as one commented) but also puts cats in harms way as to becoming road kill, exposure to disease, or coyote kills. If one cannot treat a cat with the care it needs then this is not the pet for you.
Thursday, March 28 Report this