Cat Predation of Wildlife and Welfare Solutions

Domestic and feral cats kill billions of birds and small mammals annually, creating a major conflict between cat welfare and wildlife welfare.

Key Facts

Studies estimate cats kill 1.3-4 billion birds and 6-22 billion small mammals in the US annually
UK cats kill an estimated 55 million birds annually, though population-level effects are debated
Bell collars reduce predation by up to 41% in some studies
Cats outdoors face higher injury and mortality risk than indoor-only cats
Wildlife-friendly cat enclosures (catios) satisfy outdoor access needs without wildlife harm

Welfare Considerations

The cat-wildlife conflict involves genuine welfare considerations on both sides. Outdoor cats fulfil natural hunting drives and benefit from environmental enrichment, but cause significant wildlife suffering at population scale. Indoor-only keeping eliminates predation but requires rich environmental enrichment to maintain cat wellbeing. Catios and garden enclosures represent a compromise that can protect wildlife while meeting cat behavioural needs. Time of day management — keeping cats in at dawn and dusk — reduces predation of the most active wildlife periods.

What You Can Do

Fit cats with a Birdsbesafe collar cover or bell collar to reduce hunting success
Consider a catio or garden enclosure to provide outdoor access without wildlife predation
Keep cats inside at dawn and dusk when bird and small mammal activity peaks
Desex cats to prevent feral population growth that causes ongoing wildlife harm