Wildlife

Wild Bird Predation by Cats

Domestic cats kill an estimated 55 million birds annually in the UK, representing a significant source of preventable wildlife mortality.

Key Facts

UK cats kill an estimated 55 million birds annually according to RSPB estimates
The effect on bird populations is most significant for declining species with low recovery rates
Ground-nesting birds and fledglings are particularly vulnerable to cat predation
Keeping cats indoors at night reduces nocturnal hunting but most kills occur in daylight
Sonic collars have limited evidence for effectiveness without affecting normal vocalisation

Welfare Considerations

Individual birds killed by cats experience the fear and pain of the hunt and capture process. Population-level effects are most significant for already-declining species where each individual bird represents an important contribution to recovery. Measures that reduce cat predation including indoor periods during dawn and dusk hunting peaks, bells and visual deterrent collars, and keeping cats in during fledgling season provide meaningful welfare benefit to wildlife.

What You Can Do

Keep cats indoors at dawn and dusk when hunting activity peaks
Attach a brightly coloured quick-release collar to alert birds to your cat
Keep cats indoors during June and July when garden bird fledglings are vulnerable
Avoid feeding wildlife near known cat access routes
Support research into effective cat predation reduction measures