Domestic and feral cats kill billions of birds and small mammals annually; managing this impact requires approaches that address both wildlife welfare and cat welfare simultaneously.
Cat predation on wildlife creates a genuine tension between cat welfare and wildlife welfare. Outdoor access benefits cat welfare through exercise, natural behaviour expression, and environmental stimulation. But outdoor cats are effective predators whose kills represent welfare harm and conservation impact for birds and small mammals. The welfare-positive solution addresses both dimensions: catios and enclosed outdoor spaces provide outdoor access without predation; bell collars reduce but do not eliminate bird catches; keeping cats indoors with comprehensive enrichment provides welfare while protecting wildlife. The feral cat population requires different management approaches including trap-neuter-return combined with adoption, and in conservation-critical areas, more intensive control.