Domestic cat predation of wildlife is both a conservation issue and a welfare consideration for cats, with indoor and enriched environments offering welfare-positive alternatives.
Cat hunting behavior creates a genuine welfare and conservation tension. Hunting satisfies natural motivated behaviors in cats - play, stalking, pouncing, and catching are all intrinsically rewarding activities that provide cognitive and physical exercise. Denying hunting through indoor confinement removes this source of enrichment unless compensatory provision is made. At the same time, cat predation at current free-roaming densities causes wildlife welfare harm and population-level impacts on vulnerable species. The welfare-optimal approach acknowledges both dimensions: providing indoor cats with rich hunting-simulating enrichment while managing outdoor access to protect wildlife. This is not a simple choice between cat welfare and wildlife welfare but a management challenge requiring both to be addressed.