Domestic and feral cats are the leading human-associated cause of bird mortality globally, creating a welfare conflict between companion animal freedom and wild bird survival.
The cat-bird conflict is a genuine animal welfare dilemma where the behavioral freedom of one animal causes welfare harm to billions of others. The solution does not require choosing between caring for cats and caring for birds. Cat enclosures, catio structures, leash training, and indoor living all allow cats to have enriched, healthy lives with dramatically reduced predation impacts. The evidence is clear: indoor cats live longer and healthier lives while eliminating one of the largest preventable causes of bird mortality.