Companion Animals

Cat Outdoor Hunting and Wildlife Welfare

Domestic cats kill billions of wildlife animals annually worldwide, creating a welfare conflict between cat outdoor access and prey animal welfare.

Key Facts

UK domestic cats kill an estimated 55 million birds annually alongside hundreds of millions of mammals
Cats hunt during crepuscular periods regardless of satiation level
Bell collars reduce bird predation by approximately 40%
Scruffs and Birdsbesafe collar covers reduce bird kills by up to 87% in studies
Keeping cats indoors reduces wildlife mortality to essentially zero but has its own welfare implications

Welfare Considerations

Wildlife predation causes acute suffering in prey animals including birds, voles, and shrews. Balancing cat welfare through outdoor access against prey animal welfare requires individual assessment and mitigation measures that reduce hunting without denying outdoor behaviour.

What You Can Do

Fit your cat with a sonic or visual deterrent collar during active wildlife seasons
Keep cats inside at dawn and dusk when birds are most active
Use a Scruffs or Birdsbesafe cover during spring breeding bird season
Consider a cat-secure outdoor enclosure as a compromise solution