Study: Cats wiping out backyard wildlife
Reptiles are easy prey. (Photo by Amy E. Ford)
Cats can be cuddly, but America’s second most favorite family pet is also an accomplished killer.
Researchers at The University of Georgia have concluded domesticated cats are wiping out neighborhood wildlife.
USA Today sums it up as mundanely as possible: “That mouse carcass Kitty presents you with is just the tip of a very bloody iceberg. When researchers attached kittycams to house cats, they found a secret world of slaughter.” [Video of the carnage]
While icebergs are largely homogeneous in structure, the wildlife gnawed upon by Fluffy is quite diverse.
Mammals’ eternal foe, the reptiles (and their slimy cousins, the amphibians), take the brunt of the feline assault — lizards, snakes and frogs made up 41% of the animals killed by the 60 Athens-area cats equipped with collar cameras.
Cute creatures, such as chipmunks and voles, made up 25% of the tiny corpses; insects and worms 20%; birds 12%.
I’d have thought birds, as tasty as they are, would have been killed more often, but, from a predator’s standpoint they have the annoying ability of flight.
Nevertheless, birding enthusiasts are upset at the nation’s 74 million cats.
“Cat predation is one of the reasons why one in three American birds species are in decline,” said George Fenwick, president of American Bird Conservancy.
Cat lovers are equally upset at the UGA report, which has been called “heavy on errors, misrepresentations, and glaring omissions, and light on defensible claims.”
Here’s some more details from the complete UGA study that will make you think twice about kissing Fluffy:
- About 30% of roaming house cats kill prey — an average of two animals per week
- Cats brought home just under a quarter of what they killed, ate 30% and left 49% at the scene of the crime
- Roaming cats are a lot like roaming people — males were more likely to take risks than females and older cats were more careful than younger ones.
- Favorite risky behaviors include crossing roadways (45%), eating and drinking things they found (25%), exploring storm drains (20%) and entering crawl spaces (20%)
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
114 comments Add your comment
Ella VonSchnauzhapfen
August 7th, 2012
4:06 pm
I live three doors down from a McDonald’s. Cats are all over the place. They eat from the dumpster and eat rats eating from the dumpster. Also, there is a lot of foot traffic walking to the McDonald’s, and that results in a lot of scraps of food on the ground.
Last week, I was mowing my lawn and I saw a large gray feral cat wearing a backpack, hoody, baggy pants and oversized headphones walking toward the McDonald’s on my street. I tried to ask him what he was doing and remind him that cats don’t normally wear these items. He hissed at me and ran under the front porch of my neighbor’s house.
GR
August 7th, 2012
4:10 pm
Neighbors have two free range cats who control our rodent population. Anytime I’ve caught them using our yard as a toilet, I’ve sprinkled cayenne pepper and they have gone elsewhere.
Gale
August 7th, 2012
4:11 pm
When I was a kid, my dad decided cats were killing off the local wildlife, so he shot a few in our back yard. This was about 45 years ago, mind you. The next season we could not keep a garden because of all the rabbits. Be careful what you wish for.
The solution is to spay/neuter your pets and keep them indoors. Kitty does not need to roam just because you may be too lazy to clean a litter box. They are predators and they will kill wildlife if allowed outside.
Tag
August 7th, 2012
4:29 pm
Isn’t that what cats do???????????
Schmitty
August 7th, 2012
4:33 pm
Mary – DOGS > CATS
You can train a dog to do many things like hunting. Dogs are loyal protecting servants. All cats do is stick their ass in the air and crap in there designated litter box which always stinks no matter what typ eof kitty litter you buy. To make this short cats are useless and pointless ass a household pet. I can hunt with my dog. What does fluffy do for you?
Antonio
August 7th, 2012
4:39 pm
@ Watching You 1:44PM…..Amen. I hope any and all of these would be “Rambos” on here who are so brave about shooting a defenseless animal that is doing what comes natural either get arrested and charged with animal cruelty. A few nights in jail, bail money, and a fine or a little prison time will make the urge to fire that .22 a little less attractive. BTW, birds eat my blackberries, and then dump on my car. Moles and voles dig trenches and tunnels in my yard. Snakes…well, we won’t even get into that. Most of these brave urban warriors would probably jump on top of their vehicle if they saw one. Shoot a cat in front of me in my neighborhood, I will video it and call the Sheriff. Happy jail time.
Jason
August 7th, 2012
4:42 pm
Nothing a sharpened 9-iron and some spare time can’t fix….
Todd Smith
August 7th, 2012
4:54 pm
Well I live out in the country of north georgia, and there are several cats that roam around, yes I see them kill frogs, mice, moles, lizards, even birds and squirrels and sometimes young rabbits, but for the life of me they really don’t seem to hurt the populations of either, just as many birds, squirrels, rabbits, lizards, frogs and mice, that there ever has been. But the one thing I have notices is very very few snakes which they take out with extreme prejudice, I have a 7 year old that roams around, so more power to them. Seems like most you cant stand nature taking it’s course. I do understand that a very very large feral population would be a problem have to be dealt with, but a few cats running around is really a good thing.
Smyrna Dog Lover
August 7th, 2012
4:57 pm
I keep a small bowl of tuna fish on my deck for the stray cats. In each piece of tuna there is an Extra Strength Tylenol. Acetaminophen is deadly for cats.
Boris Badnoff
August 7th, 2012
5:07 pm
I hate reptiles so go get ‘em kitty. Insects? I spray them with insecticide. Nothing cuter than cats.
http://cutest-cats.tumblr.com/
Everyone should own at least 6 cats.