my neighbor’s outdoor cat
photo by Shari Smith Dunaif © 2013

My cats are indoor cats, even though I sometimes feel guilty depriving them of the smells and adventure of romping outside. But all the expert opinions I’ve heard say that it is much healthier and safer to keep our guys indoors. What I had never considered is the
effect on the bird population by hunting cats.

Editorial: KITTY BELONGS INDOORS    Calgary Herald,October 2, 2013

The release of an Environment Canada study that shows that cats are the No. 1 cause of bird deaths annually in Canada should be an impetus for Calgary cat owners to keep their pets indoors.
The study revealed that cats kill 196 million birds every year,
with office building collisions killing 64,000 birds annually. The
report estimates that feral cats account for about 116 million bird
deaths, with the remaining 80 million slaughtered by pets. The
problem of reduction in bird populations is a serious one. Last
year, a report called The State of Canada’s Birds 2012 revealed
that many species are in decline, with 66 species considered
endangered. Calgary’s cat population is estimated by the City of
Calgary as approximately 100,000, and statistics released earlier
this year show that about half of those are licensed. It may be
that people are more likely to let their licensed cats roam,
knowing they’ll be returned if they get lost, while other owners
may see no need to license cats that never go outside. Cat owners
should keep their pets indoors. This will not only help the bird
population, it is better for the cats, too. The American Veterinary
Medical Association estimates that outdoor cats live an average of
just five years, exposed as they are to the risks of being hit by
cars, eaten by coyotes, wounded in fights with other animals, or
poisoned by drinking such things as antifreeze. The lifespan of an
indoor cat is 17 years. It’s time to stop pussyfooting around — and
keep both birds and cats safe.

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