A recent study found that over 2,000 species were caught by free-roaming domestic cats. Some of these species are endangered, especially when cats were introduced to a new ecosystem. Overall, cats will hunt almost anything that moves, from reptiles to birds to rodents to insects.
The greatest damage from feline predation happens on islands with native populations that have not developed any defenses against non-native predators such as cats. While cats themselves may help to reduce numbers of nonnative invasive species in some cases, they don’t discriminate.
What can you do? If possible, keep your cats indoors unless they are working as barn or warehouse cats for rodent control. You can put a bell on your cat if she free roams, but many cats learn to move with such care that the bell is silent when they are stalking prey.
Outdoor privileges can be provided on a leash and harness or in a catio when possible. Indoor cats are healthier, with less exposure to illness and parasites, fights with other cats or dogs, wildlife predation, and accidents such as being struck by automobiles. Most cats happily adapt to an indoor lifestyle provided they get appropriate exercise, enrichment, and attention.ν
Lepczyk, C.A., et al. “A global synthesis and assessment of free-ranging domestic cat diet,” Nature Communications, 14, Article number: 7809 (2023)
