The Case for Indoor Cats

Help wildlife, cats, and the environment by keeping cats indoors.

While most of us love our kitties, free-roaming outdoor cats are a major threat to wildlife. These non-native predators kill billions of birds, small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians each year. (See the Report of the Free-Roaming Cat Stakeholder Workgroup under Resources below for extensive citation for the statistics used on these pages).

Sadly, when wild animals are attacked by cats, their chances of survival are extremely low, due to both the severity of direct injuries and the very aggressive infection that invariably occurs with cat-related injuries, including minor scratches or bites. Even with veterinary treatment, Wildlife Center research shows that survival rates are very low. Without treatment, chances for survival are almost zero!

"While it is convenient to tell ourselves that our cats do no harm when allowed to roam freely outdoors, the facts prove otherwise. Unlike wild predators who hunt specific prey for food, cats hunt—and kill—anything they can, just because they are cats!” notes Wildlife Center President Ed Clark. 

What You Should Know

  • While the hunting behavior of cats is instinctive, cats (just like domestic dogs) are not wild animals, nor are they a natural part of the ecosystem. They are an invasive predator whose presence is a disruption to the local environment. A 2013 study by the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimated that free-roaming cats kill between 1.3 and 4.0 billion birds, and between 6.3 and 22.3 billion mammals annually in the U.S.
  • Cats impact more than just the wildlife they catch; the mere presence of cats can cause additional stress on wildlife, particularly during the nesting season, when wild parents have been shown to avoid returning to their nests or dens for extended periods, to avoid leading these predators to helpless young. The study linked to above showed that the presence of a feline in the area reduced the growth rate of young birds by approximately 40%. 
  • Because they don’t always see the dead victims, many cat owners believe that their indoor/outdoor cats are not actually hunters and killers. However, research conducted by the University of Georgia found that a staggering 77 percent of wildlife caught by cats is either eaten or left at the site of capture . The number of animals brought home is only a small portion of the wildlife the cats are actually injuring or killing.
  • Free-roaming cats themselves encounter a variety of dangers and risks, including crossing roads, attacks by other animals and people, and exposure to disease, toxic substances, and severe weather. The American Association of Feline Practitioners’ 2012 position paper on free-roaming cats concluded that the welfare of outdoor cats is “severely diminished” compared to indoor felines. 
  • Free-roaming cats present serious risks to public health and the environment. They can transmit a variety of parasites and diseases to humans through direct exposure (for example: cat scratch disease, rabies, tularemia) or through environmental contamination (for example, toxoplasmosis). Virginia Department of Health statistics show that 8 times more cats than dogs have been confirmed with rabies since 1999. Toxoplasmosis, a dangerous parasite that spreads to humans and animals through infected cat feces, is the second leading cause of death from food-borne illness.
  • Even cats that have previously been allowed to roam freely can live happy, fulfilled lives indoors. The transition can be challenging, but there are many valuable resources that can help. Read the Wildlife Center’s guidance Bringing Your Cat Indoors

 

 

The Center’s Research on Free-roaming Cats and Wildlife

In 2016, The Journal of Wildlife Management published an extensive 11-year study conducted by the Wildlife Center of Virginia, which shows that domestic cat attacks are one of the most frequent and most lethal causes of animal admissions at the Center.

In the 11-year period, of all small mammals admitted due to cat attacks, more than 70 percent died or had to be euthanized. For small birds, the mortality rate was a staggering 81 percent.

Additionally, the Wildlife Center’s study graphically illustrates that free-roaming cats are not “just” killing mice and rats. At the Center alone, 83 species of wild birds and small mammals were admitted due to cat attacks, including both common and rare species. Among the most frequent avian victims were Mourning Doves, Blue Jays, American Robins, and Northern Cardinals. Gray squirrels, chipmunks, cottontail rabbits, and flying squirrels topped the list for small mammals that fell victim to cats.

Read the complete paper here. Questions or comments about the research? Please email cats@wildlifecenter.org.

Read more information about the Wildlife Center’s research here. 

The Benefits of a Happy Indoor Cat

"There are so many benefits to bringing your cat indoors, not only for your cat but for the wildlife with whom we share our world." - Cheryl Falkenburry, Animal Behavior Consultant and Author

On average, free-roaming outdoor cats live significantly shorter lives than their indoor-only counterparts. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) recommends that veterinarians educate clients about the risks associated with allowing cats unrestricted access to the outdoors. A study by National Geographic and The University of Georgia notes that the most common risk behaviors for suburban free-roaming cats include crossing roads, interactions with strange cats, eating and drinking unknown substances, exploring storm drains, and entering crawlspaces of other houses. An analysis of 25 different studies in 10 different countries found that neutering, regular feeding, and interaction with owners did not affect the roaming of pet cats.

Bringing Your Cat Indoors

It can be challenging to transition a free-roaming outdoor cat to an indoor-only lifestyle, but with patience, diligence, and enrichment, a successful transition is possible. 

Ready to make the transition? The Wildlife Center of Virginia has collaborated with Animal Behavior Consultant Cheryl Falkenburry to compile resources that will help you transition to a happy indoor cat.

Click here for Cheryl’s step-by-step advice on making the transition.
 

Impacts of Free-roaming Cats on the Environment

Free-roaming outdoor cats also have a negative impact on human health and the environment. One of the biggest threats to health from free-roaming cats is toxoplasmosis caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Humans and wildlife can contract toxoplasmosis infection from several sources, but the only place the parasite can reproduce is in the intestines of cats. Ultimately, all sources of the infection can be traced back to contaminated cat feces. Toxoplasmosis from free-roaming cats can affect humans, domestic animals, zoo animals, and native wildlife. The widespread distribution, life cycle, and transmission of toxoplasmosis has serious One Health implications. 

Rabies is another significant concern to human health. There are many wild rabies vector species (RVS) throughout the United States, including raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes, but according to The Wildlife Society, “Cats ... are responsible for a disproportionate number of human exposures.” In 2014, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported a significant increase in reports of rabid cats.

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