Cats (not wind turbines) Are a Bird’s No. 1 Enemy

[The Straight Story]

While public attention has focused on wind turbines as a menace to birds, a new study shows that a far greater threat may be posed by a more familiar antagonist: the pet house cat.

A new study in The Journal of Ornithology on the mortality of baby gray catbirds in the Washington suburbs found that cats were the No. 1 killer in the area, by a large margin.

Nearly 80 percent of the birds were killed by predators, and cats were responsible for 47 percent of those deaths, according to the researchers, from the Smithsonian Institution and Towson University in Maryland. Death rates were particularly high in neighborhoods with large cat populations.

Predation was so serious in some areas that the catbirds could not replace their numbers for the next generation, according to the researchers, who affixed tiny radio transmitters to the birds to follow them. It is the first scientific study to calculate what fraction of bird deaths during the vulnerable fledgling stage can be attributed to cats.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/21/science/21birds.html?_r=1

[girl gone mad]

1. I keep my kitties indoors for this reason.

Wonder if bells on the collar would help the birds.

[Lorien]

6. I walk mine on a leash. And yes, collars with bells make a HUGE difference

when I bought my house it came with a partially feral cat (you could pet it, but it freaked out if you tried to take it indoors). He was quite a killer, so I put a collar with bells on him and he never killed anything larger than a lizard again. I think that bells should be mandatory for all non-working cats who are allowed outdoors.

[tech9413]

17. My furry family member was indoor until my Dad spoiled her

Now when she wants out, she gets out. In a good year she probably gets three or four birds but dozens of mice, voles, and moles. I have no intention of restricting her natural instincts. I know if I did my feet would be the next best target. I love her and all that, but those claws are sharp as hell and really don't feel very good when providing you with bloody stumps.

[Aerows]

24. Eww... the pile of moles...

...at my back door as "gifts" got downright disgusting there for a while LOL.

[Canuckistanian]

35. That's a good idea

We have a hunter cat who manages to kill everything that's smaller than herself.

I limited her outside time after I saw she had killed one of the hummingbirds at our feeder. :grr:

[Aerows]

55. I'm convinced mine...

...will come home with a dog in her mouth one day. Mine ate a hummingbird, too :(. I can't get rid of the cat because I love her, so I had to quit feeding the hummingbirds and enticing them to certain death.

[themadstork]

30. I read somewhere that bells actually aren't as effective as once thought.

I think they said it still didn't give enough warning?

I'm in a situation right now that I have to keep my kitty outside. I feel bad for the birds, but their house their rules. . .

[phantom power]

2. Although it begs a question:

how do those numbers change if we multiply the number of wind turbines by 10,000? or 100,000? Because that's the number we're talking about when we get finished building our wind-powered future.

[meow mix]

5. use bladeless designs and multiply them by 1,000,000,000

problem solved

[hedgehog]

3. May I suggest that cats in the suburbs aren't the #1 hazard for

birds, but rather the suburbs themselves? That and modern fence to fence industrial agriculture. In the burbs, it's a monoculture of Kentucky bluegrass, pesticides and herbicides. In the country , it's a monoculture of corn, or wheat or soy beans, plus herbicides and pesticides. At least in the country, managers apply just the "right" amount of chemicals, why each suburbanite figures if a little is good, a lot is better.

[csziggy]

9. Where suburban yards are managed as wildlife areas, they are better than agricultural areas

The National Wildlife Federation's Wildlife Habitat program promotes providing healthy habitats for birds and other wildlife.

Whether you have an apartment balcony or a 20-acre farm, you can create a garden that attracts beautiful wildlife and helps restore habitat in commercial and residential areas. By providing food, water, cover and a place for wildlife to raise their young--and by incorporating sustainable gardening practices--you not only help wildlife, but you also qualify to become an official Certified Wildlife Habitat™.
http://www.nwf.org/Get-Outside/Outdoor-Activities/Garden-for-Wildlife/Create-a-Habitat.aspx?CFID=20703075&CFTOKEN=7bca88b48f5d38a-D99549F8-5056-A84B-C38FFC887B7327A8

If more people followed their guidelines, the suburbs would be a wonderful place for wildlife to live! The problem is that NWF does not have the advertising budget that the fertilizer & chemical companies and the big box stores that sell fertilizers and chemicals do. NWF did have a show on HGTV for a while a few years ago promoting their program but it only lasted on season.

[stuntcat]

53. I do that!, well I try

We keep some brush areas and we built a big pond and put up 4 bat houses. Mostly I got the certification sign to show people what could be done, maybe encourage someone else.. though in our crowded neighborhood it's not too important to anyone.
Since we're the only ones without a fence our yard is a kinda crossway between two wild areas. Even though it's a city/suburb, in the middle of the nights we have foxes and coyotes!


I've trapped three female cats and gotten them fixed. I re-trapped two of them and brought them in for good, even though they're still pretty feral. Their sister is still out there for now. My neighbors have made me feel terrible for getting these three fixed. But not a single one of them was going to do anything about those cats, not even get them put to sleep. And I had already trapped their other littermate and taken it to the pound to be put down before I decided to t-n-r the rest. I ended up spending a lot of money and time on them, when the real problem was with whoever didn't get their mother fixed before they were even born.
Cats should NOT be out there. But neighbors also should have a little more patience with one who bothered preventing so many more kittens.

[csziggy]

69. Good for the wildlife in your area and thanks for taking care of the feral kitties.

We have a sixty acre farm so we are not suburban, but we manage it to encourage wildlife. Not only do we have tons of birds, foxes (red and gray), coyotes (which I could do without), and all sorts of amphibians, there is a black bear living in our bottom thirty acres and the neighboring fifty acres.

I do have a cat that goes out but he will be the last one I get that will be allowed out. He was feral when I adopted him and attacks me if I don't let him out when he asks. Since he will not use a litter box and only "goes" outside, I think I have to accommodate him for the rest of his life. He is neutered as have been all our pets for the last thirty years.

If the cat weren't patrolling for birds, the foxes would be, so it has only shifted the balance a little. Since we provide ample habitat enhancements for the birds, I don't think we are allowing him too much leeway.

[mimitabby]

11. thanks Hedgehogs

It cracks me up that we continue to point fingers at cats while we destroy entire ecosystems... If it were left up to cats..
we'd still have passenger pigeons, there would not be several species of birds extinct on Hawaii, we'd still have Dodos...

[msongs]

4. since owls moved into our area, the # of cats has declined! revenge of the birds yay! nt

[Xithras]

8. One of my neighbors lost her cat to a hawk a couple months ago.

I posted a thread quite a while back (last summer, IIRC) when I caught a neighbors cat after it had been digging up my garden and flowerbeds. We had a lively debate on the subject of returning it with a warning to keep it inside, or turning it over to animal control. I ended up giving the cat back to her with a warning, and she continued to let it outside.

In mid January one of my other neighbors saw the cat get hit by a hawk. It hauled the cat up in the air about 75 feet and dropped it. The cat was killed instantly.

My neighbor now has a new cat...which is constantly outside. The nut didn't learn a thing.

[Biker13]

13. Cats are a huge problem here!

All our neighbors allow their cats to run free. As a result I can no longer feed the birds (which was a big part of my life), and my gardens have become toilets. My property is completely fenced, and I never allow my dog to roam, why are cats no different?

I'm not putting up with it this year. Not sure how to handle it, but I sick of giving up my enjoyment of my property for these pests!

Sorry, I know there are many cat lovers here, but I'm not one, why should I put up with your cat?

Biker's Old Lady

[Xithras]

16. Do what I should have done.

Step 1: Contact your local animal shelter or SPCA and find out about borrowing a small animal trap, or just buy one (simple cage traps can be bought online for about $30).

Step 2: Post notices around your neighborhood about your intent to capture "nuisance" animals. List the address where the traps will be located, and the dates that the cages will be out. This will protect you from a lawsuit.

Step 3: At the place and time listed, set the traps and catch the cats.

Step 4: Ignore the softies on DU who will suggest that you return the cat to its owner. Instead, take every single one of them to the animal shelter. Force the owners to drive to the shelter and bail them out.

Step 5: Repeat this process every few weeks, randomly spaced, to keep the cat owners on their toes.

Your neighbors won't be very happy, but the cat problem will go away. I'm planning on doing this sometime this summer, if the cats get into my garden again.

[Biker13]

20. Thank You!

But I have to post when I plan to set the traps? REALLY? On my own property? That's nuts!

Animal Control here charges $25 for the first time to bail out an animal, $50 for repeat offenders.

What burns me is that there is a leash law for cats here, but it's not enforced!

I really want to start feeding the birds again, and I have big garden plans this year. I refuse to let these cats ruin it for me!

Thanks again, it's nice to know I'm not alone in this!

Biker's Old Lady

[Xithras]

32. Check your local laws.

Some areas require public notice. Others don't. A quick call to your local SPCA or animal control department should clarify your local laws. Just be aware that even if it's NOT required, your neighbors can still sue you. If they argue that the neighborhood has long "permitted" cats to roam freely, and that you suddenly started trapping without warning, they might even garner enough sympathy to win.

Posting the notices ahead of time undermines any civil action they might take against you. If they're given proper and adequate notification that any animals on your property will be trapped and turned over to animal control, any claims of "implied consent" go straight out the window.

[Biker13]

38. Got It!

I'll give them a call, and find out the guidelines.

I wish it didn't come to this, but cat owners have such a sense of entitlement.

I don't hate cats, I really don't, I just don't like them, and want them off my property.

Biker's Old Lady

[Xithras]

41. I get it. I don't hate cats either.

I had an issue with the cats in my neighborhood because they saw any freshly turned soil as a litterbox invitation, and absolutely destroyed my veggie garden and flower beds.

My veggie gardens are now protected by a Scarecrow. Not the hay filled kind, but the motion activated water squirting kind. Once I broke them out, the cats started avoiding my property entirely. If they ever come back, the traps will come back out.

[Biker13]

43. Where...

did you find that? That might work!

I'm off for awhile, but will check back! Thanks!

Biker's Old Lady

[Xithras]

46. I bought mine from Amazon.

Price has gone up a bit since I bought mine, so you might be able to save a little bit of $$ if you shop around on the Internet.

http://www.amazon.com/Contech-Electronics-CRO101-Scarecrow-Motion-Activated/dp/B000071NUS/

[Biker13]

66. Thanks For The Link!

I should have known Amazon would be the place. I was thinking Sharper Image...So this really works? I'm talking about a third of an acre, flowers and vegetables. How far does it spray? Could I do the whole perimeter?

Biker's Old Lady

[Biker13]

67. Animal Control Here...

(a small Idaho town)I just found out, will LEND you a trap, and take away the cats you catch. As I said, there is a cat leash law here, it's just not enforced. So I guess I'll give traps a try.

Thank you again for responding. I was afraid I was going to be flamed.

Biker's Old Lady

[Hestia]

39. Cats hate the smell of citrus, is there anything you can put around your fence?

Sweet gum balls are good for keeping cats out of the beds, the spikes hurt their feet & are good for mulch. I've seen spikes that you can lay around your bedding plants but sweet gum balls are the same thing. We just moved to a house and our cats are begging to go outside. We just moved from an apt with a 2nd story balcony and we let them out there, to get some fresh air. We tried letting them out, but they keep running for the holes in the fence. I am now designing a catio for the cats to go outside.

[Biker13]

42. Catio!

I like that!

The problem is, we have a large piece of land. Spikes would be out of the question, also, we have a dog and I wouldn't want her injured. I don't really want to hurt the cats either, they are after all, someones pets.

Never heard of sweet gum balls, but I'll hit Google! Thanks for the info!

Biker's Old Lady

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

26. How can a 2-lb hawk carry off a 10-lb. cat?

Hawks can carry only half their weight. I wouldn't believe that a hawk could fly away with a cat unless I saw it with my own eyes, and maybe not even then. It might be possible for a hawk to injure or kill a small animal like a cat by attacking with its talons, but no way in hell can it fly away with it.

[yawnmaster]

27. Hawks don't always fly away with their prey. They can stun with a high speed hit...

Then while prey is stunned, use sharp talons and beak to start tearing.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

29. That's true, but the post said a hawk took a cat 75' in the air.

I just don't think that's physically possible.

[Hestia]

40. Cats are owl's favorite food, as one poster stated. They can clear out a den

of feral cats in nothin' flat. I knew hawks would take a small cat.

[yawnmaster]

28. oh...and they can directly carry off kittens. eom

[jberryhill]

36. By gripping the husk /nt

[Xithras]

37. I didn't see it. Neighbor did.

First off, it wasn't a huge cat. I have no idea what it weighed, but it wasn't one of these obese housecats that you see a lot of nowadays.

Second, the neighbor said that the bird dropped out of the sky and slammed the cat into the ground like it had been hit by a ton of bricks. The cat let out one sickly yowl, and didn't move again. He said the bird then tried to take off with it, got it up to "about 75 feet" and dropped it onto the roadway. The bird came down on it again, but was scared off by an oncoming car. Now, how accurate is that story? Dunno...I wasn't there.

Third, the bird might not have been a hawk at all. The neighbor who witnessed it is a retiree from SF who moved out here to retire in a quiet area, and he isn't exactly a birdwatcher. Most of us in this part of the Valley are very familiar with hawks because we have a fairly large population of Swainsons and Red Tailed hawks. We also have a less common, but regularly visiting, population of Golden Eagles that passes through occasionally. They don't usually nest around here, but they pass overhead as they move back and forth from the Sierras to the coastal mountains.

If you're unfamiliar with the size differences, a Golden Eagle can easily be mistaken for a chickenhawk at long distance. I personally suspect that it was an eagle, but he insisted that it was a hawk.

Either way, the cat was killed by a bird.

[themadstork]

44. All these hawk stories have me worried for my little Emerson

I'm shacking with my parents for a few months until me and the gf move into her house (it's being rented). Mother's allergic so Em stays outside. How common is the Hawk thing? Should I be worried, here in Southern Indiana? Em will be an indoor-only cat soon, and everyday I worry for his safety out there. Can Owls kill cats too?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

49. For his own safety keep him inside.

The biggest danger isn't from birds of prey, although they can attack (if not carry away) a cat -- but from dogs, cars, other cats, diseases and mean people. Outdoor cats have a much shorter life expectancy than indoor cats.

[themadstork]

61. I landed him the garage.

He's sleeping peacefully on an old sleeping bag right now. I'll have to find him more toys, as the garage is kinda dull.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

62. That's good. He's safe there until he can move into a permanent

indoor home. Just find lots of stuff for him to play with (destroy), pay him plenty of attention, and he'll be fine.

[Xithras]

51. Go to YouTube and do a few searches

There are quite a few videos of cats being attacked by birds, and a couple videos of cats being eaten by birds. Some of them aren't for the feint of heart. Don't worry though, the odds are MUCH better that he'll be killed by a car tire, which is by far the #1 killer of wandering cats. Thump thump.

Cats aren't safe outside. If you can't keep it inside and can't afford to kennel it until your housing situation changes, you should consider giving it to someone else who can. Don't let your attachment to the cat put its life at risk.

[LWolf]

60. I've seen local hawks take a hen from my flock up to a

tree branch. True, the branches are usually low, and the hen was usually near the tree, but...my hens weigh 6-8 pounds.

Not often; maybe once every 2-3 years. But it happens. Red Tails; they are large hawks. Not coincidentally, their nickname is "chicken hawk."

I've lost 2 cats to the local great-horned owl.

[Poiuyt]

68. It could be carried off by an African swallow, but not a European one.

[hedgehog]

70. Last winter I saw a real drama in the snow - not for the faint of heart, but

I noticed all my chickens were huddling in the coop. I looked around and saw the spot where a large bird had taken one of my hens down and then gutted it. I could see then where the hawk? eagle? had tried to lift off with the chicken and had to make a couple hops before it got airborne. So, a large predator can carry off an 8 lb hen.

[LWolf]

59. My local great horned owl

took both of the feral kittens I rescued, spayed/neutered, socialized, and raised; within 2 years I lost both. While I appreciate having the owl around, I wish he/she would focus on the rodents. I was attached to those cats. Having been born in a barn, literally, they loved me, but just weren't happy indoors. They figured out how to use the doggy door, and that was it. There are enough rodents to feed a whole colony of owls without hitting the cats or chickens. Local hawks sometimes take a hen during the day. The owl took a pullet less than 10 feet from me last spring. She was out and about just a bit too early.

[Mojorabbit]

7. I do wildlife rehab

and will add that cats do a number on cottontails(my specialty is wild rabbits). I got in a lovely juvenile bun this weekend that did not last the night. I may get in one of two dog caught bunnies a year but the majority are cat caught and with those incisors they usually pierce a vital organ.

[Dappleganger]

10. One of our kitties has the run of the screened-in pool area...

he's out there right now, drooling at birds who are quite safe as long as he's enclosed.

[GoCubsGo]

12. Which is why my kitties stay indoors.

On the other hand, my keeping my kitties indoors does nothing to stop the large number of bat fatalities caused by wind turbines: http://www.fort.usgs.gov/batswindmills/.

[Edweird]

14. A cat is nothing more than a snack to a bald eagle or hawk while blade type turbines will kill them.

Vertical rotary turbines are better than vane type.

[Snoutport]

15. wind turbine vs. killer radiation cloud... what would the birds choose?

[Modern_Matthew]

18. Such is the circle of life. nt

[Mojorabbit]

75. But it is not

they are not eating what they catch. That would be the circle of life.

[joeybee12]

19. Don't blame cats for instinct...blame the owners...

I can't imagine letting a pet roam free is legal in any part of this country.

[Habibi]

21. Predation from house pets or ferals?

Lots of outside cats don't belong to anyone; they're just trying to survive.

[GoCubsGo]

34. Both.

Lots of well-fed house cats prey on birds and small rodents. Cats like to hunt whether or not they're hungry. It's why those little fur mice and "Da Bird" and laser pointers and the like are such popular cat toys. They mimic prey.

[rgbecker]

22. Once our cat died, the birds starting showing up big time...20 or 30 different kinds.

I'm afraid the wipporwills are still not back though.

[Aerows]

23. Mine certainly is...

... poor birds :(. I've rescued at least three from her mouth. She's always so proud of herself she brings them up to me if I'm outside meowing with her jaws full of our feathered friends. Unfortunately, she also occasionally does the same with rats. I never pet the kitty at night anymore without verifying that she isn't bringing me a "present". :::shudder:::

[guitar man]

25. Cats used to be

But it seems that lately pigs have managed to become bird's enemy #1



:hide: :spray:

[Aerows]

56. ANGRY BIRDS!

Oh my god, I'm addicted to that stupid game LOL.

[anarch]

31. ok, so maybe the wind turbines aren't that great at killing birds

but I don't think we should discount them entirely...I mean, it's hard as hell to generate power from cats. They keep jumping off the little treadmills and chasing birds and stuff.

[pintobean]

33. Flying cats pose the greatest danger

But with a little help, the birds can prevail.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mya9O24hwlA

[Withywindle]

45. That's one of the reasons why my cat is indoor-only.

The other reason is for her safety. Lots of bad things can happen to cats out there.

There's absolutely no reason why a cat would "need" to go outside.

[Lynx]

47. I keep my cat inside

As an ex-stray, she has spent enough time "owt", and I give her everything she needs and she's the little queen.
But don't think you can get rid of cats by squirting water at them.
There are such things as water cats. Cats who love water! I never thought so till a stray kitten came my way long ago. Turned out: he was a water cat.
The wetter he got, the louder he purred.
He converted the bathroom sink into his lab in which he could perform "expurriments" with water.
In fact, he discovered the Unified Cube Theory! (If you pass an ice cube between your front paws long enough, water will ooze out.)
See? With cats, you never know.

[Ezlivin]

48. I'm still not giving up my cat-powered generator!

:)


N/T

[blindpig]

50. Might I add that 'feral cat colonies' are stupid beyond words.n/t

[Jersey Devil]

52. Umm, just why do you think they are named "catbirds"?

Let's guess.

[pinkkillersheep]

54. Don't forget the number of birds killed by flying into buildings.

[Nye Bevan]

57. Everybody here believes in evolution, right?

So wind turbines will not be a problem in the long run. Birds will evolve to become smarter and not fly into them. The problem with cats is that birds can evolve to become better able to avoid cats, but cats can also evolve to be better at catching birds. But turbines will not evolve to kill more birds.

[BrookBrew]

76. Like turtles will evolve not to be smashed by cars?

Wind power is great where it works. I would assume there will be an overhead in dead birds and people (falls, crush injuries).

All forms of energy have this tradeoff.

[LWolf]

58. My cat rarely kills a bird.

She has turned a few loose in the house, though, and then "helped" me "herd" it back outside. She does kill dozens of rodents, spring through fall. She eats most of her kill, and will leave a small, polished pile of guts behind when she's done with a mouse or a vole. The pack rats and rabbits will be left with heads, tails, feet, and spine as well as guts.

Sometimes she brings things in and turns them loose. I think she's trying to teach me to be a hunter. After a decade, you'd think she'd figure out that I'm hopeless.

Sometimes she just leaves them whole, usually on my bed or on the floor at the foot of the bed, as a "gift."

I'd like to figure out a way to allow her a screened in "outdoor" space, but she goes out the doggy door, and I'm not going to lock the dog up, in or out.

[BrookBrew]

79. They feed you. Its a cat compliment

i stopped letting mine out when I moved into a more populated area. Dont want them to get hit.

[LWolf]

81. I definitely feel complimented.

I wish her compliments took the form of simply cuddling and purring, but then...she's a cat.

If I lived in town, I'd keep mine in; maybe try to set up an escape-proof outdoor area, or just keep them in all the time. My son has an indoor cat; he was rescued as a half-grown cat who had already been de-clawed. It's a challenge to keep him contained; he waits by doors for unsuspecting guests, or for family with their hands full. He picks at screens. He gets some time outside on a harness tethered under a tree, but he doesn't appreciate the restrictions.

[Keith Bee]

63. I figured it was just natural for Dude to stalk and kill birds.....

...it was only when he started using that AK-47 to do so that I began to worry!

Purr & rec.

[IDemo]

64. Our bird feeders are bird feeders

For these birds (photo taken two years ago in the back yard):

[joshcryer]

65. Saw 8 EIGHT dead song birds near my window.

They were chewed to fuck and back and I know the cat that does it. I think it's a stray so I don't feel too bad but someone must be feeding it because it didn't appear to actually consume the birds.

[UTUSN]

71. Another "wrong forum" KICK!1 n/t

[MrMickeysMom]

72. Mickey would never do this...

He loves his bird pals (with a little Fava Beans)

[Bigmack]

73. If you love your cat... keep it inside....

Coyotes, dogs, owls, bobcats, cars.....

You say you are urban?... or suburban? Ok... then it's only coyotes, dogs, owls, bobcats, cars. Much better.

I don't understand anybody letting their cat out into a world where the cat is the one-legged man in the ass-kicking contest.

[Lisa0825]

74. Cats should be indoor pets, Not outdoor, not indoor/outdoor. INDOOR.

Not only for the sake of birds, but because it is safer for the cats.

As a rescue volunteer, I cannot tell you how many people have come to me sobbing that they have had indoor/outdoor cats for 20 years and they never didn't come home... until the time they didn't. The lifespan is much shorter due to cars, dogs, disease, etc.

Love your cat? KEEP IT INSIDE!!!

[Autumn]

77. These birds around here fly into my car

I bet I have hit 15 of them on the highway in the last year. Something to do with the wind currents or something.

[cbdo2007]

78. My dog is smart. She uses the birds as a trap and kills the cats.

[Bluenorthwest]

80. 'A bird' is a tad on the general side

My cat lives indoors, for her own safety. There are many, many raptors around these parts, as well as small animals not kitty friendly. The Blue Jays do a fine job at eating the young of other birds, it seems, without any feline assistance. The geese, no one fucks with the geese. A rash of wild turkey hooliganism going on around here as well.
The ducks, who walk a lot this time of year, own my driveway. Late due to ducks. A sure excuse each spring.