By Lily Rerecich. Photos courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

How can you have a bird-friendly cat? After all, the millions of outdoor cats in America hunt and kill 2.4 billion birds annually, making them the greatest human-caused threat to birds. They are listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as one of the worst non-native invasive species. Cat predation harms natural biodiversity and can have serious impacts on ecosystems.

Yet cats are beloved pets to their owners. Like other pets, they provide emotional support, companionship, and stress relief. So how can you have those positive benefits while protecting the environment? Here are some tips:

Keep them inside

Many cat owners consider allowing cats unrestricted outdoor access to be beneficial for their cat and feel proud of their hunting ability. While this is seen as a natural behavior in cats, this is not their natural environment. Cats were domesticated from Middle-Eastern Wildcats and are not native species. They are an unnatural threat to wild species and thus have devastating effects in an environment in which they do not belong. Therefore, kindly keep your cat indoors.

Provide enrichment

There is a huge diversity of fun toys, climbing structures, and other objects to engage the interests of cats indoors. You can choose from a variety of products to enrich your cat’s indoor environment! Cat enrichments are a great way to let a cat practice healthy cat behavior without harming birds. It also provides an opportunity to play with and bond with your cat in a stress-free environment. Additionally, just letting your cat watch out a window provides great entertainment.

Build a “Catio”

If your cat likes to be outside, then you can build a catio, or outdoor cat enclosure. These allow cats to enjoy the fresh air and senses of the outdoors – without exposing them to any of the associated risks and stresses. These enclosures also protect birds, while keeping your cat engaged. You can buy or build a catio, in various levels of complexity.

A cat inside its catio, with climbing structures and grass.

Exercise together

You can leash-train cats to provide safe exercise for your feline friend! Personally, I have met a cat on a walk, and they were clearly enjoying it as much as any dog – and without any of the negative consequences that uncontrolled outdoor cats cause.

Using these suggestions, you can protect native birds. However, you also protect your cat!

The outdoors is not a safe place for a domestic cat. In the natural environment, cats come under the threat of trauma including poison, violence, and increased risk of disease, parasitism, and predation. According to the Animal Humane Society, the lifespan of an outdoor cat can be reduced by 10-12 years as a result of these dangers. On average, that means that an indoor cat is more likely to live twice as long as an outdoor cat. By following Bird-Friendly guidelines, you keep your cat and the birds safe. A study by the National Library of Medicine says indoor environments can provide for the same needs of cats as the outdoors without the serious risks and ethical concerns.

Cats are domesticated animals, therefore, they are our responsibility. It is important to keep them inside for the sake of wildlife and the cat itself. And in doing so, you can have a bird-friendly cat.