For some cats, it’s hard to imagine them being distant descendants of wild cats. For others, we let them walk on the wild side – and it’s a little easier to imagine! In North America, it’s very common to see a sneaky cat slink down an alleyway, or spot the kitty down the street who is a regular on your walks. But what are these kitties getting up to? What is your kitty getting up to, if you have an outdoor cat, and what could they be doing to the critters living in your neighborhood?
Cats Can Kill Endangered Species
Cats, as much as we don’t like to think about it, love to hunt. They’re natural born hunters and will stalk and kill other animals who are their prey. This means that small birds, small rodents, and other critters will unknowingly become lunch, or even just a toy, for your kitty. This can cause a huge problem if left unchecked.
According to The American Bird Conservancy, cats have been linked to the extinction of 63 bird, mammal, and reptile species in the wild.
Cats, despite their success in living side by side with humans, have not evolved to live peacefully side by side with small critters. The ecosystem has a hard time counteracting the effects of a neighborhood full of cats, especially if there are multiple cats in the same neighborhood going out every day. This can sometimes hurt the balance in your home’s natural environment and cause a few problems.
One of things you can do if you want to continue letting your kitty enjoy their time outdoors is to add a bell to their collars when you send them outside so they can’t sneak up and pounce on any critters. Just make sure you give them a break away collar with an ID tag for safety and identification.
You can also invest in a pet playpen or leash (scroll down a bit more for some suggestions) for supervised pay!
