The challenge: Cats are estimated to kill more than 2.4 billion birds annually in the U.S. This is the No. 1 human-caused reason for the loss of birds, aside from habitat loss.
The cause: Cats can make great pets, but more than 100 million feral and pet cats now roam the U.S. These nonnative predators instinctively hunt and kill birds, even when well-fed.
Solutions that are good for cats and birds: Save birds and keep cats healthy by keeping cats indoors or creating an outdoor “catio.” You can also train your cat to walk on a leash.
Take it further: Speak out about the impacts of feral cat colonies in your neighborhood and on public lands. Unowned cats’ lives may be as short as two years because of disease and hardship, and they are responsible for 69% of birds killed by cats in the U.S.
Get started today: Research outdoor enclosures ("catios"), pet leashes and indoor enrichment to find safe solutions for your cat and birds.
Spread the word: Share how you #LiveBirdFriendly be keeping your feline friends happy indoors!
Audio recordings by Jay McGowan, Matthew D. Medler, Walter A. Thurber, and Wil Hershberger provided by the Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
