I love birds in my backyard: chickadees, finches, and a Downy woodpecker that brightens my mornings. Lately I’ve also noticed my neighbor’s cat prowling around the feeders and caught it on camera chasing birds. That reminded me this is not just a neighborhood nuisance — free-roaming domestic cats are one of the leading human-associated causes of bird mortality. This post summarizes what researchers have found about cat predation, offers humane ways to protect birds, and covers the ethics of using photos of other people’s cats.
How many birds do cats kill?
– Best peer-reviewed U.S. estimate: A widely cited 2013 study (Loss, Will & Marra, PLoS ONE) estimated that free-ranging domestic cats kill about 1.3 to 4.0 billion birds annually in the United States. The same study estimated 6.3 to 22.3 billion small mammals killed by cats each year in the U.S.
– Global totals are harder to pin down. Fewer comprehensive studies exist for most countries, but given the huge number of pet cats worldwide and high rates of outdoor roaming in many places, researchers say worldwide bird mortality from cats is very likely in the billions annually. Exact global figures vary by study and method and remain uncertain.
Why cats have such a large impact
– Cats are efficient predators: even well-fed pet cats hunt instinctively.
– Widespread outdoor access: tens of millions of pet cats roam freely, plus a large number of unowned/feral cats.
– Birds are especially vulnerable during nesting and fledgling periods when young birds are inexperienced and ground-active.
– Human-altered landscapes (feeders, birdbaths, lawns) increase bird density and create predictable prey patches for cats.
What the science says about mitigation
– Keep cats indoors: the single most effective action. Indoor cats live longer and avoid killing wildlife.
– Supervised outdoor time: harness-and-leash walks, enclosed patios (“catios”), or screened porches let cats enjoy outdoors without hunting birds.
– Visibility-enhancing collars: bright Cat Bibs or brightly colored wide collars have been shown in some studies to reduce bird capture rates substantially compared with plain collars (results vary by study).
– Bells: bells sometimes reduce hunting success but are not fully reliable and can be learned-around by some cats.
– Timing: keeping cats indoors at dawn and dusk (peak bird activity) can cut predation.
– Community measures: educating neighbors, encouraging indoor-only pet policies, and supporting humane feral-cat management programs that reduce numbers over time.
What you can do as a bird-lover and neighbor
– Talk to your neighbor politely. Many people don’t realize how much their cat kills; an empathetic conversation and sharing humane solutions (catios, collars, indoor enrichment) can lead to quick change.
– Offer resources: local animal shelters, wildlife-conservation groups, and cat behaviorists can help with indoor conversion tips and enrichment ideas.
– Protect your feeders: place feeders near cover that gives birds quick escape routes, or set feeders higher off the ground, and remove feeders during breeding season if predation risk is high.
– Report feral-cat issues to local animal control or humane societies rather than trying to manage colonies alone.
Call to action
If you care about local birds, help spread the word: keep pet cats indoors or provide supervised outdoor access, support local wildlife-friendly policies, and pick humane solutions for feral-cat populations. Small changes at home add up to big benefits for songbirds.
Sources & further reading
– Loss, S. R., Will, T., & Marra, P. P. (2013). The impact of free-ranging domestic cats on wildlife of the United States. PLoS ONE. (widely cited U.S. estimate: 1.3–4.0 billion birds killed annually)
– Local wildlife rehab centers, Audubon societies, and humane societies often have practical guides on cat containment and bird-safe practices.