Article about bird deaths caused by cats for Toronto Star

[ang]

Hello everyone,

I'm a reporter for the Toronto Star and I'm writing a story about the effect that outdoor cats have on bird populations in Canada. It is said they kill a fair number of bird species (estimates say about 140 million birds and small mammals a year, though some believe the numbers are much higher). I'm wondering if anyone here would be willing to share their opinions or observations on this issue. I'm looking for anything from anecdotes to thoughts on what should be done about the problem.

Please feel from to email me at agheciu@thestar.ca or call/text me at 416-970-9032.

Thanks,
Alex Nino Gheciu

[Tak]

One thing you might want to mention is that North American birds are not adapted to dealing with a cat. Perhaps strangely, there is no native cat species the size of a domestic house cat in North America. In a way, cat owners are introducing a non-native new predator into the ecosystem if they let their cats roam outside to hunt at will.

[Rotarran]

One thing you might want to mention is that North American birds are not adapted to dealing with a cat. Perhaps strangely, there is no native cat species the size of a domestic house cat in North America. In a way, cat owners are introducing a non-native new predator into the ecosystem if they let their cats roam outside to hunt at will.

That's a good point but are European, African and Asian species of birds any better adapted at dealing with cats than American species?  Perhaps they are, but it is not readily apparent to me.

[jrcrewe]

Personally, I feel we should balk at cats running free in the city just like we would if dogs were allowed the same privilege.

I'm a cat person and from my experience, in the city, it is healthier for your cat, and most definitely for the birds, if you raise your cat to be happy indoors.

[egret]

I am a cat owner as well

do not reside near a farm out country

my cats have never gone outdoors
and she is v. happy at home with me

Cats are predators and go for birds
but it breaks my heart when I see them do this



Egret  

[BoboBird]

I was watching the BBC Life of Birds series the other day.

New Zealand is a good example of introduced domestic predators causing severe damage to some species and extinction in others.

[frozenice7885]

Domestic cats are not really a problem if you look at the issue from a ecological point of view.  Its the peoples thoughts about cats hunting birds which is the problem.  Its literally impossible for the cat population to catch every single bird out there.  So if the cats are catching millions of birds thats actually a very good sign that the bird population is at a very healthy level.  With numbers being 2 to 3 to 4 times that of what cats are catching.  Also yes maybe the cat can be considered an invasive species but many years have past and birds learn to deal with new predators over just 1 or 2 generations.  The only time cats can be a issue is when for example a disease wipes out a large percentage of a single species.  With cat densities being high, they can have a strong negative effect on that current species.  But this again is not a big problem as cats are concentrated in urban area's even if they do wipe out a species in an urban environment that has had its numbers weakened the population surviving outside the urban area will re-populate the urban centers anyways.  Cats are not an issue and to write an article about how devastating they are to bird populations on a whole is incorrect.  Ofcourse there are acceptions but Canada has no cat problem regarding birds if you look at the big picture in ecological terms.  New zealand is a small island thats a whole different story.  Also what statistics fail to mention is a very large percentage of those birds taken by cats are sick, weak, injured, or young.  These birds are going to die anyway so the cats are doing an important role in cleaning them up and keeping the bird population healthy and strong.  These are just my thoughts on the issue.

[Rotarran]

Domestic cats are not really a problem if you look at the issue from a ecological point of view.  Its the peoples thoughts about cats hunting birds which is the problem.  Its literally impossible for the cat population to catch every single bird out there.  So if the cats are catching millions of birds thats actually a very good sign that the bird population is at a very healthy level.  With numbers being 2 to 3 to 4 times that of what cats are catching.  Also yes maybe the cat can be considered an invasive species but many years have past and birds learn to deal with new predators over just 1 or 2 generations.  The only time cats can be a issue is when for example a disease wipes out a large percentage of a single species.  With cat densities being high, they can have a strong negative effect on that current species.  But this again is not a big problem as cats are concentrated in urban area's even if they do wipe out a species in an urban environment that has had its numbers weakened the population surviving outside the urban area will re-populate the urban centers anyways.  Cats are not an issue and to write an article about how devastating they are to bird populations on a whole is incorrect.  Ofcourse there are acceptions but Canada has no cat problem regarding birds if you look at the big picture in ecological terms.  New zealand is a small island thats a whole different story.  Also what statistics fail to mention is a very large percentage of those birds taken by cats are sick, weak, injured, or young.  These birds are going to die anyway so the cats are doing an important role in cleaning them up and keeping the bird population healthy and strong.  These are just my thoughts on the issue.

I was thinking some of the same thoughts.  I was thinking that cats are pushing birds to remain strong and vigilant.  In a way cats are playing a role in all bird species' evolution.  Or at least the ones they hunt.  Those that fly faster and are more observant will survive and pass their genetics on to the next generation.  

Also, yes cats are an invasive species but it was always going to be unavoidable.  Cats have been part of our lives for 4000 years...there was no way, with immigrant populations coming to North America, that cats were not going to be introduced.  Cats are not as loyal as dogs for instance and as such are much more likely to escape and become feral.  

I think it's simply something that this bio-system has to adapt to and absorb.  Of course, as a cat owner myself, I try to do my part to not make it worse ...so we do not let our cat out.  

Well either way, I look forward to the article.