ABSTRACT Hunting behaviour is often considered normal for domestic cats and the impacts on wildlife are often discussed . Estimated figures are often published and some of these have been included in this article . Several wildlife rescues were contacted for their data . These data are for prey known to have been caught by a cat . Therefore , the number could be substantially higher , and other prey animals could have sustained injuries from cats or subsequently died before being taken to a wildlife rescue . By understanding cat owners ’ perspectives on their pets ’ hunting behaviour , suitable changes may be made to reduce predation on wildlife , thus improving the welfare of both wildlife and cats . Veterinary nurses can aid in responsible cat ownership to help minimise the impact on wildlife .
Keywords domestic cats , responsible pet ownership , wildlife , predation , welfare , wildlifefriendly , cat behaviour , wildlife casualties
Introduction
The dynamic between domestic cats and wildlife is often an emotive topic , with conflicts arising from both cat and wildlife enthusiasts . The debate normally focuses on whether cats should be kept indoors or allowed to roam freely outside . As registered veterinary nurses ( RVNs ), we may speak to new cat owners about the advantages and disadvantages of both lifestyle options for their pet . However , we may not mention the impact cats can have on wildlife . In this article I will cover cat owners ’ perspectives on hunting behaviour , the data for cat-attack victims in wildlife rescue centres in the UK , and what cat owners can do to help reduce wildlife predation . With this information we could help improve the welfare of both cats and wildlife .
Cat owners and cat behaviour
There are 10.9 million pet cats living in the UK , with 72 % of cats having access to both indoor and outdoor environments ( PDSA , 2020 ). A cat ’ s hunting behaviour is often considered normal and natural , and something for which cat owners may not take individual responsibility for preventing or reducing ( Crowley et al ., 2019 ). This is probably due to the historical role of cats in pest control and their subsequent ‘ self-domestication ’ ( Crowley et al ., 2020a ). A study by Baker et al . ( 2005 ) revealed a mean predation rate of 21 prey / cat / annum . This would mean that around 229 million prey animals may have been caught and brought home by cats in 2020 alone . Some prey could appear unharmed and are immediately released , but many are injured and some may be presented for treatment in wildlife rescues or veterinary practices ( Saunders , 2016 ), which is likely to result in welfare implications for these prey animals .
In the PAW report ( PDSA , 2020 ), 14 % of cat owners said one pet behaviour they would like to change was bringing wildlife into the house / killing wildlife . A recent study identified five types of cat owners :
• Concerned protector ( who focuses on their cat ’ s safety )
• Freedom defender ( who prioritises their cat ’ s independence )
• Tolerant guardian ( who allows outdoor access but dislikes their cat ’ s hunting behaviour )
• Conscientious caretaker ( who feels some responsibility for managing their cat ’ s hunting behaviour )
• Laissez-faire landlord ( who is unaware of the issues surrounding roaming and hunting behaviour in cats )
( Crowley et al ., 2020b )
By understanding the owner ’ s perspective of their cat ’ s predation on wildlife , we could encourage owners to make changes that still align with their views and beliefs .
Wildlife casualties due to cat attacks
The author contacted several wildlife rescues to obtain current data on wildlife casualties which the finder or wildlife centre considered to be due to cat attacks . HART Wildlife Rescue reported that around 17 % of its total patient admissions in 2020 were known catattack victims . HART Wildlife Rescue also reported that 1 in 5 of their avian admissions , and 1 of 4 of their rodent , lagomorph and bat admissions , were known cat-attack victims . Of all cat-attack admissions across the wildlife rescues , the most common species were birds , at 82 – 88 %. Rodents were a smaller percentage at 10 % ( across a couple of wildlife rescues ). Secret World Wildlife Rescue reported that 77 % of its cat-attack victims were brought in between March and August , with 85 % being birds . Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital reported that , between March and June in 2020 , nearly a quarter of all bird admissions were the result of an attack by a cat or dog .
The percentage of rodent cat-attack victims presented to wildlife centres could be low because rodents are mainly caught at night , whereas birds are caught in the day when owners are more likely to see them . Another factor could be owners perceiving rats and mice as pests or vermin , so they may not attempt to rescue these animals . This in itself may be a welfare concern . An additional possibility is that owners do rescue the prey but then release them , perceiving them as unharmed . Many of these animals are likely to suffer protracted deaths . Cats can cause penetrating wounds that are often more extensive than external examinations show and can be contaminated with
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