Cats are predatory animals by nature and it is therefore no surprise that when allowed to roam freely outside, they can sometimes hunt and kill small animals and birds.

Having your cat kill or injure a wild animal can be an extremely distressing experience, but a keen hunting instinct may also have wider ramifications for animal populations. Unfortunately, the predation of small animals by cats has the potential to negatively impact overall numbers of wild species, although to what extent is an ongoing area of study; declining numbers of British wild birds, for example, have not been conclusively attributed to cats, and other factors like habitat loss remain extremely significant.

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Nevertheless, with the survival of so many species under threat in the modern world, it’s an issue that anyone interested in the welfare and protection of animals should take seriously.

At Catcuddles, we respect and care for all animals, but we don’t believe that vilifying cats is productive in resolving this issue. After all, by domesticating felines, we humans have created this situation - introducing them to habitats where they would not usually live. Cats themselves cannot be blamed for merely following their natural instincts.

It’s therefore our responsibility as cat owners to do what we can to help limit the potential impact of our cats on wildlife. Thankfully, there are some steps we can take to achieve this goal, with rescue work also having the potential to help preserve biodiversity.

  • Keep cats indoors at night.

    This is something we recommend not just to help minimize a cat’s hunting activity, but also to keep them safe. A huge percentage of road accidents involving cats happen at night, and not knowing your cat’s whereabouts for the eight hours or more in which you are asleep is not advisable; it’s a window in which they may become lost, injured, or get stolen, and you may not be aware until the morning.

    Cats are naturally more active at night, so it is the period when their hunting instinct is at its strongest. Since most birds roost in the evening and cannot see well in the dark, they become particularly vulnerable after sunset. This is especially true of fledgling birds leaving their nests for the first time in the spring and summer months. Bats, which are a protected animal in the UK, are also at risk in the twilight hours, whilst they are well-hidden in the day. Bringing your cat in at a set time every evening, and letting them out again a few hours after sunrise - allowing birds a few hours to feed un-interrupted - is one of the best ways you can prevent them from hunting. Investing in an automatically timed cat flap may also be useful for this purpose.

  • Invest in a safety collar with a bell.

    A collar with a bell attached may reduce a cat’s success rate when hunting for obvious reasons - prey animals will be more likely to hear a cat coming and flee before they can get caught. A recent study by the RSPB concluded that a properly fitted collar with a bell may reduce cat predation by up to a third. Cat collars should always be equipped with a quick-release safety catch to prevent a cat from becoming caught and injuring him or herself. Dog collars should never be used on cats.

  • Consider cat-proofing your garden.

    This may not be the ideal solution for more active cats who enjoy the freedom to roam, but many cat owners do find that cat-proofing an outside space has myriad benefits. It eradicates worries about cats becoming lost, stolen, or injured in car accidents, whilst also helping to protect wildlife by limiting the hunting grounds available to your feline. It is also a particularly great option for special needs or FIV cats, who have more concerns associated with their safety than average. There are many cat-proofing options available - from building catios to adapting fences.

“Cat rescue work has the potential to help limit the impact of cats on wildlife. This is because stray and feral cats, in particular, will be reliant on wild prey to survive, as they have no other regular source of food. Reducing feline over-population and stray cat populations through rescue and rehoming work, and trap, neuter and release programmes, will therefore not only benefit the cats themselves but potentially, wild bird populations, too. This is also yet another argument for adopting, instead of breeding more cats!”
— Rae, volunteer for Catcuddles and the Greenwich Wildlife Network

  • Neuter!

    Neutering can help protect wildlife in more ways than one. Firstly, unneutered cats are compelled to roam long distances to scope out new territory and to search for other unneutered cats to mate with, increasing their time spent outside and the amount of ground they cover. Neutering will make your cat inclined to stay home more often, meaning that he or she will encounter fewer animals and have less temptation to hunt. Neutering is also extremely important as it will prevent your cat from breeding, creating more strays and feral cats that may be reliant on small animals as a source of food, as they have no humans of their own to feed them.

  • Adopt, don’t shop.

    If stray and feral cats are indeed more reliant on wild animals to survive - as some research suggests - then rescuing them from the streets and finding them loving new homes will benefit both wildlife and the cats themselves. By adopting a stray, abandoned, or unwanted cat from a rescue centre, rather than buying one from a breeder, you are helping to reduce the number of strays on our streets and the overall problem of feline overpopulation in the UK, which also causes terrible suffering to cats. Adoption is quite simply the ethical choice for the benefit of all animals.

  • Be extra vigilant during the nesting season.

    The months between spring and summer are called the nesting season, a period in which the majority of UK species build nests and nurture their young. Juvenile animals, venturing out on their own for the first time, don’t yet have the sharp instincts of their parents and are very vulnerable to predators. Fledgling songbirds, in particular, may spend up to a week on the ground after leaving the nest, before they are able to fly fully. It’s therefore important to be extra vigilant at this time of the year, to monitor cats more closely when outdoors, be mindful of any nests in your garden, and undertake the preventative measures outlined on this page where possible.

  • Seek professional help for injured animals.

    Many cats who are prolific hunters don’t kill their prey, but merely capture and injure small animals. They may even bring them in the house as a ‘gift’. This isn’t because cats are simply cruel - animals are motivated by their instincts, not by a desire to do harm for ‘fun’. Just as your cat automatically responds to a fast-moving dangly toy, cats are compelled by their instincts to hunt even when they are well-fed and are not hungry enough to actually consume their prey.

    If your cat does bring an animal into the house that is still alive, it is important to act swiftly to give that animal the best chance of survival. Many cats carry bacteria in their mouth that can become fatal to small animals in the days following capture, even if injuries aren’t obvious or appear only superficial, or if the animal is otherwise bright and alert. For this reason, wildlife rescue organisations recommend that you seek help from a wildlife rescue centre or rehabilitator for any small animal that has been caught by a cat. First place the animal in a box with holes for ventilation, put it somewhere quiet and out of reach of your cat, and then contact your local wildlife rescue centre. Use this map to find those local to you: https://helpwildlife.co.uk/map/, or visit to the ‘Useful Links’ section of this page for other options.

“Any bird or animal which is caught by a cat should be rescued, contained and taken to a wildlife rescue for treatment.”
— From an article by Help Wildlife UK, 'Cat and Dog Attacks - Advice'
cat playing catcuddles tortie toy rescue

  • Help your cat to burn off excess energy.

    A bored cat may be more inclined to practice his or her hunting skills. By regularly playing with your cat and providing him or her with lots of fun activities, you can help channel their hunting instincts in a more positive way. Dangly toys, interactive and puzzle toys, cat trees, and scratchers are all great for this - as is setting aside ten to thirty minutes per day to play with your cat.

  • Carefully consider the placement of bird feeders.

    Bird feeders can be a wonderful way to help out local wildlife, however, attracting birds to your garden can be risky if you have cats. Some species of bird, like blackbirds or robins, are particularly vulnerable as they often feed on the ground. If you do decide to install feeders, opt for pole-mounted, hanging feeders or bird tables that are situated well above the ground, and carefully sweep up any spilled food on a daily basis, or place trays at the foot of the feeders to help capture fallen seed. Birds often feed early in the morning, so consider putting out fresh food before allowing your cat outside, giving birds a chance to feed safely.

    Placing feeders near bushes or trees helps to provide visiting birds with cover from predators like sparrowhawks, however, it also may allow cats to launch sneak attacks on feeding birds. Prickly bushes or brambles at the base of feeders, which cats may be reluctant to venture into, may therefore be a good compromise. You can also place feeders in areas where your cat cannot access altogether - for example, on high window ledges, or in the front garden if your cat only has access to your back garden.

  • Explore alarm collars.

    Alarm collars emit a high-pitched sound intermittently - often not audible to the human ear - that helps alert wildlife to the presence of an approaching cat. These are relatively new devices so the research on their effectiveness, and how they might impact cat behaviour, is still in short supply; this is something that should be kept in mind when considering this option.

  • Ensure that your cat is well-fed.

    Whilst this may seem obvious, ensuring that your cat is being provided with sufficient calories per day may decrease their interest in hunting. Sticking to a regular feeding schedule, so that your cat has a sense of when his or her next meal will be, can also help. This is unlikely to eradicate hunting instincts all together, but there is some research to suggest that well-fed cats are far less prolific in their hunting activites.

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Myth-busting - Do Cats Kill for Fun?

It’s a common belief that cats kill purely for pleasure or entertainment, but this amounts to a huge over-simplification of cat behaviour. Domestic cats retain many of the instincts of their wild ancestors, who were highly-specialised, opportunistic, solitary hunters. Quite simply, cats are hard-wired to respond to the movement and sounds associated with small prey species, animals that would constitute their natural source of food as obligate carnivores - whether they are hungry or not. This is why most cats will instinctively pounce on a fast-moving dangly toy, or chase a laser-pointer. In the wild, opportunistic hunting behaviour - seizing on prey whenever it appears - would be essential for preventing starvation.

Animals are motivated primarily by nature and biology, unlike humans, whose behaviours may be driven by other, more nuanced desires. Cats are therefore not able to choose to resist their instincts, so it’s up to us to mediate their behaviour as best we can, whilst still ensuring that they are kept happy and healthy at all times.

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