| Domestic cats are often well fed. However, most | | | | around billions of small mammals and millions of birds. |
| pet owners are still amused as why their cats kill | | | | Moreover, urban felines and suburban felines are also |
| rodents, birds and still do not eat them. The reason | | | | adding to this count. Some cats kill house mice, |
| is, unlike other predators, the cat's desire to hunt is | | | | rodents and other pests but most killed are |
| not to eat its prey. | | | | songbirds, which are already under the threat of |
| They hunt it because they have an inborn hunting | | | | extinction due to other factors such as destruction |
| instinct in them. This instinct is so strong that they | | | | of natural habitat and pollution. |
| continue to hunt the preys around them. | | | | Cats have contributed to the extinction of population |
| Nevertheless, this habit of hunting had severe impact | | | | of species such as least terans birds, Piping Plovers, |
| on some species. | | | | Loggerhead Shrikes and starlings in the U.S. The |
| In some places, the impact of hunting is such that it | | | | situation is no different in other continent such as |
| has lead to extinction of several species. Thus, | | | | Australia, where species of birds such as blackbirds, |
| hunting has considerably reduced the counts of small | | | | mynah, parrot, galahs, and crimson rosellas are on the |
| birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, thereby | | | | verge of extinction. |
| threatening the census of wild life. | | | | In Florida, cats have hunted many birds such as |
| Apart from this, domestic cats are troubling the | | | | Shrikes, pigeons and other native birds, due to which |
| native predators too, for example predators such as | | | | they are one the verge of extinction. In addition, the |
| hawks, weasels, fox, do not find enough food for | | | | existence of Marsh rabbits, American gold finch and |
| their survival. As a result, the existence of these | | | | hens, and other small mammals are also in danger. |
| species is in danger too. | | | | Feral cats have hunted many endangered species |
| Alarming Decrease In Most Species: | | | | such as Malas, which were recovered successfully by |
| Cats are carnivorous animals. Studies depict that | | | | the wildlife authorities. |
| feeding habits of most domestic cats include mainly | | | | Steps To Prevent The Impact Of Hunting: |
| household foods such as fish and meat products. In | | | | Try to keep the cats indoors. Confinement reduces |
| addition, these cats hunt 70% of small mammals and | | | | unwanted reproduction and predation of life. Tie bell |
| 20% of birds to gratify their hunger. Studies also | | | | belts in their necks because whenever cats stalk |
| depict that domestic cats kill nearly 1000 animals each | | | | prey, it will alarm the prey and prevent unwarranted |
| year. Cats in small towns kill an average of 14 birds | | | | hunting. |
| each year. | | | | Declawing is also another important step, which pet |
| Rural domestic cats kill more animals than urban cats. | | | | owners may consider. It will reduce the intensity of |
| Researchers say that rural cats in Wisconsin kill | | | | hunting among domesticated cats. Thus, although, |
| around 8 to 17 million birds every year. The more | | | | hunting is a very natural ability of cats, it has |
| accurate data state that cats kill around 39 million | | | | significantly increased the mortality of the birds. |
| birds annually. In addition, nationwide, rural cats kill | | | | |