I left my last post alluding to a run in with a neighbour which spurred me to write about threats to having and maintaining a wildlife garden, particular in the urban sphere. I touched on the high rate of mortality due to window strikes incurred by birds during migration, which is second only to habitat loss, and ways that we, as wildlife gardeners, can avoid being part of the problem.
Well, that neighbourhood run in was a collision of opinions, to put it mildly. The clash had to do with a cat running loose, harassing and killing wildlife. A week previously, I had seen the neighbour’s cat, an orange tabby, trotting across the road with a bird in its mouth. With heart in mouth, I ran down the street to intervene and clapped my hands very loudly as I approached. The cat was startled enough to release the bird which thankfully, flew up into the trees in a flurry of flapping.
Not cat food! Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) resting on birdbath in the rain.
The cat’s owner arrived a short time later and I informed her of her pet’s activities (I didn’t mention that I’ve chased her cat away on numerous occasions from hanging around my front yard bird bath and from using my backyard as a thoroughfare and litter box). She promptly dismissed any concern for wildlife by stating that her cat had a bell on his collar and was providing a needed benefit by killing mice and rats. I didn’t see or hear a bell. Cats learn to hunt without making a sound and birds don’t necessarily equate a bell with danger. Besides, we have predators that are neither invasive, nor a pest and are able to hunt mice and rats. A neighbour three doors up has a bird feeder that attracts an array of raptors. They may predate native birds, but they are also taking non-native Rock Doves, House Sparrows, and Starlings.
Bird feeders attract all sorts, wanted or unwanted; it goes with the territory as mentioned by Susan J. Tweit in her post. A better way to attract songbirds to your garden is to plant native species which will encourage insects to populate your yard and provide food for birds and other wildlife.
I mentioned to the neighbour that the Mourning Dove her cat attacked is a protected species. She drew a blank stare. Obviously, the information that I was giving her was not being received well…or at all. So, it was time to delve into the issue of wayward cats and get some facts and figures to arm myself for the next round of educating the neighbours.
Most Birds Are Protected under Legislation
Most species of birds in Canada, over 500, are protected under The Migratory Birds Convention Act (MBCA). We signed a Treaty with the U.S. almost one hundred years ago, which has similar legislation, though the list of bird species protected by each country can be different (about 800 species in the U.S.).
Under the The Migratory Bird Treaty Act which pertains to native birds:
“…it shall be unlawful at any time, by any means or in any manner, to pursue, hunt, take, capture, kill, attempt to take, capture, or kill…”
By any means? Can a cat be construed as an instrument of some such means or manner and thus subject to regulation through the pet owner?
Whether pet, semi-feral or feral, cats add up to a menace to wildlife
My property is a tiny wildlife oasis amongst the traditional gardens surrounding me that offer little benefit to wildlife. They are backyards for the sole purpose of human activities.
An Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) has good reason to be vigilant!
We’ve all heard: “build it and they will come”. Well, I “built” my wildlife garden for wildlife not for domestics. I don’t expect encroachment by uninvited people or pets, i.e., intruders. I’ve taken precautions to make my garden a wildlife haven and minimize attracting some wildlife, like raccoons of which we have a very large population in Toronto. However, one particular trespasser invades with impunity – the free-ranging pet cat. And I know I’m not alone in voicing my displeasure.
The concern over the ecological impact of free-ranging cats is a fairly recent issue.
Domestic cat (Felis catus) has been listed as the fifth leading cause of human-induced mortality in birds with 118 million in the U.S. and Canada. Additionally, cats also kill untold millions of mammals, amphibians and reptiles. With approximately 33% of households or 86.4 million owned cats in the United States and another 36% of households or 8.5 million cats in Canada (2008), the number of cats with access to the outdoors and wildlife smorgasbord could be quite substantial, and that doesn’t include the semi-feral and feral cats.
The wary Red Squirrel (Sciurus hudsonicus).
Cats make Purrfect Invasive Species
While cats have a mutualistic relationship with humans, they differ in comparison with dogs. Cats have not undergone major changes during the domestication process, as the form and behavior of the domestic cat are not radically different from those of wildcats, and domestic cats are perfectly capable of surviving in the wild, hence their easy transition to feral status. Combine the ease of going wild with a high proficiency in hunting, high fecundity, and being a charmer with humans who wouldn’t leave home without them, you have a very dangerous, invasive species, particularly in isolated situations such as islands with few natural predators, e.g., New Zealand. Note: F. cattus species has been nominated among 100 of the “World’s Worst” invaders by the Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG), at number 38.
Dogs as invasive species are not quite as adept as cats. Cats also differ from dogs and hold a special status in society – call it a double standard; a carry over from the past with dogs being deemed more valuable, potentially more dangerous, and thus in need of legislation to control them.
“Dogs have historically been the symbol of the hydrophobic, marauding beast, ravaging small children and livestock alike. Cats, by virtue of their general overall size and jaw strength, were not seen as a threat to civilized society. Further, cats in agricultural locations kept to themselves in barn communities, surviving with little concern or connection to human life. As times change, however, so do the concerns of pet owners.”
Only recently have cats attracted attention with licencing, and in some areas, bylaws prohibiting their unrestricted wandering.
Cats as Risks and Risks to Cats
Besides wrecking havoc on wildlife, cats can also be carriers of zoonotic diseases that can be shared with humans, such as Rabies, Toxoplasmosis, Cat Scratch Fever or Lyme Disease (tick as vector).
And then there are the threats to the cats themselves which may lead to a shorter lifespan:
- Vehicles
- Attacks from other animals
- Human cruelty
- Poisons and traps
- Disease (including cats as intermediate host to Raccoon roundworm)
- Parasites
Solutions
The degree to which we keep our pets under control is one of the few areas that we can make decisions as individuals and have an impact on our environment. If you live in certain areas of Australia, decisions regarding the keeping of pets might be made for you. A number of residential areas that border bushland in Queensland for example actually prohibit the keeping of cats and restrict the number of dogs kept to protect indigenous, at risk species. It may appear to be an extreme measure, but the Aussies are dead serious about protecting their endemic, native wildlife and habitat.
Cat collars or bibs that are worn to prevent cats from catching birds are laudable, but don’t eliminate all killing and don’t address the threat to other wildlife – amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. As well, these devices don’t reduce the exposure to risks to your cat’s health while Fluffy can still roam freely.
Certainly, restricting cats to your own property, either through a method of harnessing or a secure cat enclosure will reduce the risks inherent in roaming, but not eliminate them.
The best solution for both the welfare of your cat, wildlife and the environment, including our wildlife gardens, is to keep your cat indoors at all times. Be a responsible pet owner!
What You Can Do
Keep only as many pet cats as you can feed and care for.
Neuter your cats or prevent them from breeding and encourage others to do so.
Locate bird feeders in sites that do not provide cover for preying cats.
Don’t dispose of unwanted cats by releasing them in rural areas.
Eliminate sources of food, such as garbage or outdoor pet food dishes that attract stray cats (and mice, rats, skunks, raccoons).
Don’t feed stray cats. Feeding strays maintains high densities of cats that kill and compete with native wildlife populations.
Of interest:
American Bird Conservancy has many materials available including information on Trap Neuter Release (TNR), although a more effective solution is Trap Neuter Remove.
The Kitty Cam Project (what’s your cat up to?)
Cats as Invasive Species (several articles)
Detailed Discussion of State Cat Laws (U.S.)
Is this young American Robin (Turdus migratorius) a sitting duck?
© 2012, Janet Harrison. All rights reserved. This article is the property of Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens. If you are reading this at another site, please report that to us
About Janet Harrison
I couldn’t agree more. The worst cat kill I’ve seen happened when a nest of cardinals here were beginning to make forays from their nest a couple of springs ago. The cat systematically killed them all. She didn’t eat any of the baby birds – just killed them and left them on the ground. The cardinal parents both returned to the scene of the crime for two weeks, and the female continued to come back for a solid month, every single day. Just about broke my heart.
Linda recently posted..Wildflower Wednesday
Linda, that is so sad. This behaviour is so typical of cats as “recreational” hunters. They may be well fed (or overfed) at home but are still compelled to hunt by instinct. I was going to add to my post an epilogue, but it was getting a bit too long as is. Quick synopsis: the week after the first bird incident, the scene replayed itself…like out of Groundhog Day. An orange tabby, similar bird in mouth, me running down the street, but the cat kept running and did not drop the bird as it slipped between houses to the backyard. It is so frustrating trying to reason with pet owners who have a sense of entitlement in allowing their pets to run loose. But I won’t give up and will speak up at every opportunity that arises.
Sorry, this comment will be unpopular, but I would trap her cat and bring it to a humane society. There is no way people would put up with my dogs rampaging through their yards and killing their cats; why should I have to put up with it? There was a feral cat open season proposed in some state (Wisconsin?) but it never passed due to the hue and cry of crazy cat lovers. They are pests and should be removed from the urban landscape.
Sigh. I love my cats, but my love for them ends at the door–after that, I love birds a lot more.
It’s a sad thing when I am very glad to see coyotes moving into the neighborhood, because if nothing else, it’ll cut the feral cat population down. I just wish irresponsible owners didn’t force us to be grateful for what is, in the end, an unpleasant way for any cat to go.
UrsulaV recently posted..Skipper on Climbing Aster
Ursula, being grabbed by a predator is definitely an unpleasant way for a pet to leave this world, as they are part of our family. However, I think being abandoned or left at risk of getting hit by a car, contracting feline leukemia, FIV, etc. may be worse. We have a well-known cat colony on the lakefront where cats were being picked off systematically by a coyote or a pair of coyotes. The people feeding the colony were very distressed and tried to hold vigilance to watch over their wards, to no avail. I’m glad your cats are safe and your bird visitors, too. As a pet owner, I could not rest easy knowing my pets were at risk in the great unknown.
Great post, Janet! Thank you for being thoughtful but not shying away from the issues. I tell my landscaping clients that if they want wildlife, their cats need to be indoor only, or have a secure outdoor enclosure for sunning playing. Cats never quit hunting, and even if they don’t kill birds, lizards, and other wildlife, they stress them unnecessarily. Wildlife have it hard enough without cats!
Susan J. Tweit recently posted..Road Report: New Mexico, Arkansas and then home
Thanks, Susan! I’ve had a number of run-ins with cats over the years. A couple of years ago, a large orange tabby ran across my path with an adult chipmunk in its mouth. The poor chipmunk was obviously dead. I was livid and I couldn’t do anything. I love ground and tree squirrels.
Twenty years ago, I was walking my dog in a hydro field and she sniffed out a wounded Mourning Dove. It had probably been attacked by a cat and couldn’t fly. I took it to the vet, treated it with antibiotic ointment and released it successfully 9 days later. Many birds die of shock even if they survive the initial encounter. But this bird was tough, yet very calm and gentle. I still remember doing some test flights in my bedroom to make sure the bird was ready for its flight home.
Number three on your list of “WHAT YOU CAN DO” seems to be a direct contradiction to the second photo which features a birdbath nestled in thick plantings. Although your statement refers to feeders, the birdbaths are a close second for drawing winged visitors who may fall prey to cats hiding in the foliage of perennials.
It would have been more helpful to show a photo of a birdbath out in the open, without disguise or surrounding foliage. An approaching cat would be seen long before it gets near the birdbath, allowing the bird to fly to safety.
Beverly, you are absolutely right and I’m glad that you brought it up. It is a contradiction. The suggestion of setting up bird baths in the open works well on paper and on large properties. It doesn’t address the problem of having a small yard in a large city with a greater potential for a large population of cats. In my first post, I outlined the challenges of living on a small plot; living on the edge. I don’t have clear, open space to set up bird baths in my front and backyards. If I want a wildlife friendly yard, I need to keep water sources available, particularly in drought situations. And the only really sunny area, other than my driveway, is my front bit, so I’d like to have pollinator plants which happen to have height, but unfortunately may provide cover for trespassing cats. Maybe it’s selfish wanting it all: shrubs, plants, bird baths, the whole shebang in the strict confines of my property. However, I shouldn’t have to worry about the edge effect IF pet owners would confine their pets to their own properties and not allow them to trespass. It is a matter of courtesy to neighbours and responsible pet ownership.
Yes cats are non-native and kill millions of birds and other animals..I wanted to mention one thing that I learned from my late friend who was a wildlife rehabber. If a cat has grabbed a bird or baby bunny the curved nature of the claws and of the teeth causes a wound that closes and is bacterial filled and that is on purpose. It is a bad death, but cat wounds are usually fatal so it is kinder to let the cat kill the animal that scare it so it lets go a wounded animal that may die from infection.. My two rescued cats lives in-doors …Michelle…
Rambling Woods recently posted..The New Normal….
Good point, Michelle. Cats can retract their claws which can be laden with bacteria. Their teeth are very sharp; almost needle-like, so they can “inject” bacteria into a wound, even though the teeth are not hollow. The bacteria harboured by the claws, coupled with the normal bacteria found in the saliva of any animal’s mouth, can be a potent killer by infection. Cats are formidable predators and their size should not be taken lightly. Kudos to you – I’m glad your cats are safely indoors.
I feel that cat owners need to be responsible for their cats…I do not appreciate them running free or being in my garden, digging relieving themselves and hunting…so for me it is scat cat!!
Donna@Gardens Eye View recently posted..Simply The Best-October
Donna, I wish cat owners who have no compunction about letting their cats roam onto other properties, substitute unrelated “dog” in place of “cat”. Would those same cat owners give permission or appreciate a foreign dog trespassing: ripping around their yard, harassing and driving away yard inhabitants (wildlife, resident pets), and using their gardens as a toilet? The double standard is offensive – a pet is a pet and full responsibility falls to the owner.
Everything you all have said is true, which I guess makes me the villain. I have a cat shelter, currently with 30 cats; all are rescues, all are spayed/neutered, and all are treated by a vet when needed. Half live in my house and yard, and half at the shelter on 8 acres of open field and planted pine woods where they have a 40′ trailer that they go in and out of at will. I didn’t ask for these cats, but have felt called to save those that needed saving; and also agree that “it is the nature of the cat to roam.” (Quote from the late Adlai Stevenson). Perhaps if everyone were responsible for their pets (spaying and neutering), I wouldn’t be faced with this quandary (and financial burden). I love birds, and am working to restore native habitat, but I love my kitty babies too. Yes, cats are an invasive species, but so are humans. And humans have done more harm to birds in terms of both habitat destruction and wanton destruction than cats ever will.
It may be true that “humans have done more harm to birds in terms of both habitat destruction and wanton destruction than cats ever will”, but it is important to remember that this is true only because cats are but one way that humans have caused harm.
In other words, cats are the manifestation of a human problem: irresponsible attitudes about the world we live in.
Humans need to take responsibility for ALL the problems we cause, and free-roaming cats are one of those problems. If cat owners want to continue keeping their pets legally, they need to behave responsibly.
Vincent Vizachero recently posted..Creating An Urban Meadow with Native Plants
I also live in an urban setting. The temple behind my house feeds the stray cats. I have had to take birdfeeders down because it became a killing field for the birds. I have planted native berry plants which now feed the birds but we still watch out for all the cats. They use my yard as a litter box. I have had to learn to walk a fine line between feeding the birds and chasing the cats. I have also used ‘cat scat’ a plastic pad from Gardiners Supply which discourages the cats from hiding under my bushes. It is challenging for a native gardener who loves all wild life.
Do thorny plants (like native roses, blackberries, etc.) help deter cats?
Vincent Vizachero recently posted..Creating An Urban Meadow with Native Plants
Yes, Vincent, I would think that cats being cats will take the easy route and avoid prickly vegetation. Actually, most animals, including humans, usually take the easiest route as it expends less energy. I would imagine even having thick vegetation at ground level would slow down, hinder or even deter many animals from accessing a garden. Cedar hedges that have foliage right to the ground are not the easiest routes to navigate. I’m working on trying to fill in around the cedars, but they are a hard species with which to work. Pets and wildlife are using my pathway to the backyard garage. I might have to try netting slung low to dissuade cats. Squirrels and raccoons readily climb the cedars, so they won’t be discouraged too much.
Thorny stuff does deter cats – also the rough foliage of plants such as Juniper – for years we have had a bird bath in a very thick and scratchy juniper shrub. Janet – I would think netting might help for sure to keep the cats from pouncing on the birds in your gardens…good idea. I once used the “Cat Scats” (plastic spikey mats) from Gardeners Supply, they did work, but are expensive and I try to avoid too much plastic stuff in my gardens…
Ellen Sousa recently posted..Vegetable Gardening the Natural Way
Ellen, I have a lot of tree squirrels that root around in leaves and mulch, so I loathe to use something that may discourage their natural behaviour like Cat Scats. Another expensive deterrent is an electronic device, CatStop sold by Lee Valley. It uses a heat-sensor trigger and emits a burst of ultrasonic sound to repel cats that come within a localized area. The noise frequency is in a range audible to cats but not to humans, although according to the instructions, some white cats, older cats and exotic breeds cannot hear higher frequencies and may not be affected. I installed one in the backyard aimed at the base of the bird bath where I was finding cat feces. I think it is working but I may need to invest in another one to deter cats from using my pathway. My only worry (besides the expense) is that it may adversely affect wildlife. Note: I wouldn’t be able to use the device in the front yard as it may get stolen.
I do not disagree about the toll that these “subsidized killers” take on wildlife . But it’s even more important for the cat not to go outside. A caring owner would keep their cats indoors for their well-being. Outdoor cats are at great risk of injury and death when they roam. Coyotes and raccoons prey on them. They get wounded in fights with other cats and often develop infections in their injuries. They are exposed to many illnesses, some of them potentially fatal. They pick up parasites from the animals they catch, intestinal worms if they eat them, fleas even if they don’t. After two of our cats were hit and killed by cars in separate incidents, I decided to keep all others inside the house. Over the years we had four more cats who were all perfectly content to stay indoors. They lived long, healthy lives and died at advanced ages of natural causes. If you love your pet and want it to be safe, it should stay in the house.
Thank you, Joyce. Your voice of experience adds weight to the argument in favour of keeping cats contained on your property, preferably indoors where they can reside safely. As pets, that’s the least we can do for them.
I agree with everything I’ve read above, including the coyote comment. Whether cats are a natural part of the landscape, as are humans etc can be debated, but to take it a step further, the research on trap-neuter-return approach to feral cat populations shows that it is the only effective way of reducing and stabilizing outdoor cat populations. Cats are territorial, and eliminating cats just creates a vacuum for other cats to move in. Spay neuter reduces the cat population and minimizes negative behaviors of the cats. The food source will remain, whether mice,or friendly human feeders. I say this with the goal of protecting the birds and wildlife. TNR programs exist in most parts of the country, and is a parallel approach, in my opinion, to protecting the birds.