[Benjamin]

Cats are one of the top threats to US wildlife, killing billions of animals each year, a study suggests.

The authors estimate they are responsible for the deaths of between 1.4 and 3.7 billion birds and 6.9-20.7 billion mammals annually.

Writing in Nature Communications, the scientists said stray and feral cats were the worst offenders.

However, they added that pet cats also played a role and that owners should do more to reduce their impact.

The authors concluded that more animals are dying at the claws of cats in the United States than in road accidents, collisions with buildings or poisonings.

The domestic cat's killer instinct has been well documented on many islands around the world.

Felines accompanying their human companions have gone on to prey on the local wildlife, and they have been blamed for the global extinction of 33 species.

But their impact on mainland areas has been harder to chart.

To find out more, researchers from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) and the US Fish and Wildlife Service carried out a review of studies that had previously looked at the predatory prowess of cats.
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Our study suggests that they are the top threat to US wildlife”

Dr Pete Marra SCBI

Their analysis revealed that the cat killings were much higher than previous studies had suggested: they found that they had killed more than four times as many birds as has been previously estimated.

Birds native to the US, such as the American Robin, were most at risk, and mice, shrews, voles, squirrels and rabbits were the mammals most likely to be killed.

Dr Pete Marra from the SCBI said: "Our study suggests that they are the top threat to US wildlife."

The team said that "un-owned" cats, which they classified as strays, feral cats and farm cats, were killing about three times as many animals as pet cats. However, they said pet cats were still killing significant numbers of animals, and that their owners should do more to limit the impact.

Dr Marra said: "We hope that the large amount of wildlife mortality indicated by our research convinces some cat owners to keep their cats indoors and that it alerts policymakers, wildlife managers and scientists to the large magnitude of wildlife mortality caused by cat predation."

A spokeswoman for the animal welfare charity the RSPCA said that a properly fitted collar and bell could reduce a cat's success when hunting by at least a third.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21236690

Interesting that this news story has been reported. Apparently the PM of New Zealand wants to ban and rid cats from New Zealand as they are the biggest killer of the the New Zealand wildlife.

[Me. I Am Salman]

lmao

[Marcus.]

oh my stars

[Saph]

but they're so cute

cats > wildlife

(except little rodents )

[Kazanne]

Oh dear , I can see this is true though as cats are quite ferocious at times even my old moggie has been known to behead a bird,which is horrible,but it's their instinct.

[Benjamin]

In New Zealand I can understand since they are not a natural animal over here, they were brought over and they are rapidly killing off a lot of the New Zealand wildlife including the iconic Kiwi bird that cannot fly away.

[Slevin]

dickhead cats

[Saph]

Originally Posted by Ben

In New Zealand I can understand since they are not a natural animal over here, they were brought over and they are rapidly killing off a lot of the New Zealand wildlife including the iconic Kiwi bird that cannot fly away.

aw I love the kiwi bird okay I've changed my mind,
kiwi bird>small rodents>cats>others

[Stu]

Good ol cats.

[Kazanne]

Originally Posted by Ben

In New Zealand I can understand since they are not a natural animal over here, they were brought over and they are rapidly killing off a lot of the New Zealand wildlife including the iconic Kiwi bird that cannot fly away.

Aw,Ben,the poor kiwi

First: Every other animal on the planet.
Then: Us.

Cats can do what the hell they please, because they're cats.

Not even crocs are safe.

Youtube video

[Benjamin]

Originally Posted by Jesus.H.Christ

First: Every other animal on the planet.
Then: Us.

Cats can do what the hell they please, because they're cats.

Not even crocs are safe.

Youtube video

I'm still in favour of cats being banned from NZ to protect the endangered wildlife over here.

[Kazanne]

Originally Posted by Ben

I'm still in favour of cats being banned from NZ to protect the endangered wildlife over here.

First time I've ever felt sorry for a croc I think

[arista]

In Nasty China
they keep loads in Cages
to be Eat like chickens

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat_meat

and other nations

[Livia]

If cats are ever going to be a destructive as humans have been, they're going to have to up their game.

[Ninastar]

I think my grandads farm cat is responsible for half of this

[Nedusa]

So what ... They're cats that's what they do... Why is this even a news story ?? Haven't we got enough to worry about with African terrorists and Celeb Paedophiles without having to worry about cats catching birds FFS....!!!!!

[Ramsay]

Sadistic, GIVE THEM THE CHAIR!!!

[Marc]

It's about time we start culling them

[Nedusa]

Originally Posted by Marc

It's about time we start culling them

I think we should start culling people who make study's like these...!!!

[GypsyGoth]

There needs to be a New New Zealand, the old one is overrun by cats!!!

[Benjamin]

Originally Posted by Nedusa

So what ... They're cats that's what they do... Why is this even a news story ?? Haven't we got enough to worry about with African terrorists and Celeb Paedophiles without having to worry about cats catching birds FFS....!!!!!

Well some of us actually do care about wildlife and the endangered species of the world. I'd rather spend my time concerned with that then celebrity paedophiles.

[Nedusa]

Originally Posted by Ben

Well some of us actually do care about wildlife and the endangered species of the world. I'd rather spend my time concerned with that then celebrity paedophiles.

Are you for real...!!! Seriously you pulling my Fcuking chain. So now cats are responsible for endangering whole species... What a croc of sh*t. !!!!

[joeysteele]

I have to be honest,it is the one thing I dislike as to Cats, after watching one with a bird and a mouse too as a child I was transfixed watching it but the torture they put the bird or rodent through must be really awful.
I accept it is a part of instinct but cats in the wild actually generally only kill to eat,domestic cats even when greatly pampered still inflict endless torture on their prey.

I get a lot of half eaten, or just dead birds with feathers strewn all over in the garden of the house I am in while at Uni,it is a sorry sight and I am rather fed up of having to bury so many birds too.
The people further up next door too, have a really beautiful garden and almost every week they are having to clear up dead birds and feathers then also having to replace plants too from when the Cat gets in a frenzy catching a bird.

I do think they should have to made to wear something to warn other wildlife they are about,if my Dog was killing left, right and centre, he'd be considered dangerous likely.

I adore Cats as Kittens and I would never harm a Cat or let anyone else harm them either but I really don't like this side to them at all.

[Nedusa]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

I have to be honest,it is the one thing I dislike as to Cats, after watching one with a bird and a mouse too as a child I was transfixed watching it but the torture they put the bird or rodent through must be really awful.
I accept it is a part of instinct but cats in the wild actually generally only kill to eat,domestic cats even when greatly pampered still inflict endless torture on their prey.

I get a lot of half eaten, or just dead birds with feathers strewn all over in the garden of the house I am in while at Uni,it is a sorry sight and I am rather fed up of having to bury so many birds too.
The people further up next door too, have a really beautiful garden and almost every week they are having to clear up dead birds and feathers then also having to replace plants too from when the Cat gets in a frenzy catching a bird.

I do think they should have to made to wear something to warn other wildlife they are about,if my Dog was killing left, right and centre, he'd be considered dangerous likely.

I adore Cats as Kittens and I would never harm a Cat or let anyone else harm them either but I really don't like this side to them at all.

Still sometimes it's good on a Sunday morning when you are looking for something to put into the omelette...!!!!