Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
with increasing the ability of our urban spaces to support larger populations
of birds and other animals. To do this requires us to increase the survival and
reproduction of these species, which is also contingent on providing a cat-free
place to live.
Keep your cat indoors!
Our favorite felines are called “house cats” for a reason.
Inside a house, with good veterinary care, a cat's life is free from parasites, dis-
ease, predators, injury, and deadly accidents that torment free-ranging mous-
ers. Living inside extends the average cat's life by a decade. Keeping your cat
inside and resisting the urge to feed strays or support programs that return
spayed and neutered feral cats to free-roaming colonies also spares billions
of wild animals needless death, disease, and harassment. A century ago, the
Massachusetts state ornithologist, Dr. Edward Forbush, recognized cats as a
major limiting factor to urban birds. Now we know that a free-ranging cat kills
one in ten wild birds. Birds may be disrupted during nesting by cats and other
domestic species, notably dogs that run free in parks, but disturbances are
rarely lethal. In contrast, some birds that avoid the claw of the cat suf er in-
creased nest failure and are exposed to lethal pathogens, such as the one that
causes toxoplasmosis.
Those who wish to improve their yards for wildlife by keeping their cats
inside may be interested in the American Bird Conservancy's “Cats Indoors”
program. The program advises cat owners on how to keep their indoor cats
happy. Starting with a kitten raised inside is the best strategy, but even older
cats adapting to a life inside will appreciate a window shelf from which to
watch birds, daily play with their owners, kitty grass for grazing, and access
to an outside enclosure, such as a screened porch. Regardless of where you
live, you can help wildlife by not allowing your cat to roam outdoors and by