Pet Cats are Mini Super Predators, Carry Deadly Diseases

Pet cats kill up to 270 million prey each year from Reading and Royal Holloway, University of London. However, there is variation across the country, with suburban cats killing an average of 34 animals per year near natural areas, according to the study.

The number of felines in more developed areas, further away from green or natural spaces, drops to 15 per year on average.

The researchers discovered that putting a bell on a cat did not reduce the number of prey killed, implying that the cats in the study were excellent hunters and the owners had put the device on because they were aware of it.

The study found that pets wearing bells brought back the most prey. They discovered that wearing a bell was associated with a significant increase in prey returns as well as, somewhat unexpectedly, increased overall predation.

Dr. Rebecca Thomas of Royal Holloway University described the estimated 9.5 million cats in the UK as "mini super predators" and non-native species. She claims that the cats breed at unnaturally high densities, particularly in suburban areas.

Thomas pointed out that the cats are fed and cared for by their owners, so they could be considered mini super predators.

Environmental Infuence

During the study, cats on the edge of green spaces killed more mammals, while cats in both types of environments killed the same number of birds.

Those with less access to natural land, on the other hand, killed far more blackbirds, whereas robins were the preferred prey of cats in green spaces.

The findings were based on a year of tracking 79 cats in the counties of Berkshire and Hampshire. The researchers compared the predation rates of cats living within 100 meters of natural land to those living one kilometer away.

According to the researchers, a simple extrapolation based on the predation rates found in this study suggests that the 9.5 million pet cats in the United Kingdom may kill between 160 and 270 million prey individuals each year.

Dr. Tara Pirie, the study's lead author, also mentioned a "fear effect" that the predator's presence can have on its prey. Pirie discovered that simply seeing a predator can cause wildlife to change their behavior, such as reducing feeding through increased vigilance or staying away from a nest, leaving it vulnerable.

The lead author went on to say that this can lower adult and offspring survival rates. However, in addition to actively killing prey, cats may infect nearby animals and wildlife with diseases carried by their prey.

Pirie pointed out that cats can carry diseases like Toxoplasma gondii, which can be transmitted to wildlife and reduce their chances of survival.

The researchers also found that increasing food portions in the hopes of deterring hunters had little effect.
Dr. Pirie believes that the cat's hunting behavior is simply triggered by the movement of prey.

Joy of Companionship vs. Feline Kills

The researchers concluded by contrasting the joy and companionship cats bring to their owners with the tens of millions of animals killed each year as a result of feline hunting behavior.

The team stated in their study that appropriate approaches to environmentally-sensitive cat ownership can only be developed by understanding the possible negative ecological effects pet cats may have on their local biodiversity.

The team published their research in the journal Landscape and Urban Planning.