As a result of this intrinsic desire and innate survival ability, 70% of domestic cats in the UK live an indoor/outdoor hybrid lifestyle, with charities such as Cats Protection and Battersea actively recommending that cats have access to the great outdoors for their well-being (much like us needing our little daily walks for our mental health). Zoe explains that because cats are solitary survivors, they learn using both observational learning and trial and error, and when they have the opportunity to try something new and gain a positive outcome (like jumping over a garden fence), they remember that experience and adapt accordingly. “So with this in mind, allowing a cat to free roam could lead to a favourable outcome for their emotional and physical wellbeing,” she says.
In contrast, in the US, 70% of cats are kept indoors, or if they are let outside, it’s within the confines of a secure garden or catio (this is also for their well-being, but for different reasons, which we’ll get into later). Or take the town of Walldorf in Germany as an example, which previously had a fine in place of up to €500 for cat parents letting their cat outside, due to the risk of death to the endangered ground-nesting crested lark – and those cat parents could even risk being fined up to €50,000 if their cat injured or killed one of the birds.
sigh Americans, man… always the contrarians. First 1776, now this.
This article seems questionable at best. Not only is it specific to the UK but it stops citing sources and having links as it gets down into the you should decide for yourself whether your cat kills too many birds part. As far as I can tell it also makes no mention of the problems of cat fights or the diseases that cats can get from catching wild birds. Not to mention FIV or rabies, both of which had spread in my old neighborhood and some of the neighborhood cats had to be put down for it.
Yeah, it’s totally just an American issue. I’m sure all the flightless birds in New Zealand that evolved without such predators are happy to have cats wandering outdoors. /s
What do people’s attitudes have to do with facts? Your own link says:
In NZ, free-roaming cats primarily prey on small mammals and birds, creating ecological concerns, although cats may also control introduced pest species. The impact of cats on the environment, along with community nuisance and potential zoonotic risks, have prompted calls for national cat management policies. Public support exists for such policies, though translating this into behavioural change remains challenging.
Cats themselves are an introduced species in many parts of the world. Many island animals in particular haven’t evolved for a hunter like them. People’s attitudes toward what to do with cats doesn’t change the fact that they threaten wildlife, which even your own links acknowledge.
Not sure what my country of origin or status of cat ownership has to do with any of that. I don’t need to be anywhere special or have a cat to understand the ecological damage they can cause.
This is a good read: https://www.kinship.com/uk/cat-lifestyle/outdoor-cats-uk
sigh Americans, man… always the contrarians. First 1776, now this.
This article seems questionable at best. Not only is it specific to the UK but it stops citing sources and having links as it gets down into the you should decide for yourself whether your cat kills too many birds part. As far as I can tell it also makes no mention of the problems of cat fights or the diseases that cats can get from catching wild birds. Not to mention FIV or rabies, both of which had spread in my old neighborhood and some of the neighborhood cats had to be put down for it.
Cite me your high-quality research then.
Normally I’d tell you to go fuck yourself. But cats deserve better than your ignorance. So here you go.
Fuck you, asshole. I’m blocking you.
Bye Felicia!
You know I think they might have a point… Having an “indoor cat” seems cruel, unless you live in a biodome.
I have some better articles.
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-21236690p
https://daily.jstor.org/environmental-danger-outdoor-cats/
https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms2380
The BBC link is broken.
The others are both US based. What did I just say above?
Yeah, it’s totally just an American issue. I’m sure all the flightless birds in New Zealand that evolved without such predators are happy to have cats wandering outdoors. /s
Are you from New Zealand or are you also American?
EDIT: Here, this is New Zealand - https://www.companionanimals.nz/articles/new-research-sheds-light-on-kiwi-attitudes-to-outdoor-access-for-cats
Are you one of the few cat owners in New Zealand who don’t want their cats outdoors? Is that who I’m talking to? Else I’m not gonna bother.
What do people’s attitudes have to do with facts? Your own link says:
Cats themselves are an introduced species in many parts of the world. Many island animals in particular haven’t evolved for a hunter like them. People’s attitudes toward what to do with cats doesn’t change the fact that they threaten wildlife, which even your own links acknowledge.
Not sure what my country of origin or status of cat ownership has to do with any of that. I don’t need to be anywhere special or have a cat to understand the ecological damage they can cause.