Domestic cats in North America and the UK are blamed for the deaths of millions of birds annually, with estimates suggesting that pet cats kill between 160 and 270 million wild animals each year. Experts advocate keeping cats indoors to protect wildlife, although some argue that other factors like habitat loss are more significant in bird population declines.

• 01In Canada, domestic cats are estimated to kill over 100 million birds annually, with one cat potentially killing five to six birds a day.
• 02Common bird species affected include house sparrows, European starlings, and black-capped chickadees.
• 03In the UK, an estimated 27 to 55 million birds are killed by pet cats each year, with many kills going unreported.
• 04The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds argues that while cat predation is a concern, other factors like habitat loss and climate change play a larger role in bird population declines.
• 05Conservationists recommend keeping cats indoors, especially during dawn and dusk when birds are most active.

The predation by domestic cats poses a significant threat to local bird populations, which could affect biodiversity and ecosystem balance.