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Pet cats blamed for millions of bird deaths as experts clash over impact on wildlife

Campaigners warn domestic cats are killing vast numbers of birds in Canada and the UK, with estimates ranging from 100m a year in Canada to 2755m birds in Britain

[Domestic cats kill millions of birds every year]

Domestic cats kill millions of birds every year(Image: Getty Images/EyeEm)

Some bird species have seen their numbers fall in recent years, and campaigners are now blaming domestic cats as one of the main culprits. Hundreds of millions of birds are killed every year across North America by cats.

JeanSbastien Gunette, executive director of the Quebec Birds group in Canada said: Cats attacking birds is a plague that persists. Just one can kill five or six a day.

The organisation estimates that more than 100 million birds are killed annually in Canada by cats. While stray cats may hunt for food, most pet cats do it due to their instinct.

Among the most common victims are house sparrows, European starlings, black-capped chickadees and dark-eyed juncos, though robins, cardinals and woodpeckers can also be targeted.

[More than 100 million birds are killed annually in Canada by cats]

More than 100 million birds are killed annually in Canada by cats(Image: Getty Images/Photononstop RF)

Gunette told the Journal de Quebec: The only thing that works is a colourful collar. He further argued that bells on cats collars do little because cats can learn to move without making noise.

He added that the best solution, to both reduce the killing of birds in gardens and to protect pets, is to keep cats indoors, noting that indoor cats tend to live longer and do not harm bird populations. Cat predation is also widely recognised as a significant issue in the UK.

However, scientists and conservation groups still debate whether it is a main driver of national bird population declines. Estimates suggest pet cats kill between 160 and 270 million wild animals a year, including roughly 27 to 55 million birds, according to Bird Spot.

[Among the most common victims are house sparrows]

Among the most common victims are house sparrows(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Moreover, the true figure could be higher because research cited by the Mammal Society indicates only around 23% of prey is brought home, meaning many kills are never seen by owners.

With more than 12 million pet cats in the UK, even a modest kill rate per animal adds up.

Common garden birds that feed or nest near the ground are among the most frequent victims, including house sparrows, blue tits, blackbirds and starlings, while rarer ground-nesting species such as nightingales can be particularly vulnerable where cats roam near sensitive habitats.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, however, says there is no clear evidence cats are the primary cause of UK-wide bird declines, arguing wider pressures such as habitat loss, climate change and intensive farming are more significant.

Nevertheless, many conservationists still advise practical steps to reduce risk, including keeping cats indoors at dawn and dusk when birds are most active and visibility is lower.

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