Keep Cats Indoors

Domestic cats can make fantastic pets, but as skilled hunters with strong natural instincts, they are also ruthlessly efficient predators. While the natural ecosystems of the Santa Clara Valley have been balanced through natural processes over millions of years, recent human impact has thrown this fragile ecosystem off balance, and domestic housecats are at the forefront of the problem. As non-native and invasive species, introducing cats to the South Bay has had a devastating impact on local wildlife, especially birds. In the US alone, domestic cats kill 2.4 billion birds per year, making cat predation by far the greatest human-caused threat to avian life. Globally, domestic cats are considered primarily responsible for the extinction of 33 bird species and are thought to have contributed to the extinction of at least an additional 30 species over the past 500 years. 

Local Threats to Bird Life (and Other Small Creatures)

Locally, outdoor cats pose a threat to resident year-round birds as well as numerous migrating birds that stop along the San Francisco Bay. Whether it is a Pine Siskin passing through or a House Finch nesting locally, introducing a keen predator into the mix has deadly consequences for birds in the Santa Clara Valley. The Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge, which lines the southern tip of the San Francisco Bay in Santa Clara County, is home to the Ridgeway Rail (formerly California Clapper Rail), one of California’s most endangered birds that, if not for the Refuge’s concerted efforts to control non-native predator populations, would be extinct. But the Ridgeway Rail is just one of the hundreds of species devastated by free-roaming cats around the Bay Area. And like the Ridgeway Rail, many Bay Area species nest on the ground, making them especially vulnerable to predation. Seeing that cats are a major threat to wildlife on both global and local levels, it is evident that responsible cat ownership is central to securing a safe environment for our pets and the surrounding wildlife.

Responsible Cat Ownership

Imagine the Rufous Hummingbird - which weighs less than one teaspoon of sugar but migrates an astonishing 3,900 miles from Alaska to Mexico - having his journey stopped short because a cat owner decided to allow their pet outdoors. Responsible cat ownership is not only about understanding your pet, but understanding the part your pet plays in the natural world. When a cat brings home a trophy kill for its owner, it is not the cat’s fault but the owner’s, and because cats are non-native invasive species, there is nothing ‘natural’ about it. Being a cat owner is a big joy, but it is also a big responsibility, and understanding the footprint an outdoor cat leaves on the local environment is vital to being a responsible cat owner.

Bird and Cat Safety Go Hand-in-Hand

Even if you feel your cat is a pacifist, you are probably being deceived. Most cats leave the vast majority of their kills at the site of the killing so their owners never see the carnage. And even if your cat is in the tiny percentage of cats that do not kill birds, its presence outdoors still has an impact on them. Birds that are aware of free-roaming cats alter their behavior in ways that halve their offspring’s chance of survival. Considering that the average outdoor cat has a roaming range of 325 acres, just one cat can affect the behavior and end the lives of countless birds. Here in the South Bay, it is likely that your cat’s range includes several blocks, meaning that he is also putting himself at risk by regularly crossing city streets. The Humane Society estimates the average life expectancy of free-roaming pets to be between three and five years, while indoor cats often reach seventeen years of age. Luckily, being a responsible cat owner is fairly simple – keep your cat indoors. Keeping cats indoors may not only save the lives of thousands of creatures, but may also save your cat’s life. 

Happy Indoor Cats

Many cat owners believe that keeping their cats indoors might decrease their cat’s quality of life. However, animal behaviorists and other experts reject that misconception, as indoor cats can have a fulfilling life while remaining healthier and safer than outdoor cats. In fact, cats are surprisingly adaptable, and with a little effort from their caregivers can develop a rich and enjoyable indoor lifestyle while safe from the perils of the outdoor world. Due to a combination of motor vehicles, diseases, encounters with other animals, and other factors, the average lifespan of an indoor cat is over three times that of an outdoor cat. Locally, the Santa Clara Valley Humane Society reports that over half of the animals found dead on San Jose streets are cats. Keeping your cat indoors will also save you money, as you’ll be less likely to pay for emergency veterinary care, treatment for diseases and parasites transmitted from other animals, and flea medicine. If you are intent on keeping your cat outdoors, then avoid attracting birds to your yard (please no bird feeders, birdhouses, or birdbaths). Still, no measures you take on an outdoor cat can come close to the life-saving effectiveness of keeping that cat indoors.

Transitioning Your Outdoor Cat to an Indoor Cat

If you are interested in converting your cat to an indoor lifestyle, consider these tips:

  • Build a cat patio. If you are concerned your cat will miss the outdoors, consider constructing a simple cat patio, or “catio.” These fenced-in structures give cats an enriching outdoor experience while keeping the cat and local wildlife safe from each other.

  • Play with your cat. Keeping your cat mentally and physically active is crucial to their happiness. There are a wide variety of toys available for indoor cats that can be fun for both you and your cat, enriching their life as well as your relationship with them.

  • Create a window shelf. Cats enjoy seeing the goings-on of the outdoor world from the safety of indoors, so make sure your cat has easy access to windows.

  • Clean the litter box. Cats can be sensitive to foul smells, so clean your cat’s litter box regularly.

  • Spay or neuter your cat at a young age. Cats can be spayed or neutered as early as eight weeks. This is a good idea for most owners because it reduces the risk of unwanted kittens, and can lower the cat’s risk of certain types of cancer.

  • Keep your cat identifiable. Cats can slip through open windows and cracked doors with ease, so keep your cat collared and attach identification tags. You may also want to microchip your cat as a backup measure.

Personal Testimony

It works! We swear! For a personal testimony of keeping cats indoors, read Linda Beth Gray's story.