According to researchers at England’s University of Exeter, there are five different kind of cat companions. Maybe it’s a cultural thing, but to this American feline’s ears, they have it all wrong.
This study (according to CNN) claims they fall into these groups:
1. Concerned protectors, who mainly keep cats safe indoors.
2. Those who emphasize a cat’s freedom to roam and chafe at any restrictions.
3. Companions who dislike feline hunting, but still think outside access is important.
4. Conscientious cat companions who take some responsibility for their cats’ hunting behavior.
5. People who are barely aware of what their cats are doing.
If you live in the U.S., you probably noticed something here. The latter four groups all apparently let their cats roam without much restriction. Which most of the people reading this blog (regardless of where they live) just don’t do. Here in the States, we pretty much have two groups: people who have indoor cats (or cats who only go outside with supervision), and people who let their cats go out on their own. We really don’t have all these different shades of people who allow their cats to roam. At least not in significant numbers.
Granted, the study is meant to figure out the best way to educate people about cat predation, and to find ways to discourage owned cats to hunt. But the study also neglects the elephant in the room: humans are the driving force behind the disappearance of bird and other small animal species. And that the biggest problem with cats hunting involves not owned cats, but the feral cat population. At least, that is true here in the U.S.
Which brings me to the next point this study infers: that owned cats who hunt are damaging bird and small animal populations, and must be stopped. So it really has nothing to do with cat wellbeing, enrichment of cat care. It’s wholly based on an assumption that doesn’t take other factors for shrinking wildlife into consideration. And it’s not helpful for cat owners who want to give their cats the best lives they can.
My human was really disappointed in this story. She was hoping for some good advice, or at least something fun, and it was just a downer story that perpetuates negative assumptions about cats. What do you think? Tell me in the comments below. I’m really curious to know!
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Here where wee live inn town there iss a Bye-Law that Catss are NOT to roam free. Sum peeple follow it an sum do not. LadyMew has all wayss eether had a Condo set-up or tott her cat to walk on a lead. Shee sayss catss shuud get fresh air an enjoymint butt it shudd bee dun safelee so neether Kitty or any other creeture can pawssiblly get hert.
Butt shee sayss sun catss aRE so guud beein outisde that they will not get inn trubbel an avoid roadss an veehickless…
Mee wuud liek to roam a bit butt wee live on a busy street so iss bettur to have a Condo to lounge inn…
**purrss** BellaDharma
My Paul works with statistics.He says yo can make them say ANYthing. ‘Nuff said.
Do these ‘scientists’ ever actually talk with cat owners, cat bloggers, cat experts? I think not.
I stay safely inside…as did all the other kitties who have lived with petcretary and pawppy…but our neighbor lets her cat out…she got a squirrel the other day! Whoa! We do live semi rural-ly…but still there are wild creature and raptors who will go for a cat, as well as the road…I have seen other neighbors loose cats to vehicles…sigh…IO never see peeps walking their kitties…
I have seen far less birds here and also wildlife in the 33 years I have been here…the area is getting built up and that ruins the environment those creatures need. Not the cats…I hardly ever see cats outside anymore, just the few times a day the neighbor’s kitty goes out. I think her children let her out…oh-oh, that brings up other issues, Sigh…
You know I straddle both fences. In the city the cats are indoor cats, they can go outside on leashes or a catio. They have an enriched environment and they plenty of litter boxes. Here in the middle of nowhere the cats are allowed to go outside. And they spend a fair amount of time outside in the warm weather, but are inside cats in the winter. They are well fed and I know they are predators. They catch a few birds but mostly they are rodent hunters. They get treats when they bring the dead rodents home. They prefer the treats to the rodents or birds so I assume they catch more rodents than birds. I’ve watched them totally ignore a small bird bouncing in the grass in front of them and a few moments later, race into the bushes and come back with dead vole for me to “admire”. They are trained to come in when it gets dark (once again with the treats). So I guess I am a #4 surrounded by #5s!
Ciao
Barb
What a crap story. There are way too many dangers here for outdoor cats.
I keep all mine inside as you know. I don’t like that cats get a bad rep. for killing birds.
We keep our cats inside and we feel it’s much safer. We feed some ferals. I am old enough to remember the times when all pet cats were indoor/outdoor. There were many more birds around in those days. It’s clearly human activity that is sadly, reducing the populations of birds and other wildlife.
Yes, downer story. Also, what about the safety of the cat?
Cats allowed to roam on their own are so much more at
risk. Dog attacks, wild animal attacks, being hit by autos,
consumption of bad “food”, even being hurt by humans who
dislike cats – all possibilities for harm to a roaming cat.
Those humans are idiots, likely the same ones who support killing the ferals in Australia. They are disgusting.
We never go outside but the cat across the street is ALWAYS outside. Most people here keep their cats indoors.
The Florida Furkids
Well, studies are based on facts as they are where the study is conducted. As you know, we live in France and we are among the only indoor cats in a wide swathe of cat-owning friends. At the end of our lane, there are two other houses, and both have cats that go outside. A friend (who happens to be American) just got two kittens and she lets the put even though they are only three months old). Another friend with a large number of cats lets them all roam, except for one who is blind, and any who might be unwell. That is just the way things are here. The situation is pretty much the same in the UK where the study was conducted.