Photograph by Jak WonderlyThe problem with outdoor catsCats have contributed to the extinction of 63 species of vertebrates, most of them birds, says Peter Marra, director of the Georgetown Environment Initiative. “The fact that they’ve caused these extinctions is bad enough…. [Additionally] we know that they have a significant impact on populations globally, whether they’re threatened or not,” he says.Marra, who was formerly the director of the Smithsonian’s Migratory Bird Center, is the author of Cat Wars: The Devastating Consequences of a Cuddly Killer, which details why cats can be dangerous to species diversity. Since the book’s release in 2016, not much has changed regarding outdoor cat regulation, Marra says, but there is a greater awareness and understanding of the issue.Some argue that cats are natural predators and should be allowed to roam and kill prey as they please. But, according to Piazza, the fight is not fair. This argument overlooks several important factors.In a natural predator-prey relationship, predators hunt until there isn’t enough prey in the population to feed them, she explains. As the predator population dwindles, the prey population has time to repopulate. Domesticated cats disrupt the cycle.2:35“They’re in the same area for 15 to 20 years, they’re fed by their humans, they don’t have to hunt to survive,” Piazza says. “They just constantly kill and nothing changes their population, so it doesn’t give local wild populations time to rebound as they would if it was a natural predator-prey cycle.”The outdoor cat debate is a polarizing issue, and Piazza says that the project isn’t meant to alienate animal lovers. Her goal, instead, is to unite them. She suggests keeping cats on leashes, having a catio (an enclosed outdoor patio for your cat), or pledging to make your next cat an indoor cat. Not only do these practices protect other animals, they keep cats safe and healthy, too.Related TopicsDOMESTIC CATWILDLIFE CONSERVATIONBIRDSYou May Also LikeANIMALSThe surprisingly fraught fight for a pet cat in AntarcticaANIMALSWhat is your cat telling you? New technology deciphers meowsANIMALSPizzlies, grolars, and narlugas: Why we may soon see more Arctic hybridsANIMALSWhat will the cats of the future look like?ANIMALSDogs. Bedbugs. Corn. They all have this one thing in common.LegalTerms of UsePrivacy PolicyYour US State Privacy RightsChildren's Online Privacy PolicyInterest-Based AdsAbout Nielsen MeasurementDo Not Sell or Share My Personal InformationOur SitesNat Geo HomeAttend a Live EventBook a TripBuy MapsInspire Your KidsShop Nat GeoVisit the D.C. MuseumWatch TVLearn About Our ImpactSupport Our MissionMastheadPress RoomAdvertise With UsJoin UsSubscribeCustomer ServiceRenew SubscriptionManage Your SubscriptionWork at Nat GeoSign Up for Our NewslettersContribute to Protect the PlanetFollow usNational Geographic InstagramNational Geographic FacebookNational Geographic TwitterNational Geographic YoutubeNational Geographic LinkedinNational Geographic TiktokNational Geographic RedditUnited States (Change)Copyright © 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright © 2015-2025 National Geographic Partners, LLC. All rights reserved, The 232 animals in this photo were killed by house cats in just one year. The image seeks to draw attention to the more than two billion birds and other animals killed annually by domestic cats in , Cats leading cause of death of wild birds Estimates of individual birds in the US. Birds suffer at the hands of cats around the country Predation. Snakes on a plane – gross and dangerous Snakes on an island – populations are actually increasing evolving with the tree snake. Predator effective and generalist.