Evidence Incriminates Roaming Cats

Charlotte & Merl
lounging on the cat tree

GUILTY! A new study administered by scientists from the University of Georgia and the National Geographic Society's Crittercam program confirmed what we already suspected. Cats permitted to roam outdoors are cold-blooded killers.

Sixty outdoor house cats in Athens Georgia were volunteered, by their human companions, to participate in the study. The cats were fitted with tiny “kittycams” so that their 5-6 hour daily hunting adventures were recorded.

The incriminating results were startling. According to Kerrie Anne Loyd of the University of Georgia, the lead investigator of the study, 1/3 of the cats successfully captured and killed prey. And, those skilled hunters averaged about one kill for every 17 hours outdoors! Sometimes they brought home their victims, but more often than not they didn’t share their kills which included birds, lizards, voles, chipmunks, frogs, and small snakes. The cold-blooded killers chowed down on 30% of what they killed and left 49% of their causalities to rot where they died.

Charlotte and Merl are skilled basement cricket killers. As indoor-only cats their favorite targets are each other, but they’ve both been known to pounce on a cotton mouse now and then.   I like to think that they enjoy lounging, like me, on the screened-in porch listening to the birds chirping. But I know them both too well. If either had the chance to spend 17 hours outside, they’d definitely munch on a cardinal or a mouse!
For additional information about the study contact kloyd@uga.edu.