There are five different types of cat owner when it comes to their pet’s hunting habits, a study revealed, and they range from protector to laissez-faire landlord.
University of Exeter researchers surveyed UK cat owners to get a better idea of views surrounding the impact of their pet’s hunting and roaming activities on local wildlife.
Conservation organisations have long been concerned about the numbers of animals caught by the UK’s large population of domestic cats.
There were mixed views from those deeply concerned through to those who were unaware of any issues surrounding cats hunting.
Understanding how cat owners feel about hunting can help researchers develop techniques to reduce its impact on wildlife populations, the team explained.
University of Exeter researchers surveyed UK cat owners to get a better idea of views surrounding the impact of their pet’s hunting and roaming activities on local wildlife
Suggested measures to reduce hunting success include fitting cats with brightly coloured ‘BirdsBeSafe’ collar covers. Many owners also fit their cats with bells.
Most pet cats kill very few wild animals, if any, but with a population of around 10 million cats, the numbers of birds, small mammals and reptiles can accumulate.
Apart from their role as ‘mousers’, most owners find the dead animals brought home an unpleasant reminder of their pet’s wilder side.
Addressing this problem has been difficult because of disagreements between people prioritising cat welfare and those focusing on wildlife conservation.
The Exeter team’s ongoing research project ‘Cats, Cat Owners and Wildlife’ aims to find a conservation win-win for both sides in the argument.
They are trying to do this by identifying ways of owners managing their cats that benefit the animal as well as reducing wildlife killing.
This research is a step towards understanding how cat owners view their cats and how best to manage them, the authors of the study explained.
As part of this the Exeter team developed a quiz that pet owners can take to determine which of the five ‘owner’ categories they fit into.
The researchers say their findings demonstrate the need for diverse management strategies that reflect the differing perspectives of cat owners.
‘Although we found a range of views, most UK cat owners valued outdoor access for their cats and opposed the idea of keeping them inside to prevent hunting,’ said lead author, Dr Sarah Crowley, from the University of Exeter.
The researchers say their findings demonstrate the need for diverse management strategies that reflect the differing perspectives of cat owners. Stock image
Crowley, who works out of the Environment and Sustainability Institute in Cornwall, said: ‘Cat confinement policies are unlikely to find support among owners in the UK.
‘However, only one of the owner types viewed hunting as a positive, suggesting the rest might be interested in reducing it by some means.
‘To be most effective, efforts to reduce hunting must be compatible with owners’ diverse circumstances.’
The research team are now examining the effectiveness of these and other new measures and how owners feel about them.
The aim of the initiative is to be able to offer different and targeted solutions.
‘This latest research we have funded reveals the incredibly diverse perspectives amongst cat owners in regard to their pets’ hunting behaviour,’ said Tom Streeter, Chairman of SongBird Survival.
‘If nature is to ‘win’ and endangered species thrive, a pragmatic approach is needed whereby cat owners’ views are considered as part of wider conservation strategies.
‘The study highlights the urgent need for cat owners and conservationists to work together to find tailored solutions that are cheap, easy to implement, and have a positive effect on wildlife and bird populations across the UK.’
iCatCare’s Head of Cat Advocacy, Dr Sarah Ellis, said the findings that many cat owners care a great deal about conservation suggests some will be receptive to introducing measure to reduce potential harm to local wildlife.
‘The right interventions could improve wildlife conservation efforts, maintain good cat mental-wellbeing, and at the same time improve the cat-human relationship.
‘This would be especially true for ‘tolerant guardians’ and ‘conscientious caretakers’, by reducing the internal conflict of loving an animal that often hunts other animals they also care about.’
The study included 56 cat owners, some from rural parts of the UK – mostly in south-west England – and some from urban areas such as Bristol and Manchester.
The paper has been published in the journal Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment.