Keep Cats Indoors! 

Cats are amazing - whether they are lounging in your living room, staffing your area corner store, or snuggling in a cafe - cats can brighten even the hardest day. But one place cats are not as welcome of a sight is outdoors. While our cats are a deeply integrated part of our lives, the reality is, they are not natural for our ecosystem and outdoor cats are one of the most harmful invasive predators. 

Invasive mammal predators are responsible for most species extinctions on islands worldwide, but they do not only affect island habitats, such as New Caledonia, they also affect our backyard ecosystems. Cats are implicated in the recent extinction of 63 species, 26% of present-day extinctions. 

While you might be thinking this is not your cat, research shows that most of the prey cats injure or kill in the wild is never brought back to their house, meaning you might not even know the impact your cute kitten is having on your neighborhood wildlife. 

Although cats do hunt animals we consider pests, such as mice and rats, their activities can actually lead to an increase in those pests! By killing the natural predators of rodents, such as snakes, domestic cats create an imbalance in our ecosystems allowing those same rodents to thrive in the long run. 

Cats can have a deeply fulfilling life indoors or with the use of outdoor spaces like catios. For more information on bringing a previously outdoor cat indoors, please check out this resource from the Wildlife Center of Virginia. Keeping cats indoors also keeps them safe, as cats are often hit by cars or become prey to larger wildlife. If you love your cat, keep them inside.