The study stating that cats kill more birds a year than there are birds (wtf) has been clearly debunked. WHY are you referring to it? This reduces your my ability to 'believe' anything you write.
Thanks for raising this issue, GB. It’s a valid concern and a reminder of how important precision is when citing data, especially in emotionally and politically charged topics like this.
You're right that the oft-quoted estimate—that cats kill billions of birds annually—comes from a 2013 study by the Smithsonian and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (Loss et al.), and that this study has drawn serious criticism. Many have challenged its assumptions, modeling methods, and what some see as a bias against free-roaming cats. While the core idea—that outdoor cats can impact wildlife—is widely accepted, the scale of that impact remains debated, and the “more birds than there are birds” claim is an oversimplified distortion not found in the original research.
In referencing this issue, the intent was not to uncritically endorse inflated numbers, but to acknowledge a widely circulated ecological concern—one that often influences public opinion and policy, whether valid or not. I agree it’s essential not to undermine credibility by repeating questionable stats, and I appreciate you calling that out. Future references will be more carefully framed. Thanks to your comment, I’ll be adding a footnote to clarify this point directly in the article.
At Animal Politics, I aim to balance humane policy with environmental responsibility—without falling into fear-based or manipulated narratives on either side. Thanks again for engaging critically.
I have no data to refer to about how much wildlife free roaming cats kill, but there used to be so many abandoned cats on my street that I dug up cat shit whenever I gardened. I had no lizards and very few birds in my yard. Now there is only one stray cat that my neighbor religiously feeds, I have at least a dozen lizards running around my yard. Four or five hummingbirds challenge each other from the highest branches. Sparrows, mockingbirds, and finches are regular visitors. No cat poop in my lettuce beds. I think the change in the abandoned cat population has to do with an increase in coyotes and real estate prices. Where I live used to be a cheap area to rent. Now rents are $3,000 to $5,000 for a small three bedroom house. We get upscale renters with dogs now. I'm sad that all the outdoor cats (save one) have been eaten by coyotes or hit by cars, but I appreciate having birds and lizards in my yard.
The suggestions for reducing the outdoor cat populations are great. How do we get the San Diego Humane Society to do any education? Every single advertisement I've seen are pleas for donations with a photo of a cute kitten or dog. They are still threatening to do less (than 20 a month) low cost spay/neuter appointments since their budget was cut. UGH!!!
The study stating that cats kill more birds a year than there are birds (wtf) has been clearly debunked. WHY are you referring to it? This reduces your my ability to 'believe' anything you write.
Thanks for raising this issue, GB. It’s a valid concern and a reminder of how important precision is when citing data, especially in emotionally and politically charged topics like this.
You're right that the oft-quoted estimate—that cats kill billions of birds annually—comes from a 2013 study by the Smithsonian and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (Loss et al.), and that this study has drawn serious criticism. Many have challenged its assumptions, modeling methods, and what some see as a bias against free-roaming cats. While the core idea—that outdoor cats can impact wildlife—is widely accepted, the scale of that impact remains debated, and the “more birds than there are birds” claim is an oversimplified distortion not found in the original research.
In referencing this issue, the intent was not to uncritically endorse inflated numbers, but to acknowledge a widely circulated ecological concern—one that often influences public opinion and policy, whether valid or not. I agree it’s essential not to undermine credibility by repeating questionable stats, and I appreciate you calling that out. Future references will be more carefully framed. Thanks to your comment, I’ll be adding a footnote to clarify this point directly in the article.
At Animal Politics, I aim to balance humane policy with environmental responsibility—without falling into fear-based or manipulated narratives on either side. Thanks again for engaging critically.
I have no data to refer to about how much wildlife free roaming cats kill, but there used to be so many abandoned cats on my street that I dug up cat shit whenever I gardened. I had no lizards and very few birds in my yard. Now there is only one stray cat that my neighbor religiously feeds, I have at least a dozen lizards running around my yard. Four or five hummingbirds challenge each other from the highest branches. Sparrows, mockingbirds, and finches are regular visitors. No cat poop in my lettuce beds. I think the change in the abandoned cat population has to do with an increase in coyotes and real estate prices. Where I live used to be a cheap area to rent. Now rents are $3,000 to $5,000 for a small three bedroom house. We get upscale renters with dogs now. I'm sad that all the outdoor cats (save one) have been eaten by coyotes or hit by cars, but I appreciate having birds and lizards in my yard.
The suggestions for reducing the outdoor cat populations are great. How do we get the San Diego Humane Society to do any education? Every single advertisement I've seen are pleas for donations with a photo of a cute kitten or dog. They are still threatening to do less (than 20 a month) low cost spay/neuter appointments since their budget was cut. UGH!!!