Bib Stops Pet Cats From Killing Birds and Wildlife
Every year domestic cats kill and injure millions of birds, small mammals, reptiles and amphibians.
One of the most recently domesticated animal species, the cat still loves to hunt and many pet cats are ruthlessly efficient when it comes to capturing and killing any small creatures in their chosen territory.
As the urban sprawl brings ever more cats into contact with our wildlife, the problem worsens.
Estimates vary, but hunting cats can probably make one or more kills per week.
Even allowing for non - hunting and indoor cats, with a pet cat population running into the millions, the yearly toll on our birds and wildlife is startling.
Traditionally cats have been equipped with a bell mounted on their collars to warn potential prey of their approach.
More modern versions use pounce activated buzzers but studies have shown that such devices prevent only about 25% to 40% of predation.
Most owners want to prevent their cats hunting and the impact on birds and wildlife is giving cats a bad name in these more environmentally conscious times.
In some places local councils are enacting restrictive Cat Laws to restrict ownership and confine cats to their owners property - not so easy! Enter a new solution, a simple inexpensive bib for cats invented by a bird loving cat owner in Oregon.
At first fashioned from an old leather boot, it has morphed into a brightly colored triangular neoprene flap which attaches to the cats safety collar.
The bright color serves as a warning to prey and simply gets in the way for a crucial split second when the cat pounces.
Great theory, but does it really work? The bib was scientifically evaluated by a group from the School of Biological Sciences and the Vet School at Murdoch University in Perth, Australia - Reducing the rate of predation by pet cats.
Published inBiological Conservation, Volume 137, Issue 3, July 2007, Pages 341-348 They found that the bib stopped 81% of cats from catching birds, 45% from catching mammals like Bandicoots and 33% from catching frogs and reptiles.
The device caused no welfare issues and cats were able to eat normally, groom themselves, run, play, and climb trees normally.
Cats became accustomed to their bib in an hour or two and there were no safety issues other than those associated with wearing the normal safety collar.
Overall the researchers commented that the use of deterrent devices such as the cat bib should be encouraged as effective and safe for free ranging cats, whilst endorsing enclosure as the more effective measure with benefits for cat welfare.
Since then the cat bib has been sold worldwide and enthusiastically endorsed by everyone from cat owners to wildlife sanctuaries and veterinarians.
Even the prestigious Audubon in the USA recommended it, saying "Wearing a bib...
would be good for the estimated millions of birds and other small animals killed each year by domestic cats" So, whilst the full enclosure of pet cats may be the ultimate solution and is advocated by several respectable authorities, it does not suit all cat owners or their cats.
The cat bib seems to offer a viable alternative and is proven more effective than bells and buzzers.
So, if you happen to see the neighbor's cat sporting a brightly colored bib, don't laugh, its not a new fashion fad, simply dressed not to kill.
One of the most recently domesticated animal species, the cat still loves to hunt and many pet cats are ruthlessly efficient when it comes to capturing and killing any small creatures in their chosen territory.
As the urban sprawl brings ever more cats into contact with our wildlife, the problem worsens.
Estimates vary, but hunting cats can probably make one or more kills per week.
Even allowing for non - hunting and indoor cats, with a pet cat population running into the millions, the yearly toll on our birds and wildlife is startling.
Traditionally cats have been equipped with a bell mounted on their collars to warn potential prey of their approach.
More modern versions use pounce activated buzzers but studies have shown that such devices prevent only about 25% to 40% of predation.
Most owners want to prevent their cats hunting and the impact on birds and wildlife is giving cats a bad name in these more environmentally conscious times.
In some places local councils are enacting restrictive Cat Laws to restrict ownership and confine cats to their owners property - not so easy! Enter a new solution, a simple inexpensive bib for cats invented by a bird loving cat owner in Oregon.
At first fashioned from an old leather boot, it has morphed into a brightly colored triangular neoprene flap which attaches to the cats safety collar.
The bright color serves as a warning to prey and simply gets in the way for a crucial split second when the cat pounces.
Great theory, but does it really work? The bib was scientifically evaluated by a group from the School of Biological Sciences and the Vet School at Murdoch University in Perth, Australia - Reducing the rate of predation by pet cats.
Published inBiological Conservation, Volume 137, Issue 3, July 2007, Pages 341-348 They found that the bib stopped 81% of cats from catching birds, 45% from catching mammals like Bandicoots and 33% from catching frogs and reptiles.
The device caused no welfare issues and cats were able to eat normally, groom themselves, run, play, and climb trees normally.
Cats became accustomed to their bib in an hour or two and there were no safety issues other than those associated with wearing the normal safety collar.
Overall the researchers commented that the use of deterrent devices such as the cat bib should be encouraged as effective and safe for free ranging cats, whilst endorsing enclosure as the more effective measure with benefits for cat welfare.
Since then the cat bib has been sold worldwide and enthusiastically endorsed by everyone from cat owners to wildlife sanctuaries and veterinarians.
Even the prestigious Audubon in the USA recommended it, saying "Wearing a bib...
would be good for the estimated millions of birds and other small animals killed each year by domestic cats" So, whilst the full enclosure of pet cats may be the ultimate solution and is advocated by several respectable authorities, it does not suit all cat owners or their cats.
The cat bib seems to offer a viable alternative and is proven more effective than bells and buzzers.
So, if you happen to see the neighbor's cat sporting a brightly colored bib, don't laugh, its not a new fashion fad, simply dressed not to kill.