Quote Originally Posted by thekarens View Post
Saying that your building kills more birds than your cats do is like saying heart disease kills more people than cancer. Both are terrible and something needs to be done about both. Outdoor cats is not good for the cats or the wildlife, especially songbirds. They have decimated many populations of birds and there are a lot of studies on it. I also agree that many of these buildings need to do something to protect migrating birds. It's also a problem.

If you don't care about the wildlife there's the issue of the things that can happen to your outdoor cat. It's not healthy for them. Then there's the issue that you can't keep a cat in just your yard. Is it fair that your neighbor should have to put up with your pet in their yard? I'm sure if their dog was in your yard you wouldn't be too happy about it. Why should it be any different for cats?

And in case anyone thinks I'm a cat hater, I have 2 cats.
I have a bit over 6 acres, there are a few interior acres all fenced and cantilevered to keep the cats in (and it keeps the cougars out of the yard and the coyotes away from the chickens) My cats do not bother my neighbors at all. They would have to hike over a mile to do so. I also happen to be married to a wildlife biologist. I think it depends on area. Mine catch mice and voles. I've rarely seen them catch birds. There are too many rodents in the barn near the feed to bother with something that flies away.