Study illustrates why outdoor cats lead shorter lives
Cats are always trying to convince us that they are ninjas, cold-hearted killers who deserve our respect and awe. Don't tell your cat - their ego doesn't need the boost - but a new study shows that it is probably true.
Dubbed "KittyCam," this project is a collaboration between National Geographic and the University of Georgia. Researchers chose 60 free-roaming outdoor house cats in the town of Athens, Georgia, and fitted them with cameras. They sent the cats out to live their lives, then studied the results.
Bird lovers and ecologists have long known that cats are a major threat to wildlife. Still, many owners are shocked to learn that 44 percent of free roaming cats hunt and kill on a daily basis. On average, these hunters will kill a surprising number of animals - approximately two animals per week. Most of the kills were birds, but the cats also killed a fair number of lizards - facts their owners would never suspect, because the cats invariably left the dead lizards at the kill site, rather than bringing them home.
