Are Outdoor Cats Bad for the Environment?

"Free-roaming cats" is a collective term that refers to feral, stray, pet, or community cats that spend a significant amount of time outdoors. According to a 2020 study, there are approximately 32 million cats roaming free on American streets — so many, in fact, that it's difficult for researchers to get an accurate estimate.

Many people don't see much harm in free-roaming cats as long as they don't dig in the trash or show aggression. But could these outdoor cats be wreaking havoc on the environment? Environmentalists say they are in certain areas. However, some argue that outdoor cats can actually benefit the ecosystem.

So which is it? We'll discuss both sides of the debate and give you tips for reducing your cat's carbon footprint.

All animals influence their environment somehow, but environmentalists say outdoor cats may be endangering native wildlife and contributing to the rise in greenhouse gases.

But those aren’t their only concerns. Let's explore a few more.

Cats kill endangered species

Cats are natural predators, and they stalk and kill small animals for fun and food. The problem is cats don’t care if the bird or rodent they’re hunting is on the endangered species list or not. And they’re very good at what they do.   

Take, for instance, the tale of Tibbles, a pregnant feline who came to a remote New Zealand island in the late 1800s and helped drive a rare bird species to extinction. While this story has been exaggerated somewhat in various sources, it is true the flightless bird had no natural predators until the cat colony began on the island.

Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. According to the American Bird Conservancy, cats are partially responsible for declining American bird populations, killing more than 2 billion birds per year. Outdoor pet cats have also impacted the extinction of more than 60 animal species, including mammals and reptiles as well as birds.

Outdoor cat colonies can spread diseases and parasites

Feline herpesvirus, intestinal worms, and the feline leukemia virus can quickly pass through a feral colony and spread to other pets. The biggest danger of all is zoonotic diseases like rabies, which can spread to humans as well as other animals.

Meat consumption and greenhouse gases

Cats are obligate carnivores, and they eat much more meat than the average human. Unfortunately, the meat industry is responsible for a considerable percentage of global greenhouse gas emissions.

A study published in Nature found that food production accounts for 35% of all carbon emissions. More than half of those emissions come from animal-based food (including livestock feed).

A separate study found that the pet food industry accounts for up to 30% of the environmental impact of the meat industry overall. That equates to 64 million tons of greenhouse gases!

Overpopulation makes matters worse

There's no denying that the US has a pet overpopulation problem. To quote The Humane Society:

Just one breeding pair of felines and their offspring can produce up to 5,000 kittens in just 7 years. While it's impossible to estimate how many of those cats are strictly indoors versus outdoors, one thing is clear: unchecked population growth will continue to impact the environment through meat consumption and declining wildlife populations.

Outdoor cats aren’t totally detrimental to the environment, though — there’s evidence they can actually benefit some ecosystems. Here’s how.

• Cats are elite rodent catchers and help control populations of invasive species and small animals that multiply quickly. A study on mammal extinctions on more than 300 Australian islands found that small mammals were less likely to go extinct on islands inhabited by feral cats and black rats (versus islands inhabited by rats but not cats). The researchers concluded that, on islands with black rats and no larger predators, smaller mammal species had a greater risk of going extinct.
  

• The carbon footprint of cats is considerably smaller than dogs', making them ideal pets for the environmentally conscious animal lover. A 2017 study estimated that 1,000 cats produce around 962.5 tons of carbon dioxide each year versus the same number of dogs, who produce an estimated 2,060 tons.

Here are a few things you can do to reduce your pet’s impact on the environment:      

• Don’t let them roam freely. If your cat enjoys being outdoors, but you don’t want them harming local wildlife, build a “catio” or bay window so they can birdwatch safely. If your cat wants to explore more freely, teach them to walk on a leash and take them for supervised outings.

• Spay or neuter. Reduce the population of free-roaming and unwanted cats by spaying or neutering your pets and support your local trap-neuter-release programs if you have a cat colony in your area. 

• Choose sustainable supplies when possible. Look for bedding, toys, and cat condos made out of recycled materials instead of buying products made of all new materials. When shopping for grooming tools, choose sustainable products like bamboo brushes rather than plastic ones.

• Don’t forget the litter, either. The production of clay cat litter is terrible for the environment — not only does it involve strip mining which can damage ecosystems and pollute the air and waterways, but processing the clay requires a tremendous amount of fossil fuels. Not to mention clay cat litter isn’t biodegradable. Instead of using clay litter, look for eco-friendly brands that use biodegradable ingredients (like hemp!) and sustainable packaging. 

• Donate, don’t dispose. Rather than trashing your cat’s old toys and bedding, donate the things your cat no longer uses to your local animal shelter. Most shelters happily accept gently used supplies and will even provide you with a list of things they need, like towels, blankets, toys, and food. If your cat is picky and you don’t want to go to the trouble donating to a shelter, consider giving their unopened food tins and toys to a friend with cats.  
  

Although outdoor cats do benefit the environment in some ways, the data is clear: outdoor cats who hunt are a threat to wildlife species. The pet food industry also contributes a significant amount to the overall carbon footprint of the meat industry.

There is some good news, though! By being a responsible pet parent, you can reduce your cat's impact on the environment and prevent them from impacting local wildlife populations.

Got questions about outdoor cats and how they impact the environment? Use Wag! Vet Chat today for prompt, professional pet advice from a real veterinary professional.