Birds and other wildlife face more obstacles to their survival than ever before. Wildlife habitats are destroyed and degraded every day, and many species are declining as a result. The impacts of natural predators on their prey are changing based on how humans are changing natural environments. You may be surprised to learn that the domestic cat is not native to the Western Hemisphere. European immigrants introduced cats in North America only a few hundred years ago.
Domestic cats are descendants of the wild cats of Africa and southwestern Asia.
As such, they instinctively hunt and capture prey. However, wildlife in the Western Hemisphere did not evolve in the presence of cats, and therefore did not develop defenses against them. During migration, birds are particularly vulnerable to predators. They are unfamiliar with their surroundings, and are tired and hungry after the long journey. This makes them perfect prey for a cunning cat roaming outdoors.