There are many myths surrounding cats and wildlife. The following questions and answers address those misunderstandings and are intended to provide helpful information to people who care about wildlife. Hunting is an instinctive behavior that cannot be modified through training. Even cats that have been declawed may still able to hunt and kill wildlife. But you can prevent attacks by keeping your cats indoors or safely confined in an outdoor enclosure.
Predatory animals play an important role in keeping wildlife populations balanced and healthy.
Cats are not a natural part of the ecosystem, but are predators introduced and maintained by humans. Populations of other predators are kept in balance by a variety of factors, but the number of cats continues to grow. A 1985 study by the Washington State Department of Wildlife found that there are at least twenty outdoor cats per block in a typical urban neighborhood, and this represents disproportionate predatory pressure on wildlife. The cats which do the most damage to wildlife are usually well-fed pets who do not need to hunt to survive. Although they have retained many of their hunting instincts, they are non-selective predators.