THe Problem
Outdoor cats kill 2.4 BILLION birds each year in the US alone. This number is staggering, representing the highest human-caused mortality for birds, second only to habitat loss. These deaths are caused by both free-roaming pets and feral cats (sometimes called community cats or stray cats).
We love our feline companions but the reality is: they are predators, only recently introduced to North America by us. And there are a lot of cats out there, creating a predator/prey ratio that is out of balance. Cats have an instinct to hunt, even if they are fed and well socialized to humans.
Interested in helping GGBA tackle this issue? Email conservation@goldengatebirds.org
GET StartED at home!
Learn about solutions for keeping your cat indoors and happy, click the button below to download a pamphlet with more info
The SOlution
The conflict between cats and wildlife is human-caused, and we can solve it.
Start at home:
- Build or buy a cattio, leash train your cat, and keep them inside
- Support your local shelters, adopt a cat, or volunteer.
- Talk to your friends, family, and neighbors. Be a friendly ambassador of birds and wildlife. Remember, most people simply don’t know about these impacts, be kind and patient.
For big problems, we cannot solve them alone, this is where the “Alliance” of Golden Gate Bird Alliance comes in and we’re going to need many groups working on many parts of a strategy.
Resources
• Check out the work of Full Circle Cats, subscribe to their newsletter or follow them on social media.
• Check out the American Bird Conservancy website for more information, pamphlets, advocacy toolkits, and literature.
Panel discussion with Tyus Williams P.h.D. candidate at UC Berkeley, Kate Wilson from Full Circle Cats, and Natalie Reeder EBRPD!
Check out our July 2026 speaker series:
How to Create a Bird-Safe Backyard
by Matthew Hildebrandt As spring rolls in, bird migration ramps up, and birds begin flying north…
