Cat owners fall into five categories from 'conscientious caretaker' to 'freedom defenders'

Cat owners fall into five categories, from 'conscientious caretakers' to 'freedom defenders', new research has found.

Research from the University of Exeter, published in Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, found people have varying attitudes to their cats killing birds and small mammals.

While some prize their cat as a mouser and do not mind if it mauls a few songbirds along the way, others are concerned about the damage their pet could do and would be more likely to take measures such as forcing the animal to wear a brightly-coloured collar or a bell.

Researchers surveyed UK cat owners and found they ranged from "conscientious caretakers" concerned about cats' impact on wildlife and who feel some responsibility, to "freedom defenders" who opposed restrictions on cat behaviour altogether.

"Concerned protectors" focused on cat safety, "tolerant guardians" disliked their cats hunting but tended to accept it, and "laissez-faire landlords" were largely unaware of any issues around cats roaming and hunting.

Conservationists have long been worried about the effect of domestic cats on songbirds, but none of the cat owners spoken to would agree with banning their pets from roaming outdoors to protect native birds.

Most pet cats kill very few wild animals, if any, but with a population of around 10 million cats, the numbers of birds, small mammals and reptiles taken can build up.

Researchers say their findings demonstrate the need for diverse management strategies that reflect the differing perspectives of cat owners.

"Although we found a range of views, most UK cat owners valued outdoor access for their cats and opposed the idea of keeping them inside to prevent hunting," said lead author Dr Sarah Crowley.

"Cat confinement policies are therefore unlikely to find support among owners in the UK.

"However, only one of the owner types viewed hunting as a positive, suggesting the rest might be interested in reducing it by some means.

"To be most effective, efforts to reduce hunting must be compatible with owners' diverse circumstances."

Suggested measures to reduce hunting success include fitting cats with brightly coloured "BirdsBeSafe" collar covers and many owners also fit their cats with bells.

he research team are now examining the effectiveness of these and other new measures and how owners feel about them, with a view to offering different solutions.

"This latest research we have funded reveals the incredibly diverse perspectives amongst cat owners in regard to their pets' hunting behaviour," said Tom Streeter, chairman of bird charity SongBird Survival.

"If nature is to 'win' and endangered species thrive, a pragmatic approach is needed whereby cat owners' views are considered as part of wider conservation strategies.

"The study highlights the urgent need for cat owners and conservationists to work together to find tailored solutions that are cheap, easy to implement, and have a positive effect on wildlife and bird populations across the UK."