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Keeping Cats Indoors
Outdoor cats harm birds and face threats to their own safety
© Mark Bramhill
Outdoor cats are one of the biggest threats to birds, killing over a billion a year in North America. And indoor-outdoor cats live much shorter lives than indoor-only cats. So keeping a cat indoors helps protect birds. And there are plenty of ways to make the “great indoors” more exciting for your cat. In this episode, BirdNote senior producer Mark Bramhill shares his experience with his cat, Pigeon, who enjoys a ‘catio’ — cat-patio — and walks on a leash.
This episode was produced as part of BirdNote’s "From Love to Action" campaign, an effort to inspire people to take action to help birds. To learn more and to tell us how you’re helping birds, visit this link.
BirdNote®
Keeping Cats Indoors
Written by Mark Bramhill
This is BirdNote. I’m Mark Bramhill.
I adore cats — especially my own. Her name is Pigeon.
[Pigeon meows]
But outdoor cats are one of the biggest threats to birds, killing over a billion a year in North America. And indoor-outdoor cats live much shorter lives than indoor-only cats. By keeping Pigeon indoors, we’re doing our part to help the birds.
[Pigeon meows affirmatively, then purrs; Playful, jaunty music begins]
And there are plenty of ways to make the great indoors more exciting for your cat. You can arrange your furniture so they can climb on top of a bookcase or shelf and survey their kingdom. You can have a big play session with them each day.
[Sound of a screen-door opening]
And you can give your cat outside-time in a way that’s safe for everyone.
Yeah, you like to explore?
[Pigeon meows]
Pigeon loves to go outside on a leash, smelling all the plants around the house. Or you can even build a ‘catio’ — or cat-patio — which is like a screened-in porch for your cat. I built one for Pigeon and it is easily her favorite spot.
[Pigeon meows]
For cats that are used to roaming the neighborhood, you can cut back on their time outside gradually, or switch to more ‘supervised’ outdoor time. Making sure your cats are spayed or neutered prevents more stray and feral cats. And you can always commit to having your next cat be indoor only.
[Pigeon purrs loudly]
BirdNote has inspired millions of people to take action for birds. Learn more about the difference you can make at BirdNote.org. I'm Mark Bramhill.
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Senior Producer: Mark Bramhill
Producer: Sam Johnson
Managing Producer: Jazzi Johnson
Managing Producer: Ariana Remmel
Content Director: Jonese Franklin
Bird sounds provided by The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York.
BirdNote’s theme was composed and played by Nancy Rumbel and John Kessler.
© 2024 BirdNote January 2024 & May 2026
Narrator: Mark Bramhill
ID# actions-04b-2024-01-11 actions-04b
