| Every year domestic cats kill and injure millions of | | | | the School of Biological Sciences and the Vet School |
| birds, small mammals, reptiles and amphibians. One of | | | | at Murdoch University in Perth, Australia - Reducing |
| the most recently domesticated animal species, the | | | | the rate of predation by pet cats. Published in |
| cat still loves to hunt and many pet cats are | | | | Biological Conservation, Volume 137, Issue 3, July |
| ruthlessly efficient when it comes to capturing and | | | | 2007, Pages 341-348 |
| killing any small creatures in their chosen territory. As | | | | They found that the bib stopped 81% of cats from |
| the urban sprawl brings ever more cats into contact | | | | catching birds, 45% from catching mammals like |
| with our wildlife, the problem worsens. Estimates | | | | Bandicoots and 33% from catching frogs and reptiles. |
| vary, but hunting cats can probably make one or | | | | The device caused no welfare issues and cats were |
| more kills per week. Even allowing for non - hunting | | | | able to eat normally, groom themselves, run, play, |
| and indoor cats, with a pet cat population running into | | | | and climb trees normally. Cats became accustomed |
| the millions, the yearly toll on our birds and wildlife is | | | | to their bib in an hour or two and there were no |
| startling. | | | | safety issues other than those associated with |
| Traditionally cats have been equipped with a bell | | | | wearing the normal safety collar. Overall the |
| mounted on their collars to warn potential prey of | | | | researchers commented that the use of deterrent |
| their approach. More modern versions use pounce | | | | devices such as the cat bib should be encouraged as |
| activated buzzers but studies have shown that such | | | | effective and safe for free ranging cats, whilst |
| devices prevent only about 25% to 40% of | | | | endorsing enclosure as the more effective measure |
| predation. Most owners want to prevent their cats | | | | with benefits for cat welfare. |
| hunting and the impact on birds and wildlife is giving | | | | Since then the cat bib has been sold worldwide and |
| cats a bad name in these more environmentally | | | | enthusiastically endorsed by everyone from cat |
| conscious times. In some places local councils are | | | | owners to wildlife sanctuaries and veterinarians. Even |
| enacting restrictive Cat Laws to restrict ownership | | | | the prestigious Audubon in the USA recommended it, |
| and confine cats to their owners property - not so | | | | saying "Wearing a bib... would be good for the |
| easy! | | | | estimated millions of birds and other small animals |
| Enter a new solution, a simple inexpensive bib for | | | | killed each year by domestic cats" |
| cats invented by a bird loving cat owner in Oregon. | | | | So, whilst the full enclosure of pet cats may be the |
| At first fashioned from an old leather boot, it has | | | | ultimate solution and is advocated by several |
| morphed into a brightly colored triangular neoprene | | | | respectable authorities, it does not suit all cat owners |
| flap which attaches to the cats safety collar. The | | | | or their cats. The cat bib seems to offer a viable |
| bright color serves as a warning to prey and simply | | | | alternative and is proven more effective than bells |
| gets in the way for a crucial split second when the | | | | and buzzers. So, if you happen to see the neighbor's |
| cat pounces. Great theory, but does it really work? | | | | cat sporting a brightly colored bib, don't laugh, its not |
| The bib was scientifically evaluated by a group from | | | | a new fashion fad, simply dressed not to kill. |