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Killer Kitties

Cats are blamed for killing an estimated 100million prey in the UK each year. Miranda Krestovnikoff looks at the research to see how they might be coaxed to harm wildlife less.

Realising your pet cat has brought home a 'gift' or perhaps a snack they plan to eat in front of you is never pleasant. Many owners will scramble to intercept and release the poor prey but that may be too little, too late. Cats have been blamed for an estimated 100million wildlife kills in the UK each Spring and Summer but it's hard to know what really goes on when they're out on the prowl at night. Birds, mammals, insects, amphibians...and sometimes the odd snake in some cases...but others don't seem fussed at all.

Scientists have been monitoring and logging cat kills to build a clearer picture of their behaviour and take this beyond what they choose to bring home. Miranda Krestovnikoff explores the factors that may influence a cat's desire to kill and speaks to Hannah Lockwood from the University of Derby whose 'What the Cat Dragged In' project charting hundreds of cats and even using cameras to reveal the hidden truth about their nocturnal behaviour.

She hears about more drastic measures and proposals outside the UK which put more responsibility on cat owners for what they hunt and gets practical advice about how cat owners might deter their pretty kitties from being savage predators, while still keeping it happy.

Presented by Miranda Krestovnikoff and produced by Anne-Marie Bullock for 成人论坛 Audio Bristol.

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Wed 31 Mar 2021 21:00

Broadcasts

  • Tue 30 Mar 2021 15:30
  • Wed 31 Mar 2021 21:00

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