Anja Murray: Furry, cute, whiskery... bird-killing predators

As long as cats roam free, wildlife fatalities will continue — is it time to put restrictions on these opportunistic hunters?

Anja Murray: "The impact of cats on wildlife is enormous and one that we ought to face up to and take action on, especially given that so many populations of wild birds and other animals are already suffering from so many pressures and threats. Cats are invasive predators that we need to take responsibility for to prevent the damage from continuing."

Cats can be cute creatures... soft fur, sleek movement, and gorgeous little whiskered faces. Coy and self-contained; subtle in their affections; and always their own decision-makers. It is hardly any wonder that cats play such a starring role on social media. Online cat videos are almost impossible not to be entertained by, baffling in the range and abundance, consuming inordinate amounts of screen time for millions of people across the world. Whether you’re a ‘cat person’ or not, it has to be acknowledged that humans are mad about cats.

Here in Ireland, there are an estimated 350,000 domesticated household cats. Another 200,000 feral cats roam town and country, according to the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA). Yet the devastating impact of cats on wildlife is rarely given attention.