Should you let your cat go outside? GPS study reveals the deadly consequences

I notice that there's a real cultural or geographical difference on this issue. I've often heard people talk about how they'd never let their cats outdoors in the US – but we took in two shelter cats last year from a large and well-known rescue centre in the UK, and part of doing so was signing an agreement to allow them cat-flap access to the outdoors. The shelter was pretty clear that they would be visiting to verify this – and taking the cats back if we didn't.

I guess I understand why it might be an ecological issue in some areas. But we live in a dense area of relatively central London – our cats wear bells, stay in at night, haven't brought home anything they have caught (if they've even ever caught anything), and to be honest I haven't ever observed them travelling more than maybe 20 metres away from the house. I guess I'm just unsure if they're actually causing more damage than I can see, but its really interesting to see the wide variety of views.

Seems to be an incredibly biased article. Most people would not consider a cat killing a mouse as a damage to wildlife. While it's true to the meanings of the words, it misses the principle. People building houses and poorly storing food also causes an increase in the mouse population by increasing the abundance of food and nesting areas. And killing mice is one big reason a lot of people get a cat at all.

They've also assumed that all kills are equal, e.g. a cat killing a mouse is considered the same as a wildcat killing a coyote, or opossum.

I'm not doubting cats have some impact, but I'd be willing to bet it's trivial compared to the human impact. And if you're looking for ways to lessen the impact, your cat is likely one of the last things to consider.

Yes this is troublesome, but as an owner of two cats, I can tell you keeping them inside is equally troublesome. I can tell my one athletic cat is not fulfilled. No amount of cat furniture or toys keeps him from clawing desperately at the door for his escape.

I got cats because I've just always had them and I thought nothing more of it, but now I think I know better. I think it's honestly an ecological disaster that cats are kept as pets, period. If they are indoors, then there is the litter box issue. Outdoors, they kill all the local birds.

Cat's are not domesticated in the same way that dogs are. Dogs can be trained and have instincts that lend themselves to human interaction. Cats are very much wild animals that just enjoy the free ride that comes with living near humans.

Maybe we shouldn’t have cats at all if they’re genuinely doing serious damage, but having a cat and not letting it outdoors seems very unusual and cruel. They’re outdoor animals. If you can’t have one that you let outside then you shouldn’t have one at all.

I don't understand how it's okay to let cats wander outside simply from a hygiene perspective. When my dog poops in public areas I'm required by law to clean it up. Why do cat owners not have the same responsibility?

TL;DR: Cats are very effective at hunting mice.

Why do these articles insist on talking about "small mammals"? Cats don't kill fluffy bunnies; they kill mice, rats, voles. They basically exterminate vermin around human settlements. That's exactly why we domesticated them in the first place! How is that a bad thing?!