OUTDOOR CATS, 2 -- If you have a house cat, there's no 
place like home ... we'll explain just ahead on Passport to 
Texas. 
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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife.

Think of cats, and you may conjure images of your own 
furry animal companion. But when cats are allowed to 
roam freely outdoors, their natural instincts take over -- 
and that spells trouble for predators like hawks and 
owls ... as your kitty may be in direct competition with 
them for prey animal.

"Some people estimate that cats will take a total of 39-million 
prey animals per year." :06

Kelly Bender is a Wildlife Biologist with Texas Parks and 
Wildlife. Cats allowed to roam, often prey on the same 
food sources, including birds and mice, posing a risk to 
native wildlife.

"From a wildlife management standpoint, we really should be 
keeping our cats indoors ... " :04
Cats and wildlife can live in harmony. You can keep them 
indoors. Or, if that's not an option, locate bird feeders in 
areas that don't offer cover where cats can lay in wait to 
ambush birds. 
" ... and realize that by not spaying or neutering our cats, we are 
producing an awful lot of predators each and every year." :09
Above all, if you own a cat and can no longer care for it, take 
it to an animal shelter; never release it in a rural area. 
This practice is not only inhumane, as it abandons a 
housecat in an unfamiliar setting, it also increases rural cat 
populations ... which in turn, impacts wildlife. 
That's our show for today. For Texas Parks and Wildlife, 
I'm Cecilia Nasti.