Minister Christopher O’Sullivan has called for “more responsible messaging” around the issue of cats killing wild animals.
O’Sullivan, who is a Fianna Fáil TD for Cork South–West and Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, was speaking on social media after a radio segment about the topic last night.
“I’ve no issue with people having cats, but hearing their ability to kill wild animals being championed on a poplar evening current affairs radio show is very odd,” he said.
“It’s estimated they kill 16 million birds a year in Ireland. I think we need a bit more responsible messaging.”
Social Democrats Councillor Joan Hopkins replied suggesting that cats should be required by law to wear a bell or be kept restrained during birds’ nesting seasons.
“It’s mandatory in other European countries to have a bell on your cat and keep them indoors or on a lead during nesting season (Feb-Sept),” she said.
“We cannot continue to ignore 16 million birds being killed. Please bring a bill to change the law Christopher.”
The 16 million figure is based on data from the UK, extrapolated to Ireland’s relative size and population. Assuming a similar scale, cats are estimated to kill around 16 million birds and small mammals per year in Ireland.
Comparatively, in the United States, cats are estimated to kill up to four billion small birds and animals each year.
Notably, last year in New Zealand, there was a hunting contest that allowing children and adults to hunt feral cats, due to the threat they pose to local fauna. During the event, nearly 400 cats were killed.