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83% of young UK cats (0-4 years) show predatory play behavior with toys
Source: PDSA (2024)
Notes
33% of young cats prey on wildlife, decreasing to 27% for cats over 12
PDSA. (2024). PDSA PAW Report 2024. As cited in Cat Cognition. https://catcognition.com/statistics/wildlife-impact/#uk-cats-predatory-play-2024
275 million
UK cats kill an estimated 275 million prey animals annually, including 55 million birds
Mammal Society / Wiley (2003)
69%
UK cat prey composition: 69% mammals, 24% birds, 4% amphibians, 1% reptiles
Mammal Society / Wiley (2003)
140.4 million
UK cats return an estimated 140.4 million prey items to their homes annually, with 83% being mammals and 16% being birds
Wiley Ecology and Evolution (2025)
27-70 million
UK cats kill an estimated 27-70 million birds annually, with sparrows, blue tits, and blackbirds being the most common prey
RSPB (2024)
