"A Window Into the World of Free-Roaming Cats"
The 'Kitty Cam' Study Done by the University of Georgia

by Malcolm Riordan, DVM

How many of us cat enablers have — at least a time or two — become consumed with curiosity over where kitty goes or what kitty does on their walkabouts? Do they have an agenda, an itinerary, a route and schedule? How did they get that limp, or lose that tuft of fur? What's the story with the paint on their tail? Where is their brand new collar and tag?

Anything we might imagine, and then some, is on the menu for our cats as they slip out the door into their jungle world. Little is revealed at kitty's casual, yet subtly royal return home. With feline aplomb and an inscrutable way of not saying, certainly our cats are masking many adventures, dangers, regrets, and glory.

Well now we can imagine less and know more! Technology and science can pull back the curtain on kitty's no-tell visage and code of silence about their behaviors and experiences out in the wilderness of their world.

Quite recently, starting in late 2010, a collaboration of scientists from the University of Georgia, technicians from the National Geographic's Crittercam team, and wildlife naturalists teamed up for a year to conduct research designed to generally survey, identify, and quantify the risks to native wildlife species from domestic cats who are free to roam. At the same time the study looked at what risks were being taken by the roaming cats — risks that come with the freedom to wander.

The study relied on advanced, custom developed and built "Kitty Cams" that provided video recordings from a cat's eye view - without disrupting the cats' mobility, roaming, activities, and behaviors.

Kitty Cams are lightweight and waterproof, with LED lights to enable recording activity in the night. Approximately the size of a pack of cigarettes, these customized cameras are mounted to and hung from a participating cat's break-away collar. The specialized cameras are the smallest and most lightweight wearable cameras that the National Geographic Crittercam technicians have built yet. Video and sound are recorded into easily removed and replaced memory cards. (Any lost collars with attached cameras are able to be found via a radio - tracking device.)

Sixty owned household cats in Athens County, Georgia wore a camera for 7 - 10 days while routinely being allowed to roam at will. In all, more than 2,000 hours of video were taken in a variety of Athens county habitats, across all four seasons, over a full year. The average cat in the study provided 37 hours of video/audio recorded.

The Kitty Cams are able to collect larger amounts of data over longer periods of time than the National Geographic Crittercams that are used in the wild. This ability allowed a significant domestic animal advantage here - cat owners were easily able to secure their cat's cooperation to both download the digital footage daily and to keep the camera batteries charged.

Results — Hunting of wildlife by roaming domestic cats:

— 44% of the study's cats successfully hunted wildlife.
— These hunting cats each captured an average of 2 victims per week of roaming in their local environment - birds, rodents, reptiles predominated.
— 85% of wildlife captures occurred during roaming in the warm season - while the cooler season was only one sixth as active.
— A cat's age, gender, and amount of time spent outside did not significantly influence hunting behavior - either an individual cat was a hunter, or it was not. (44% were, 56% were not)
—  Total number of captures by the roaming felines proved higher than had been previously assumed - the camera showed that significantly higher numbers of victims were only being partially or not consumed at all, and then left at the hunt site. The cats were hunting quite more than their owners had thought, and quite more than researchers had predicted.

Results — Risky cat behavior during roaming:

—  45% of the cats crossed roads.
—  25% encountered strange cats (risk of exposure to infectious disease and fight injuries).
—  25% ate or drank substances away from home.
—  20% explored storm drain systems.
—  20% entered crawlspaces where becoming trapped was a risk.
—  85% of the project cats were shown by their camera to exhibit at least one risk behavior.
—  Male cats were more likely to engage in risk behaviors than female cats.
—  Fewer risk behaviors were observed the older a cat was.
—  Total time spent outside did influence by increase the number of risk behaviors witnessed by free roaming cats.

Incidental/unexpected finding:

One of the most surprising things revealed were cats that had second homes going. Four of the project kitties were recorded entering a welcoming, second household for food and/or affection they received. Feline double— dipping scams exposed!

The University of Georgia study results are one thing, but I expect most of us want to see some of the video clips and still photos culled from the over 2000 cat— hours of roaming and adventure! Click on the study's home page or video/photos page and check out the video clips and photos that attract you.

Photo Credits

Cat's Images
HSUS Owner Submitted Pet Photo Contest

All images are owner— submitted photos to the HSUS Spay Day 2012 Pet Photo Contest. Come out to Woods Humane Society or click on the logo and take a look through some of the 100+ adoptable dogs and cats waiting for you to 'graduate' them into a new life.

Woods Rafter Cat Image on Banner by Malcolm Riordan.