Paramount Theatre
Belling the Cat Doesn't Work
RECEIVED Tue., Dec. 20, 2005
Dear Editor,
In response to John Trujillo's “Bell the Cat” ["Postmarks," Dec. 16]: I wish it were so simple. Unfortunately, belling does not stop cats' hunting. Wildlife groups in the U.S. cite several studies showing bells have no effect. A 2005 study in Britain by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, on the other hand, says bells may cut cat kills – but only by 35%. None of these studies have been large enough or thorough enough to be conclusive, but none suggests belling is a complete answer.
Here are the problems with belling:
1) Many cats learn how to avoid jingling their bells, especially at critical stalking points.
2) Cats kill nestling and fledgling birds and baby animals who can't flee when alarmed.
3) It's not clear that, in general, bells alarm wildlife – they may not link bell noises with danger, not having evolved with ringing predators. If they learn, they may not hear the bell tolling for them until it's too late.
4) Belling has not been shown to affect cat breeding. Feral cats, many of whom have one or more domesticated but unaltered parent, tend to resist being belled. (They also resist being leashed, but that's another issue.)
In response to John Trujillo's “Bell the Cat” ["Postmarks," Dec. 16]: I wish it were so simple. Unfortunately, belling does not stop cats' hunting. Wildlife groups in the U.S. cite several studies showing bells have no effect. A 2005 study in Britain by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, on the other hand, says bells may cut cat kills – but only by 35%. None of these studies have been large enough or thorough enough to be conclusive, but none suggests belling is a complete answer.
Here are the problems with belling:
1) Many cats learn how to avoid jingling their bells, especially at critical stalking points.
2) Cats kill nestling and fledgling birds and baby animals who can't flee when alarmed.
3) It's not clear that, in general, bells alarm wildlife – they may not link bell noises with danger, not having evolved with ringing predators. If they learn, they may not hear the bell tolling for them until it's too late.
4) Belling has not been shown to affect cat breeding. Feral cats, many of whom have one or more domesticated but unaltered parent, tend to resist being belled. (They also resist being leashed, but that's another issue.)
Emily Force
