How Cats Wearing Gaudy ’90s Scrunchies Can Save Billions Of Birds

Cats are devastating predator to birds all over the world. In the United States, cats kill up to 3.7 billion birds every single year, and most of them are songbirds. While many Americans love the company of their feline friends, there’s no denying that cat populations are continually out of control — and that poses a serious threat to bird populations. But there may be a solution.

According to Some eCards, a company based in Vermont called Birdsbesafe has discovered a simple but effective way to keep cats from killing so many songbirds, and it’s pretty adorable as well. The trick is fitting cats with brightly colored scrunchies that are right out of ’90s fashion. The cat scrunchies go around the neck and make it much more difficult for cats to successfully stalk birds. The birds are able to notice the vivid cat scrunchies more easily than the muted tones of most feline fur, giving them a much needed head start to fly away before they become lunch.

Birds have more cones in their eyes than humans do, meaning they can perceive more colors than other animals. The bold designs of the cat scrunchies stand out in fields and forests like a beacon to the songbirds, which could help to greatly reduce the amount of deaths if enough kitties are dressed with cat scrunchies.

While some cat owners may adore the rainbow accessories on their animals, others may find them a little too gaudy to be worth the conservation of bird life. But Some eCards insists the fact that the cat scrunchies serve to embarrass the feline predators is nothing but a plus for the product.

According to entertainment.ie, the cat scrunchies really do work. A scientific study performed at Murdoch University in Western Australia determined that the Birdsbesafe cat scrunchies substantially hinder the cat’s ability to make the kill, reducing the chances of bird death by 54 percent. But this only applies to birds. Those interested in saving the lives of mice or other rodents will be disappointed with the cat scrunchies, but songbirds are notably not household pests.

Birdsbesafe has been tweeting photos of pets wearing the cat scrunchies since the launch of the product, and it’s difficult to tell if the cats are bothered by the fashion statement or if they even know the difference between the colorful frills and a basic kitty collar.

http://t.co/yhSOU9xPle Our Intro Video about how bright colors on Birdsbesafe® cat collar covers can save 87% of birds from your pet cat. — Birdsbesafe (@birdsbesafe) February 28, 2015

[Image from BirdsBeSafe]