HUN-REN launches citizen science project to track cat predation

The HUN-REN Ecological Research Centre has launched the MACSKAPRÉDA Project, a citizen science initiative inviting the public to document the hunting activities of domestic cats. By submitting photographs, locations, times, and brief descriptions of prey—such as mice, lizards, or birds—pet owners can provide researchers with critical data on how domestic cats interact with local wildlife.

Research indicates that the hunting behavior of outdoor cats is often difficult to monitor fully. International studies suggest that the prey brought home by owners represents only a fraction of actual kills. For instance, an Australian analysis found that a single hunting cat could kill approximately 200 vertebrates annually, with only about 15 percent being brought back to the household. In the United States, the annual number of birds and mammals killed by free-roaming cats is estimated to be in the billions. The project aims to use community observations to map these interactions across larger areas and longer periods than traditional field research alone would allow.