I’m prompted to write because of the Feb. 3 article about cats killing billions of birds and small mammals.

Over the course of my 50-plus year life, I have been owned by 15 cats. Once I was adopted by these kitties, they never killed anything larger than a housefly. How is that possible? Because the operative word is “house.”

All of my feline friends have been indoor-only cats.

Indoor cats do not kill birds or mammals, do not scratch up the neighbors’ car, nor poop on their lawns, nor get into their trash, nor create road hazards, nor become roadkill.

The average lifespan of outdoor cats is six months; average lifespan of indoor/outdoor cats is four years; average lifespan of indoor-only cats is 15 years.

Cats do not need to go outside. Cats spend the majority of time asleep and much prefer a nice warm bed to nap on than a cold porch.

By spaying or neutering your cat and keeping it safely indoors, environmental problems are solved and the kitties stay safe.

Jacqueline Leclerc, Lewiston