A new study from Lincoln Park Zoo’s Urban Wildlife Institute has found that outdoor cats are not effective rat hunters, contrary to popular belief. Research conducted as part of the Chicago Rat Project shows that only 7% of free-roaming cats tested in the city had any exposure to rat poison, according to findings from Lincoln Park Zoo. This low percentage suggests that cats simply do not eat many rats, even in a city known for its rodent problems. The study was led by Maureen Murray, who serves as assistant director of One Health at the institute, and aimed to understand the health risks facing urban predators.
When researchers compared the cats to other local predators, like owls, they found significantly less rat poison in the feline subjects. Lincoln Park Zoo published these findings in the Journal of Wildlife Diseases this week. The research team wanted to learn about the dangers of using both rodenticides and cats as methods to control rat populations. Murray explained that poison used to manage rats creates unintended harm to urban wildlife, particularly birds of prey that have even died from exposure in Chicago recently. Brown rats, also called Norway rats, live on every continent except Antarctica and are extremely successful in urban environments where they inhabit buildings and sewers.
Los Angeles takes over as America’s rattiest city
For the first time in a decade, Chicago has lost its position as the nation’s most rat-infested city. Orkin’s annual rankings show Los Angeles claiming the top spot in 2025, ending Chicago’s long reign at number one, as reported by Facilities Management Advisor. Chicago has now dropped to second place on the pest management company’s list of America’s rattiest cities. Los Angeles offers perfect conditions for rodents with its warm weather throughout the year, thriving food scene, and crowded neighborhoods that provide easy access to food and shelter.
According to information from Facilities Management Advisor, the city’s mix of busy commercial areas and hidden alleyways creates what experts call a perfect storm for rodent activity. Other cities rounding out the top ten include New York at number three, San Francisco at four, and Hartford, making a significant jump to fifth place. The shift in rankings reflects changes in rodent activity influenced by several factors, including weather patterns, urban infrastructure development, and human behavior. Cities with more moderate climates are seeing better rodent survival rates, while urban sprawl continues opening new pathways for infestations to spread across metropolitan areas.
Study reveals cats face little risk from rat poison
Wildlife disease ecologist Maureen Murray conducted this research to better understand whether outdoor cats face poisoning risks from anticoagulant rodenticides, the chemicals commonly used for killing rats. WTTW News reports that the findings suggest feral cats either lack the hunting instinct needed to catch rats or are extremely selective about what they eat. This behavior actually works in the cats’ favor when it comes to avoiding poison exposure. Recent years have seen several well-known cases of raptors, specifically bald eagles and owls, dying from consuming poisoned rats rather than eating the bait directly…