So why punish the poor cats for having bad owners?
They aren't being punished, they are being eliminated in the most economical means available. Last time I checked, cats do not respond well to prison reform programs. lol Animals are an owners responsibility. I've never shot a cat, and likely never will, but they need to be controlled if their owner won't accept responsibility for them.
Good question. People who ABANDON their pets are the ones at fault. This is like killing an ophan because he/she was abandoned by their parents.
"So why punish the poor cats for having bad owners?"
Why punish murderers who had bad parents?
Your post isn't a solution to a problem. That's just it - there IS a problem. Something has to be done about it. Allowing land owners to shoot feral animals is the way it is handled in the majority of states. It is a common sense solution to a problem that causes havoc with the ecosystem AND spreads disease.
It's not a platitude or a warm and fuzzy thought. It's a solution. One that works.