Here’s what I wonder about this, and I’m too lazy to read the article, so apologies in advance if they answered it.
In 1492 this continent would have been teeming with foxes, weasels, minks, snakes, sparrowhawks, bobcats, and many other species of predator.
Today a long time can pass between sightings of a weasel in my suburb, excluding my next door neighbor.
Are not housecats filling an ecological niche that was vacated by the eradication of other predators? Was there really nothing eating the warblers in 1492? I don’t believe it.
Yes, cats do fill an important ecological niche. Those other animals that kill vermin won't come near humans. But cats love to be around humans and kill vermin. And then give them to humans so the humans won't starve. I even had a feral cat who would do that.