Posted on 12/13/2023 10:14:59 AM PST by DallasBiff
Exotic species such as pythons, Asian carp and cane toads often dominate the invasive species discourse. Few biological invaders, however, have wreaked as much ecological havoc as one of our most cuddly companions: cats.
Despite their small stature and memeable mugs, domestic cats (Felis catus) are perfectly adapted killing machines, armed with retractable claws, sharp fangs and night vision. And these potent predators are anything but picky. As humans have spread cats around the world over the past 9,000 years, these ferocious felines—which were likely domesticated thousands of years ago in the Near East—have terrorized native creatures on every continent except Antarctica.
(Excerpt) Read more at scientificamerican.com ...
What they’re ignoring is that cats have been in equilibrium in the wild for centuries.
They don’t attack humans and don’t attack livestock.
The only thing bigger than small rodents that I’ve ever seen them eat is young rabbits, which aren’t exactly an endangered species. Yes, they’ll eat small birds, which we don’t like because birds are pretty, but they don’t catch enough to endanger those species either, as evidenced by the fact that those bird species are still thriving after centuries of feline predation.
Other than those rabbits, they don’t compete with us for food. Their prime food source around farms is rodents that DO compete with us for food. That’s why they hang around farms.
Cats eat what they kill, unlike, say, weasels, that are known to mass-murder an entire henhouse in a frenzy.
Cats won’t eat carrion, unlike opossum. Not that that matters very much to us.
They won’t destroy your corn patch overnight as raccoons will. Or your beans like woodchucks do.
They can’t stink up your yard (or dog) the way skunks do.
They’ll never roll in a gut-pile and come home smiling like an idiot.
FACT is that feral cats really don’t harm us humans at all.
The prejudice is founded on myths. Like the KKK.
Should mention that these people hating on cats are the same ones who want to re-introduce wolves and grizzly bears into habitat in close proximity to humans.
Come to think of it, they also would like 90% of the human population on the planet to die off.
Cats have no shame. None of ours do, anyway. They’re hooligans, I tell you.
At least not the ones in high office.
There is more than one way to skin a cat.
If I found anyone in my neighborhood using a BB gun or any other weapon on a cat, I'd bring down every single organization I could find on their head. And that's for starters. My cats are indoor only, but not all cat are lucky enough to have a responsible loving home.
You are an insensitive moron. A pox on you.
Out cats have always been indoor cats.
Morons at unscientific-unamerican discover 10 million year old prey-predator relationship.
The authors of this article need to google “obligate carnivore”.
CC
Spaying or neutering seems to take the predatory instincts down a notch or two. Makes ‘em easier to live with as well.
CC
Early one morning I saw a coyote cross the road in the suburbs with a HUGE cat in its mouth. I thought “Well Mr. Cat - I guess you weren’t at the top of the food chain in the neighborhood.”
Scientific American: Who’s really the predator now?
Ouch!
And true.
Definitely.
Yep I was thinking woke when I saw this article.
Two of my neighbors have outdoor cats. Without them, our neighborhood would likely be overrun by lizards.
My formerly sweet 9 month old from the prior rescue litter hunts the current 14 week old kittens. I thiught he was playing with them, but he pounces on them, cggases them, and bites them on the neck. I can’t let him around them Amy more.
Any cat in my yard is a stray
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