Posted on 02/10/2013 1:42:55 PM PST by San Rafael Blue
Look around on the Net. In the last few weeks, a new fad has come to fore; the belief that CATS ARE BAD for natures balance. All of a sudden there are articles written that say that according to specialists, Cats are not simply the furry pets we've come to cuddle or avoid, depending on the person. Cats, especially domesticated cats, present an ever creeping danger to the safety of birds.
A New Zealand report asks the question; Where have they gone? Where are the species formerly common to this region? Almost gone, are the Kaka, the Wika, Kokako,and the Kiwi, says Gareth Morgan, a businessman and phianthropist. Mr. Morgan refers back to recent American reports from the Smithsonian Conservatory.
The Smithsonian has given a concluding assessment of damages now wrought by the undisciplined feline. Smithsonian representative Mr. Scott Loss speculates; There are approx. 84 million house licensed cats plus over 30 million stray cats to consider. These kill from 1.4 Billion to as much as 3.7 Billion U.S. birds A YEAR!
My first response is five-fold; a. All creatures eventually do go extinct, even ours will someday. b. Even if this estimate is true, does that mean the cats perform a service of sorts, keeping the bird population from exploding. A huge bird population would put much pollution in our natural waters, I would think. A huge bird count also takes away from bugs and worms that our fish buddies could be snacking on. c. Who is REALLY behind this new fashionable snub of the cat? I think it's some org like PETA, who does not think we humans should have any kind of pet any kind of way from the start. d. More unwanted 'Bloom-berging' or snooping into or lives, ready to create yet another government agency with a case of Chronic Giantism. e. Stay out of my life with your government strife!!
My cats don’t eat birds, when the cats are out the birds fly away.
But how many days a week does she land a bird?
Well have they considered this: there is no “cat flu” but there is “bird flu”?
When a human rescues a dog and brings it home and feeds it, the dog thinks, “this human must be god” When a cat is rescued and fed, the cat thinks, “this human is feeding me, I must be god”.
That wasn't my point. I was always under the impression that cats can't really catch healthy birds but my cat proved me wrong.
Are cats destroying the bird population? I don't think so and have yet to read any informative info that proves they are...........
“Those mean, vicious kittehs....we need a kinder, gentler pet. One that will respect the needs of the birds and be more sensitive. /s”
And are purrfectly willing to go vegan...
Hmmm - what happened the last time we tried to eliminate cats?
Europe - Middle Ages - Bubonic Plague - any of that ring a bell?
Haven’t seen cat juggling since Steve Martin was doing stand-up....
LOL, yes....we should start at the top and try to convince lions to eat salads.
LOL, yes....we should start at the top and try to convince lions to eat salads.
Thanks, jjotto. I confess to incorrectly throwing in that word, ‘licensed’. Just following an impluse. I stand (or sit) corrected.
Got it—and I agree.
My cat was terrorized by a bird who kept dive bombing him (until we brought him inside for good, he was a bird catcher). The bird hated my cat so much that he would dive bomb him and when the cat ducked, the bird would land in front of him and try to peck his eyes out, then he’d fly up and do it all over again. The bird was fearless and the cat was terrorized. Considering my cat was a definite hunter, this was the strangest thing I’ve ever seen!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.