So what's the problem? Most of the small animals they kill are rats and mice.
No shortage of birds around here, or stray cats.
They kill birds too
Yes. The anti-cat zealots are out in force recently. I get that it is safer for cats to be indoors. Both for themselves and for the birds they prey upon. But cats were an important part of keeping rodents under control way before cats were domesticated. Continuing their natural role in the ecosystem is not destroying the balance of nature.
I think too the number of songbirds killed is greatly exaggerated. The example is always given of some cat who had devoured, destroyed or what have you large quantities of feathered innocents. I would argue such cats are atypical.
Your typical house cat that is outdoors part of the time is not the problem. Feral cat colonies that do-gooders insist should be vaccinated, fixed, and released are.
I befriended a feral. He has the run of the “south 40” and regularly treats me to presents of rats, mice and moles. Yes, he does occasionally give me a still live (barely) bird but Steller’s Jays, crows, and hawks are far more destructive in that regard.
“So what’s the problem? “
Lets try this again !!
Domestic cats are directly responsible for the extinction of a number of animal species around the world, including 33 bird species. In the U.S., the popular pet is estimated to kill over 1 billion birds .......
Feral cats kill native species like lizards, birds, rabbits and other native species. People who feed feral cats are virtue signalers and should be shot in the ass with a b.b. gun.