I’ve been talking about this for years. It’s a problem all over the planet. Take a moment and educate yourself about feline zoonoses, the damage these non-native invasive species do to wildlife - especially songbirds - how much damage they bring to the environment all over the globe. Crazy cat ladies excluded, of course, you’re incorrigible, ineducable. The only good house cat is an INDOOR cat; they don’t belong outdoors, anywhere, ever. The only cure is eradication. Let’s hear it for the grown ups down under, making the hard choices.
Cats are excellent providers of rodent control.
“the damage these non-native invasive species do to wildlife - especially songbirds”
Well, according to Darwin, there is no such thing as “damage”, only selection. Our housecats are just being helpful and selecting only the fittest birds to found the future generations.
Oh boy are you gonna get it from the emotional catophiles.
We used to have a large whip-poor-will population in these parts, haven’t heard one for years now. They nest on the forest floor. The only thing I can think of is cats must have decimated them. I could be wrong I suppose, but it sure seems like the likeliest explanation.
Freegards
My mom is one of those crazy cat ladies. Not that crazy, because she has worked hard to get every single one neutered. They are now aging and slowing paring down.
Not here in western Colorado ... outdoor cats and smaller breed dogs are fair game for coyotes. One coyote den found by hikers had a interesting collection of dog collars. Almost along the line of a trophy room.
Cats are efficient killing machines.
They’re just cool that way.
It’s not just cats. Dogs are much worse. When I lived in the California coastal mountains, idiots from the cities would drive out and dump cute Fido out in the bush. I guess these liberal, big city California clowns thought that dog food grows on trees. Fluffy would pack with other dumped mutts and create feral packs, killing everything in sight.
I didn’t dare walk around without a revolver strapped to my hip and a shotgun slung over my shoulder. These mutts were vicious and would take down deer and even threaten people.
I was able to rescue one dog from a feral pack and turned him over to the local animal shelter.
Well said.
Our cats never go outside. If they want some fresh air, I
open the door to the deck, but the screen keeps them inside.
The only cat I ever let out was my late Rocket, and I went
out with him. He was very good at sticking by me when we
went out. And he was a marvelous cat, just a little gem.
I miss him every day.