LOL, the quality of the actual paper just isn’t what it used to be. I used to be able to use it to clean windows with with vinegar and newspaper (which left no streaks) but trying that with the NYT today leaves you wth a handful of mush that disintegrates and leave actual pieces of the paper strewn across the glass!
I presume it would be just as messy for that age old task of lining birdcages, and even less useful as a fishwrap!!!!!
It still works well for lining bird cages.