Of I course I know you already think I should be locked up.
Posted on 04/07/2008 6:05:51 AM PDT by Aristotelian
Every spring, as birds flock back to Long Island [N.Y.] in droves, Eileen Schwinn wonders whether this will be the season the cats get the last remaining pair of piping plover at Mount Sinai's Cedar Beach.
Schwinn, president of the Eastern Long Island Audubon Society, is racked with emotion over what she says is a "dramatic decrease" in species such as plover, bobwhites and ovenbirds threatened by the claws of stray cats.
But Cedar Beach's 30 or so feral cats have a powerful ally in a smorgasbord of animal rights groups, some of whom say Long Island's strays - estimated to be in the tens of thousands Islandwide, according to one rescue group - have as much right to the beach as birds.
The controversy in Mount Sinai reflects a battle playing out from Atlantic Beach in western Nassau County to Sammy's Beach on the South Fork - birders and cat lovers at loggerheads over what to do about feral cats believed to be preying on bird species as common as the tern and as rare as the ground-nesting piping plover.
Local government agencies charged with resolving the disputes often find themselves caught between flying fur and feathers.
"It's a very sensitive issue; it's a nationwide problem,"
(Excerpt) Read more at newsday.com ...
Tons of laws are already on the books, but my lib neighbors in Minneapolis paid no heed. Kitty just had to get outside.
I had to pull my feeders as their cat killed three cardinals in as many days.
I have almost an acre in the far flung burbs today and no cats around. This is dog country! LOL I've never experienced such a wide variety of birds, or a higher feed bill. LOL
We had two cats for almost 20 years. They were my babies and they were indoor cats and fixed. The incidence of feline leukemia and other causes of early death is great for people that let their housecats roam. Of course, I'm talking densely populated inner-city.
Farm cats have always had a good role.
I know from you posts that you like to be controversial.
So back at ya!
We are in a new development created 4 years ago and have planted about 200 trees and srhubs. We have 3 large gardens packed with native species that the birds are crazy about, you should've seen the flocks of robins on our crabtrees today.
BTW, eagles are no longer on the list of species threatened by extinction.
If you live in a big city, the number one threat to songbird populations are feral cats.
Yes, eagles are back due to personal protection.
Just do a quick search on songbirds and cats and you'll come up with a load of info.
From the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service:
Cat Predation
Americans keep an estimated 60 million cats as pets. Let's say each cat kills only one bird a year. That would mean that cats kill over 60 million birds (minimum) each year - more wildlife than any oil spill.
Scientific studies actually show that each year, cats kill hundreds of millions of migratory songbirds. In 1990, researchers estimated that "outdoor" house cats and feral cats were responsible for killing nearly 78 million small mammals and birds annually in the United Kingdom.
University of Wisconsin ornithologist, Dr. Santley Temple estimates that 20-150 million songbirds are killed each year by rural cats in Wisconsin alone.
Feline predation is not "natural." Cats were domesticated by the ancient Egyptians and taken throughout the world by the Romans. Cats were brought to North America in the 1800's to control rats. The "tabby" that sits curled up on your couch is not a natural predator and has never been in the natural food chain in the Western Hemisphere.
Cats are a serious threat to fledglings, birds roosting at night and birds on a nest. Research shows that de-clawing cats and bell collars do not prevent them from killing birds and other small animals. For healthy cats and wild birds, cats should not be allowed to roam free.
Work with your local humane society, veterinarians and state wildlife agency to enact and enforce free-roaming cat regulations. For more information:
Free Roaming Cats. American Backyard Bird Society, PO Box 10046, Rockville, MD 20849.
Cats: A Heavy Toll on Songbirds. by Rich Stallcup. Point Reyes Bird Observatory, 4990 Shoreline Hwy., Stinson Beach, CA 94924.
Is there a Killer in Your House? by George Harrison, National Wildlife Magazine (October/November 1992).
Beware of Well-Fed Felines. by Peter Churcher and John Lawton, Natural History Magazine (July 1989).
Hi VK,
The 3 year lifespan is an average. I, too, know of outdoor cats that lived to advanced ages. Think of it as a 4 pack a day smoker living to 90.
My concern about cats killing birds in my area is specifically about ground-dwelling game birds, like quail and turkeys. The babies are hatched on the ground, then they follow the hen until they’re able to fly. I’ve sat and watched my neighbor’s cats stalking a hen and her poults, it’s sickening to me. I’d feel the same about watching a dog stalking a litter of kittens. I’ve got a Siamese cat that’s the most spoiled beast on the planet. She’s a house cat, and I live way out in the boonies.
Good morning, Darnright!
I certainly understand your revulsion when you see a cat stalk and kill. It is a bit disturbing, even when it’s a mouse or rat.
Nevertheless, it is also quite fascinating. I don’t often get to see it myself, but when I do, I can’t help but think of this quote:
“God made the cat in order that man might have the pleasure of caressing the tiger.” ~ Fernand Mery
Having a cat is like having your own personal Nation Geographic special right in your living room.
Regards,
When I had to pick up three beautiful cardinals in three days that were killed by the neighbor’s cat it made me sick.
But I guess that personal experience is all in my head and guided by a government agency. LOL
Check out the songbird forums that are definitely NOT government affiliated. Commonsense doesn’t seem to be your strong suit, so I doubt that you will check them out.
I don’t believe either of us is going to change the other’s mind. I’m done participating in this exercise in futility.
The cat was not feral. It was my next door neighbor’s cat that hung out in the shrubs between our houses. Homes are very close together in the city. I politely informed her of the city ordinance that requires cats to be confined to their own yard. Her response was to bell the cat (which doesn’t work) and to stop speaking to me.
The cat was very well-fed (fat) and kept indoors only at night. It killed birds for sport. The cardinals were mangled, not poisoned. How am I so certain? I saw the cat pounce and bite one of the birds with my very own eyes.
Of I course I know you already think I should be locked up.
So...spike the feeding stations with poison.
You are correct about revulsion seeing the carnivores, both feline and canine, with which we humans share our lives, being carnivores. I find it a bit frustrating that we dog owners are quite accepting of the rules about uncontrolled predation by little Phydeaux, while some people feel cats should be allowed to decimate whatever warmblooded victim they happen across.
Sad to say, my personal pint-sized tigerlet must resign herself to moths and spiders she finds in the house. Poor abused kitteh!
I find it hard to believe that well fed fat cat with bell can catch a cardinal....but perhaps the cat was very special. People who tell other people to keep their cats in their own yard, know very well it can’t be done and just want to cause trouble. Yet, you welcome birds who drop their poop all over and carry over 60 diseases to your back yard. I wouldn’t speak to you either.
It’s your conscience. Ooop.....if you’re killing endangered birds, then you don’t have one...never mind.
Dear Darnright,
It’s not every day you actually see the origin of the “Fido” appelation written out! I’m impressed.
As for differences in the laws regarding cats and dogs (BTW, I’m the proud and happy owner of the best dog in the whole wide world)...I always got the impression that those differences came about in order to protect the human population, and not so much to protect wildlife.
After all, many roaming dogs will not only attack a human, but will chase one down in order to do it. And then there are the friendly giants (like mine), who would probably never actually HURT someone he met on the street — but might run at that person to say “hi.” Should he even jump on someone to give a sloppy kiss, he could easily knock him down and hurt him. I’ve never seen a cat do that — not even the meanest, most ornery feline out there.
Anyway, that’s why I think the laws are so different. The bottom line is, I love both cats and dogs — they bring two very different worldviews to their owners, but both animals also bring love and (though more subtle in cats) extraordinary loyalty.
Regards,
PS: I’ve really enjoyed talking to you about this. It’s given me the chance to reflect on things upon which I often don’t have time to do.
Thanks for calling me a liar.
The cat did not have a bell before I spoke with her.
I get the feeling you are no conservative if you don’t respect other people’s private property rights and the rule of law.
You are also the rudest person I have ever encountered on this forum. The conservatives I know are respectful of others.
As far as ‘speaking’ with me again, I am permanently done having a conversation with you.
You’re type who will have to get the last word in, I can tell. Go right ahead. I will not reply.
Hello, VK (I’m enjoying our discourse, also)
In my state, Virginia, there are many laws on the books, that specifically protect other animals from canine predation. As I wrote upthread, a game warden in my state is duty-bound to destroy any dog he or she finds in the act of running deer. Also, the owner of livestock may kill a dog or dogs he finds in the act of mauling or harassing his animals.
Even the dangerous dog law in the state has remedies for a dog that kills a domestic animal. In other words, a dog doesn’t have to have bitten a human to be labeled dangerous, as a killer of livestock could just as well go after a child. To be dangerous, the dog must be off its owner’s property. If a sheep wanders onto my land, and my dog kills it, the dog is not held accountable.
Here’s a bit of irony considering the subject of this thread. The dangerous dog label may be used for a CAT killing pooch.
Darnright,
Interesting. To tell the truth, NY may very well have the same laws as VA, though living in the “wilds” of Long Island, I don’t often have the occasion to see much in the way of livestock. (LOL)
I know my dog WILL chase any squirrel (or strange cat, for that matter) that foolishly wanders into the yard. He hasn’t caught one yet, though. I often wonder what he’d do with it if he actually caught it. The way he carries on, you’d think the little rodents are deliberately tormenting him; it’s as if they are laughing right in his little doggie face.
One other thing I find interesting is the fact that no matter what our cats do to this pooch, he will not harm them, but ANY other cat that catches his eye is considered an Enemy of the State. We’ve tried to train him out of this behavior, but though he’s accepted every other training we’ve given him, we just can’t seem to break this one.
I guess it’s just too instinctive. (BTW, Ranger the dog is a mutt we got from the pound. The vet says his makeup is mostly some kind of large hound — AND, he’s from Down South — the pound got him from a shelter in Tennessee!)
Regards,
Didn’t call you a liar, but I see I hit some points you can’t defend so you insult me. Have a good day.
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