Kill the cat that kills the birds?

[birdlady49]

This is an interesting, though very long, article that appeared in the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/02/ma..._r=1&th&emc=th

[4HAND]

I love all creatures,even insects but .........non-native invasive species[even if they are kittens or quaker parrots]must be kept in check!The people who release domestic animals into the wild or feed them[thus increasing their numbers]do a huge diservice to all the other species the intruders prey upon or compete with.I don't own a weapon and probably never will but I have taken many stray cats to the Humane Society to protect the hundreds of birds that nest on my land.It's a long drive and costs me $20 each time to surrender each cat but if I don't do it I find feathers and carnage on a daily basis.
Tena

[Minna]

The way I see it, as the owner of a cat or a dog you have a very important responsibility to make sure they DON'T go around killing wildlife. If you fail, and the animal is put down to save the wildlife, that's on <i>your</i> head.

I don't condone killing animals where it is avoidable, especially people's pets, but sometimes it's necessary. We aren't going to run out of cats any time soon. But birds? :/

[fluffy_stitch]

just look at the damage that has been done to Australian wildlife by fox's,cats,rats and cane toads that were introduced by people,and a lot of other places too,i know its not the cats fault and they are only trying to survive but sometimes it has to be done to protect native wildlife,but i think it could have been done a lot more humanely than shooting the cat.

[Beaks]

stray cats and dogs are a big problem in the US and someone has to take care of it even if it is with a gun.

I have birds and a cat, my cat doesnt go outside at all and is smart enough to stay away from the birds/cages.

strays need to be eliminated for the health and safety of the public and native animal populations.

[kathleen]

What happened to survival of the fittest and the circle of life? Aren't there purposes for these creatures? Does the cat exist to control the population of the birds and squirrels and mice? What if there were no cats? Would mice become overabundant? Isn't that why we have deer hunting season? Because if we didn't, the population would over grow without a sufficient food supply and they would suffer by starving to death? I think with being overly conservative, you inherit other problems. I believe if humans were alive when dinosaurs roamed the earth, they would still be alive today because we would be trying to save the species. Just a thought. I couldn't open the article so I hope my comment is relative to what they were eluding to based on other comments.

[4HAND]

If you were able to open and read the story you would have learned that the group of "ferral" cats living beneath the overpass were being fed on a regular basis by the tollbooth operator.Without his interfer ance the cats would not have become a thriving population."survival of the fittest" can't apply to this case as they were being assisted in their survival.Assisted not because they are endangered but because they are cute and fuzzy.I would have no problem with a hawk or any other native species making lunch of the nestlings.There are many animals and birds of prey going without thier lunch because humans have allowed their pets to run free and breed to their hearts content.All this to the detriment of local wildlife.
Tena

[birdlady49]

Originally Posted by kathleen

What happened to survival of the fittest and the circle of life? Aren't there purposes for these creatures? Does the cat exist to control the population of the birds and squirrels and mice?

I hope you can try again and successfully open the article as it really is fascinating.

The kink in your theory about survival of the fittest and the circle of life is the fact that cats are an introduced species. Introduced by humans. And you know how humans have messed up the earth and every living creature on the planet. A large majority of extinction can be blamed on introduced species. Habitat destruction is the other major cause of extinction, for which humans are totally responsible.

Millions and millions of birds have been killed by the cat. Not to mention millions of other small critters. If the cat were removed from the equation, there would still be "natural" methods of elimination if a species were destined for extinction.

[Beaks]

dont forget that cats kill just for the fun of it not always for food and that is not good for any endangered species that the ferel cats prey upon.

[Smidget]

I do not like cats ! but in saying that, everyone to their own liking.
My thinking is KEEP Your CAT at Home please !!
Almost every night we have at least 1 cat come in through doggy door & eat the dogs food. One of our 2 dogs is terrified of cats & he howls when they come in so then I have to get out of bed to shoo the cat out.I also have 7 aviary's in our backyard & have lost quite a few Budgies & canaries due to cats jumping on the front of an aviary.If I can catch the cats , they will take a ride to the RSPCA or be disposed of in some way. (By my bare hands if they keep this up )Cats should not be allowed to roam at night !!