Cats killing billions of animals??

[daugen]

I we didn't have free roaming cats here the dang farm would be overrun with mice. Damage cause by mice can easily run into the thousands per "incedent". No bells for my certified mousers, no Sir.

Ever seen this video from Australia?
Guinness Worlds records Worst Mouse Plague - YouTube

that video is really amazing, never knew that many mice could get together. Like those army ants.
My favorite part is the cat looking down somewhat dazed at all the mice, and seemed smart enough to know
it wasn't a good idea to go down there. They started to eat the guy's pigs, yikes.

Strychnine, nice stuff for the environment. Wonder how long that was in the soil.

 

[jinman]

I have "removed" 3 cats in 4 months, that either take up residence under my house and/or get in the trash, when caught in a live trap, they are no more tame then a Bobcat. I saw 7 over the deer season sitting in my blind.

I have also read on a few forums (wish I had a link to post) where places up NE like Pennsylvania have a horrible population of feral cats.

Next feral I catch though, it's all yours if you want it:laughing: Just bring some stout leather gloves!!

Dennis, I read the link and then searched for Nature Communications Journal. On their site, they begin by stating that domestic cats are NOT the problem with reducing bird and small mammal populations. They also show two graphs of data. To get anymore info, they want you to pay $32 for the whole document in PDF form. . . ahh. . . maybe not.

We have a cat problem here with unfixed cats from the neighbors. Why people have animals without proper care is beyond me. I've personally eliminated one feral cat and three others who were costing me big vet bills. We have a new one that is a tomcat and is starting hang out here daily. I see him all friendly with the neighbor's kids, but the moment he sees me step out on our deck, he runs away as fast as he can go. If I did not know him, I'd swear he is feral. Our cats are fixed and docile, but they do their share of catching mice and lizards. They also catch one or two birds per month. I think feral cats are a problem around cities because they know the sources of food. Like boat tail grackles or seagulls swarming an open dumpster behind a fast food joint, cats will stay close to their easy food supply. If they get out into the country and woods on a regular basis, they often become dinner for bobcats and coyotes. More domestic cats per square mile means more of them will turn feral. My MIL once fed over 25 feral cats in her shed each night down near Lake Granbury. It made me mad as can be, but she would not quit. She finally moved to Saginaw and quickly started feeding a wandering cat. Now, she has three that come to her door a couple of times a day. The lady is incorrigible feral cat feeder. Without some kind of fine and enforcement, there are many more just like her. I won't be surprised to see another 25 cats showing up at her door each night. If those cats have no reason to go home to eat, they will soon become feral. Those are the types of people who need to pay attention to this data. There's a simple solution. Spay and neuter your own animals and don't feed strange animals.

BTW: My neighbor has a rat problem under her house. She can kill them, but they lay under there and stink up the whole house. She needs a good cat, but won't get one so she can protect her little vole friends. They feed voles living under the rocks just off of their deck. What the voles don't eat is dinner for the rats. Where is the logic in all of that? It's clear that we cause our own problems and refuse to change even in the face of our own peril.

 

[J F]

Especially when their covered in barbecue sauce !

 

[Western]

Got ya Jim, I miss-read your meaning and agree, my take was the "cats at large" to be the problem and feral cats are the largest number of offenders.

Also agree 1000%, animal owners carry the burden of responsibility or irresponsibility, unfortunately, I think the "responsible" are far outnumbered. Seems to me their are tomany that deal with animals with the persons emotions considered rather than the welfare requirements of the animal.

 

[Western]

Just watched a news segment on this study, they said that cats (combination of domestic and feral) kill more birds,snakes, vole ect tra, than anything else combined! including, road kill, pesticides/poison...on and on.

Estimated 80 MILLION cats in the states

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Sounds like some missed school the day they talked about the circle of life.

 

[J F]

:laughing:

 

[texasjohn]

Big day to miss. Best I can recall, lesson plans called for:

Circle of life
Birds and the bees
....um...some other evolutionary topic after lunch...maybe somebody who didn't take a nap could remind me:anyone:

Anyway, next day the teacher wanted to know where Darwin went...seems he galloped off the island into the sea ...at least that's the theory I heard:dove::bumblebee::chimpanzee::garfield::reading::number1:

 

[J F]

Big turtle stuff.

 

[dave1949]

<snip> If they get out into the country and woods on a regular basis, they often become dinner for bobcats and coyotes. More domestic cats per square mile means more of them will turn feral. My MIL once fed over 25 feral cats in her shed each night down near Lake Granbury. It made me mad as can be, but she would not quit. She finally moved to Saginaw and quickly started feeding a wandering cat. Now, she has three that come to her door a couple of times a day. The lady is incorrigible feral cat feeder. Without some kind of fine and enforcement, there are many more just like her. I won't be surprised to see another 25 cats showing up at her door each night. If those cats have no reason to go home to eat, they will soon become feral. Those are the types of people who need to pay attention to this data. There's a simple solution. Spay and neuter your own animals and don't feed strange animals.

BTW: My neighbor has a rat problem under her house. She can kill them, but they lay under there and stink up the whole house. She needs a good cat, but won't get one so she can protect her little vole friends. They feed voles living under the rocks just off of their deck. What the voles don't eat is dinner for the rats. Where is the logic in all of that? It's clear that we cause our own problems and refuse to change even in the face of our own peril.

I see trouble on the horizon when those voles start eating roots in the Blue Bonnet patch.

I think it is a good point that cats probably don't last too long out and 100% on their own, at least that is my impression around here. Maybe in milder climates they have a better chance. Here, the mice and voles are under deep snow and most birds have migrated away during winter. Making a living under those conditions would be along shot for a house cat.

Some of the less common songbirds in this area don't hang around yards and houses. They are deep woods dwellers where feral cats are less likely to be.