A Cat By Any Other Name

originally published on https://sustainabiltytip.com

By Helen W. Lovell-Wayne, MS

[email protected]

https://www.instagram.com/hwlovell

https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/helen-lovell-wayne/

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There is a small mammal that is responsible for substantial ecological damage.? It has caused 13% of all worldwide extinctions (Scott Loss, 2012), kills between 100 and 350 million birds (Trouwborst et al 2019), 6.3–22.3 billion mammals,(Scott Loss, 2012), and 228 to 871 million reptiles annually.? It was never supposed to leave Egypt 10,000 years ago but it is now wreaking havoc on every continent except Antarctica (Trouwborst et al 2019). ?Yet the popular media informs people that this mammal is harmless, and many nonprofits have come to its defense.? This killing machine is called a cat.

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When cats are let outside by their owners they stress out native species, hunt them, compete for resources with them, ?and mate with similar species (Trouwborst et al 2019).? Consequently, veterinarians and cat adoption agencies have been urging owners to keep cats inside.? As a result, 81% of owners leave their cats indoors 100% of the time.

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Owners of free-roaming cats are exposing them to danger ?

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It’s the other 19% of owners that are causing the problems. These owners do appear to accept the idea that cats are harmful, even when presented with ecological information to the contrary (Trouwborst et al 2019). These owners are responsible for the 30 to 40 million feral cats roaming around the United States (Sarah Tan et al. 2020). Even those with owners with a myopic view of their cat surely must acknowledge that allowing the cat outdoors is dangerous.? Cats that are allowed to roam outside unimpeded are at risk for of exposure to feline leukemia virus (FeLV), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), bartonellosis, and rabies (Sarah Tan et al. 2020). ?Plus cats are prone to bring back fleas.? Then there is the additional risk of being hit by a car. Trauma is the cause of 39% of sudden deaths in cats, with 87% of those cases are due to motor vehicle accidents (Sarah Tan et al. 2020).? So it’s safer for the entire ecosystem if cats stay inside.

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Cats that are allowed to roam can get lost.? Then they turn into feral cats.? Cats mature at five to six months old (Nutter et al 2004). These cats can breed two times a year and produce 1-6 kittens in each litter (Nutter et al 2004). ?They live up to 10 years (Nutter et al 2004).? So that one cat can produce a colony of feral cats.? These cats form packs that kill native species with impunity.? ?Plus they can carry and spread disease to humans.

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??Feral cats must be spayed or euthanized ??

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Unfortunately, the problem with cats is not easily solved simply by getting cat owners to keep their pets inside.? The current population of feral cats needs to be reduced.? Some cities have programs that spay feral cats and release them back into neighborhoods (Trouwborst et al 2019).? These programs have been successful in reducing feral cat populations. However, as long as owners keep letting their unneutered cats into the built environment there will always be a feral cat population. ?So these programs can only reduce but not eliminate the problem.

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This particular disaster is compounded by another non-native species.? When feral cats are removed from an ecosystem, then rat populations expand exponentially.? Rats kill and eat native species with impunity.? Plus, they spread disease.? Out of the frying pan into the fire.

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??Natural predators of rats could be the key ??

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There is a Barn Owl movement in Europe and America that is spreading to other parts of the world..? Barn Owls are native to South America, Australia, Africa, North America, and Europe. They have large hunting ranges, primarily eat rats, and don’t mind the company of other owls.? The only expenditure that is required is a barn owl box or two.? So if a movement like this could work in tandem with reducing the cat populations, an ecological disaster might be averted.? There are some ecosystems in which barn owls are not native and/or they are not one of the largest native predators of rats.? In these areas, other native species would have to suffice.? ??Other predators of mice and rats include but aren’t limited to skunks, foxes, and hawks.

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The biggest difference a person can make is to not let their cat outside. Those without cats should control rats and mice through ecologically friendly control measures rather than poisons.? These poisons go up the food chain and kill natural predators of rats like owls and hawks.? Additionally, both lilies and tulips are poisonous to cats and they tend to avoid them.? These plants can be planted in yards to protect both birds and native species in your yard.? Hopefully with enough public pressure cat owners will start listening to the ecologists and the feral cat population in cities across the world will be eliminated.