Cats killing billions?
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It's not cats in and of themselves that are the problem. If we actually controlled our cats the same as we control our dogs, there'd likely be no problems. Only allowed out when on a leash. All specimens neutered (or confined when in heat) unless we intend to deliberately breed.
But we don't do that and unlike dogs, cats are very successful hunters that go feral very quickly.
Thats crap. I have 2 cats here and yes I have found there "Gifts" in the house but I keep them in a night and have bells on them but I rescued these cats as they had been dumped. I have also got them both spayed so they can not breed and If I see them in the garden stalking the parrots and cockatoos then the slingshot comes out and they get a well aimed marble in the **** hard enough to deter them from the bird but not hard enough to harm them.
We also know that of the millions of baby birds hatched each year, most will die before they reach breeding age. This is also quite natural, and each pair needs only to rear two young that survive to breeding age to replace themselves and maintain the population.
It is likely that most of the birds killed by cats would have died anyway from other causes before the next breeding season, so cats are unlikely to have a major impact on populations. If their predation was additional to these other causes of mortality, this might have a serious impact on bird populations.
Those bird species that have undergone the most serious population declines in the UK (such as skylarks, tree sparrows and corn buntings) rarely encounter cats, so cats cannot be causing their declines. Research shows that these declines are usually caused by habitat change or loss, particularly on farmland.
It is likely that most of the birds killed by cats would have died anyway from other causes before the next breeding season, so cats are unlikely to have a major impact on populations. If their predation was additional to these other causes of mortality, this might have a serious impact on bird populations.
Those bird species that have undergone the most serious population declines in the UK (such as skylarks, tree sparrows and corn buntings) rarely encounter cats, so cats cannot be causing their declines. Research shows that these declines are usually caused by habitat change or loss, particularly on farmland.
My point is that before we start down the road of prosecuting cats for serial murder, maybe we should start a little closer to home. Let us also not forget who facilitated the cat's rise to the top of murder charts.
Is it a surprise that I have cats? They are all "done" though so they can't in crease the problem. And yes, I am their food slave ;p
Claudiasboris
I'll concede most of your points. Except the one about serial murder. Again just what is the point? You referenced dometicated species as our (human) targets. It's unlikely we'll decimate any species we also deliberately breed.
Actually we do a lot more than decimation....decimation refers to the killing of 10% (by the other 90%) as a punishment for cowardice in the legions
[/history nerd]
Actually I knew that BR. From the Latin 'deci' meaning one tenth (as in DECImal) But that's not the way the word's used now unfortunately.
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