Hum Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 TALLAHASSEE (Reuters) - Cat lovers are pushing the Florida legislature to pass a law protecting strays, over the objection of environmental lobbyists who say the furry creatures are a murderous menace to Mother Nature. Two "community cat" bills in the state House and Senate would create protected cat colonies where the glut of strays scavenging for food and shelter could be trapped, neutered or spayed, then released to fend for themselves. "The more neutered or spayed cats there are out there, the less kittens there'll be," said Holly Raschein, a co-sponsor of the legislation who represents Key Largo in the Florida Keys, a haven for cats as well as tourists. "From a moral standpoint, rather than killing them, we could vaccinate them and put them back." Becky Robinson, co-founder and president of Alley Cat Allies, a Bethesda, Maryland-based organization that promotes "trap, neuter, release", or TNR, as a humane and economical alternative to the conventional animal control pound. "The system has always been catch-and-kill," said Robinson. "But outdoor cats that are unowned are still domestic animals and all we're trying to do is stabilize the colony." The Audubon Society and some other environmental groups oppose TNR because stray cats kill birds. The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published a study in January, indicating that cats kill between 1.4 billion and 3.7 billion birds per year, along with 20 billion small mammals, such as mice. :rolleyes: Aside from the cats' carnage, Audubon lobbyist Julie Wraithmell said the strays spread disease. Stray cats have infected other pets and animals with feline leukemia and a type of HIV, and given rabies to humans, Wraithmell said. more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJerman Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 This is a little silly, no? "a murderous menace to Mother Nature" Really? Gee, I wonder how the world ever survived without humans. I have a couple of strays that live in my yard (it's 2.5 acres with some good wooded areas in the back), and I depend on their murderous menacing to help get rid of mice. They don't bother me one bit. Domesticated cats are really still barely even domesticated. I've known very few cats that I didn't think could survive perfectly well on their own. Most cats seem like they couldn't care less whether there is a human around anyway, and would probably rather be outside catching their own food. What's next, start killing off birds because they are eating too many bugs? Better not get rid of the stray cats just yet until that one is decided! It's called the food chain and it's what has kept balance on this planet for billions of years. Humans are the only ones destroying the balance. What's funny is the last paragraph about them carrying diseases is an actual valid concern and argument for this, but it's relegated to just a short mention at the end. I really don't like cats much at all, but even I have to agree with the cat lovers here. Trap, spay/neuter, and vaccinate, then let em go wild again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HawkMan Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 before humans there where other bigger predators that we removed or don't allow in cities Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJerman Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 before humans there where other bigger predators that we removed or don't allow in cities Not really. Cats have few natural predators, and among those are birds and snakes. Cats are very fast and agile. Most bigger animals can't catch them unless they are still very young. Coyotes perhaps would be one example of predators that are less seen in cities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HawkMan Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 and there was a heck of a lot more birds an snakes before cities and humans. we're also the reason they can breed and feed so much. a single pair of cats can over two years become thousands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hum Posted April 14, 2013 Author Share Posted April 14, 2013 OMG -- cats kill mice. Isn't that a plus in their favor, all these many centuries ? And I haven't noticed any shortage of mice ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Growled Member Posted April 14, 2013 Member Share Posted April 14, 2013 OMG -- cats kill mice. And I haven't noticed any shortage of mice ! Seems to me the little buggers aren't doing their jobs then. :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HawkMan Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 OMG -- cats kill mice. Isn't that a plus in their favor, all these many centuries ? And I haven't noticed any shortage of mice ! They also kill birds and can be ferocious and attack people when feral, heck even domestic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noir Angel Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 Feral cats rarely attack humans, they will usually only do that if they feel cornered. Normally they will run away. Hum 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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