When I read this last night, I knew it would generate a lot of comments on both sides of the issue.
First, it's no secret that I love my cats.
But, I also know that true feral cats AND dogs can be a problem. A feral is wild, not domesticated. And in general, wild animals only kill for food. Yes, at times, I've personally seen coyotes kill sheep in larger numbers than what they would eat, as they were teaching their pups to hunt. And when on a "killing frenzy" they do kill more than they will eat at that time. But a yote will return to feed off carcasses.
Domestic cats will kill an animal and bring it to it's alpha person, as an offering. Ferals will kill & eat.
Packs of feral dogs will kill & eat part & leave. Locally we recently had 2 dogs kill a pair of donkeys. Nothing was eaten, and the dogs in question, were supposedly domestic.
Did anybody else see the story last week where a female veterinarian got her "first bow kill" on a cat. She arrowed a cat & posted pics on the web. She got fired, and it's also possible the cat belonged to a lady. I never heard proof in any follow-up on the story.
Cats do roam a bit. Even granny's favorite puddy-tat. Sometimes the family pet escapes and gets a bit lost.
Yes, tomcats will kill young kittens if he can. Similar things happen to wild animals. That tends to put that tom in the feral category to me.
My points are this to those who choose to kill any wandering cat they see.
Are you SURE it's feral or just a wandering family pet?
How would you feel if somebody shot your cat OR dog calling it a feral?
How would you react if the cat OR dog belonged to your grandmother or your daughter?
Do you automatically shoot every roaming dog you see using the same prejudice you have towards cats?
Ferals can be bad in both types of animals. But I feel that just like guns, cats have been given a very bad rap by mis-information. Kinda like guns. Too many times, people get their education from somebody they feel they can respect & think whet they learn is true. "Guns are bad. Guns cause innocent kids to die etc ad nausem."
For many years, I've heard stories about how feral cats wipe out quail or other birds.
Then I hear stories, (although they never get the press like the bird stories,) about folks who keep "barn cats" or others around their place as a way of controlling rats & such.
First, the number one reason there is a decline in quail & all is the loss of habitat. Science has proven that.
Next, from my own personal studies, I do not feel a stray cat is automatically to blame for all the ills in the world. I happen to have 2 strays that visit my home, my property, and as far as I can find, do not belong to anybody. I see them on my cameras all the time. I occasionally see them around. Yet, I also see plenty of birds, squirrels, rabbits, doves, woodcock, & even "gasp" quail.
Yet, at times, I've seen a cats AND dogs that were obviously not in good health, and chose to put them down.
I love all animals, yet I do not have a "kill 'em all" attitude when I see a new, strange, or POSSIBLE feral cat or dog on my place. But if I see actions by any such as killing kittens, or unhealthy looks, such as mange or badly unkempt fur, or a dog that acts aggressive, it'll get shot quickly.
I still vote to kill the tomcat as he's likely feral.
