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Reuters file
New Zealand businessman Gareth Morgan claims cats have contributed to the extinction of nine native bird species and were affecting 33 endangered bird species.
The domestic cat should be eradicated from New Zealand because it is a “natural born killer” that is wiping out native wildlife, according to a prominent economist in the South Pacific country.
Gareth Morgan, whose blog also describes him as a businessman, philanthropist and “motorcycle adventurer," has set up the “Cats to Go” campaign, urging people to “make this cat your last.”
On a website set up to promote the campaign, Morgan said that cats were killing native birds “faster than they can possibly breed” in New Zealand’s cities.
He claimed cats had contributed to the extinction of nine native bird species and were affecting 33 endangered bird species.
“If we are serious about conservation, protecting and enhancing New Zealand’s native fauna, even supporting a predator free New Zealand, then we must overcome our denial and acknowledge that we are harboring a natural born killer,” Morgan wrote.
He said that cat owners should put a bell on their pet, saying “they may be less than 50 percent effective but every bit counts,” have their cats neutered, keep them inside and not replace them when they die.
'Just love killing things'
Morgan is also calling for new laws requiring cats to be registered and micro-chipped.
In an interview with New Zealand’s 3 News, Morgan said that cats “just love killing things – and that’s your cat we’re talking about.”
“Your cat does a lot of damage. If you want to love your cat, that’s fine, keep him in your house,” Morgan told the station.
“If you let him onto my property, I want the right to trap that cat and get rid of it,” the businessman added, saying he would rather have native birds and other animals on his land instead.
Bob Kerridge, chief executive of the country’s Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, told the New Zealand Herald newspaper that the idea of getting rid of cats was “a bit radical, over the top and completely wrong.”
"People consider cats to be a member of the family. So he's trying to, quite frankly, take away the civil liberties we all have to choose who we want in our home,” he told the paper, and questioned some of Morgan’s claims about cats’ effects on wildlife.
"Gareth Morgan is way out of line because very few native birds fall at the hand of cats, domestic cats,” he added.
A poll on Morgan's website suggested most people were unlikely to join Morgan's campaign. Asked "Will you make your current cat the last one you own?," 72 percent of respondents said no.
Leave a Comment:
Gareth Morgan is a misanthrope-blaming innocent cats for rare birds' excintition. Very,very unlikely- Mr.Morgan should get a trainload of mice delivered to him and absolutely no cats going to hisaid. Time to raise ones paws and hiss at him. There are always people who can not find happiness in their lives and then concoct something this bizarre. New Zealanders should disown him for the sake of all cats.
Do they have power lines in New Zealand as they kill more birds than cats..No power to take baths cook and stay warm, cats don't need that.
People, stop reproducing, humans have killed far more now extinct animals and birds than any other living being on this planet. If you have a child, make this the last one. all Children should be tagged and neutered so that the human race can be wiped out. Think of the animals. I will remove any human that walks on my lawn.../sarc
THE most radical killer animal is our own HOMO SAPIENS. If you want to enter a serious discussion about degradation of the planet, talk about limiting human intrusion and destruction of wildlife habitat. Period. Pets do disrupt and destroy wildlife, no doubt about that. But let's deal with the real problem first - that is human overpopulation and intrusion on the planet.
(You can enter this discussion when you've had your dogs and cats spayed and neutered thank you. There's NO excuse for letting your little house pets breed. It's a sub-symptom of our own breeding problems isn't it?)
Mimi...as usual an uniformed comment like yours tops the list, there are lots of articles on the devastation caused by "house" cats, much less feral cats, in wisconsin they (dept. of natural resources) have studied this and they figure over a million songbirds are kiled by cats each year just in wisconsin....I live in the country and closest neighbor is 1/2 mile away, i see wild (feral) cats and the neighbors cats around my place all the time. If you want a cat fine, but keep it at home, if my dog is running loose i get a ticket, same should be for cats...
Lusitania, they are talking about the native birds of New Zealand, most of which are flightless, as they developed in a country without natural predators, so not many power lines are going to kill them on the ground, are they?
Bernerd/Hope
There a actually is a group that is advocating the extinction of humans by voluntary serialization and just not breeding. Not terribly popular, but out there anyway.
For cats, the simplest solution is to not let your cat outside. You can either just not let the cat out the door or you can build an enclosed cat-run that will let your kitties enjoy the outdoors. I've always lived in apartments with balconies, so my cats could enjoy the outdoors but not get out to do any mischief.
Cats are terrible predators. About time to start doing something about it.
Yea the earth is harboring a natural born killer, its called Man Kind. I am sure we can blame ourselves with all of our developing land, and tearing down trees ect ect for the reason why these animals go extinct.
Keep your kitties indoors. And your dog leashed or fenced in when outdoors. Problem solved.
Not terribly difficult, folks.
I have three house cats and all three are spayed. Cats are predators and do kill wildlife. It is their natural instinct. We can't even keep a wreath on our front door in the spring because wrens nest there and every year the neighborhood cats knock the nest down and eat the eggs or hatchlings.
I didn't read that the man in New Zealand wants to exterminate all cats immediately. Just reduce and control their numbers by neutering (which everybody should do to their pets anyway unless they are a breeder) and keep them inside.
I imagine he is right about the bird population disappearing in a smaller region like that. Just like the boa constrictors are killing off the indigenous wildlife in Florida.
If a "celebrity" chef would come up with a good recipe, like they did for redfish (nobody used to eat redfish until Paul Prudhomme came up with "blackened redfish", and now they are protected by size limitations and quotas), they would probably wipe the species out in a year! Paul or Emerill, any ideas for a tasty cat dish?
My cat doesn't kill birds. Snakes eat birds. Eradicate snakes.
Gareth Morgan needs to be wiped out! Is he Maori? I think not, so he is an invasive species. I got it from an NZ news paper that the number 1 species responsible for bird decline was the Maori (using bird feathers ceremoniously), the others are rats, stouts and possums. I know this because my daughter studied this in New Zealand and did her thesis there. Now, I also know that the number 1 killer of migrating songbirds in Europe is human! They serve them in Italy, Greece and Spain as delicacy. So, Gareth Morgan is a pompous a$$ that just wants his 15 minutes of fame. Yeah, blame the cats..............isn't that what happened in Europe after blaming cats, eradicating them and therefore wiping out half the human population? (talking about the black plague) Lets put the blame were it belongs: HumanKIND!
The common house cat kills about 1500 different species of animal for fun. That is almost twice as much as humans with about 900.(looking for link to back up figures)
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-08-06/house-cats-kill/56831262/1
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-19353/Cats-kill-275-million-animals-year.html
http://animal.discovery.com/cat-guide/cat-behavior/hunting.html
I love cats. But, that is their nature.. Kill, kill, KILL!!
Responsible owners and population control is what will work.
Domestic cats are far more likely to kill mice and rats. The rats accidentally introduced to New Zealand are the largest threat to the native birds, many of which nest on the ground. Their eggs have become a favorite food source of rats. If cats are removed from the equation, rats will be more plentiful, and the native birds will be under more pressure. This guy Morgan doesn't know what he's talking about.
Humans are the cause of extinctions. I'll bet they cut down a lot of trees in his neighborhood to clear the land for human habitation. I do agree that cats that go outdoors should wear a bell and better still, keep your cat indoors.
Mr. Morgan got what he wanted - attention! And the Vine got what it wanted, many varied posts. Interesting, lacking valuable backup.
There is an exception - the mention of the Black Plague that decimated Europe in the middle ages, directly caused by the lack of natural predators, such as cats, to get rid of the rats and their fleas, ticks, and lice that caused the problem. One of the biggest problem solvers in that era was the introduction of cats on board all kinds of vessels, just for the purpose of killing the rats that were eating the freight and other cargos.
The entire problem is nature, and the human lack of realistic understanding of how it really works. (All kinds of experts on the their "pet" subject, but very few with an overall, realistic, understanding of how things fit together in nature.)
"Bee wery wery quite, I'm hunting
wabbits, er cats"Before you get all up in arms and offended, look into the studies done in this country on the affects of cats on the populations of native animals. It's appalling. Cats are worse than most invasive species. That said, I don't understand why people can't simply keep their cats in their homes. It's not the cats' fault people screwed up, they shouldn't be punished. But people should try to fix the problem, by being responsible pet owners, and spaying and neutering their animals.
His point, poorly made, is don't let your cat wander the neighborhood. Seriously, what the hell? You don't let your dog go out and wander the streets. Why would you think you can just put the cat out and forget it?
It has no need whatsoever to wander about. It's quality of life is not degraded one bit. In fact, it likely lives longer as its not picking up parasites, not getting in fights, and not getting its stupid butt run over by cars.
Despite some peoples inclination to think that their cat is some sort of public service rat control machine, the real fact is that cats attack things smaller than them. As the rats are about the same size, and have serious teeth, your little fluffy will come home much worse for wear if it tangled with the local rat.
NZ does not need to go off on some crazy cat crusade. They just need to hand out live cage traps to everyone, and then the roaming cats will get trapped and taken to the shelter. You pay a hefty fine to get it back as an incentive to modify your behavior. And you pay to have it neutered if it is not already.
Frosty... I agree.
The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.
@ Dave:
Copyright
© 2005-2009 TerraNature Trust. All rights reserved.
"The value of conservation is better understood by an appreciation of lost
biodiversity. New Zealand's greatest biological loss is 42 percent of
its' terrestrial birds since human settlement 700 years ago. The 57 extinct
birds evolved in an isolated land, and without mammal predators, developed
various levels of flightlessness, ground feeding and nesting habits, and
fearlessness over millions of years.
The first 38 extinctions during human settlement were influenced by
Maori hunting for food, indiscriminate forest burning, and introduction of the
Polynesian rat and dogs. Since mid-1800 European arrival there have been
another 19 losses caused by logging, forest clearing for pasture, and
introduction of a hoard of predatory animals including bird enemies numbers one
and two, stoats and rats. The prominent extinction groups are all 14 moas, 11
rails, 6 wrens and both eagles."
Humans are the problem. I agree to have your cats neutered and taken care off. I have 7 and built them a "catio" for outdoor fun, all are indoors and fixed. So, again, it's humans that are to blame. And it's humans that screw things up- nature never had a problem!
I agree totally with the article...kill em all...I have seen domestic cats cause this same kind if problem in Wyoming with the baby pheasants and other game birds. They go back to the 'wild' state as easily as hogs.
I'm glad to see that the majority of the comments here recognize that the most dangerous killer of all is the human species.
We have interfered with nature to the point that there is no natural balance anymore.
Let's eradicate the human.
this is so easy to fix. first yes make sure your cat isn't reproducing and second just put a bell on tis collar. even a cat can't walk around without that bell making sounds. this is a problem that has a solution that is very simple and works for all involved. oh and by the way if you think your little ball of fur isn't a killer then you are fooling yourself. unless you keep it in the house its a killer. i dont own a cat because i am not coming home to find a bloody mess in my dining room because the cat got after my birds. i have cats on my property all the time and i find feathers as well i am not calling for their extinction. if you are concerned about your cat killing things the bell is the answer. simple. all problems should be so simple to fix.
My cats are hunters. They bring home rats, mice, and voles with great regularity and bring them to me as gifts, much to my dismay. Have they caught birds? Yes, but only those that were unable to fly away. It's interesting to watch the magpies sit in the trees and taunt the cats, but I digress. Catch, spay and release feral cats, spay and neuter domesticated cats, but eradicate them? I don't think so.
@coyotehunter
Cats don't crap all over neighbours yards or attack people. They also kill rodents and snakes.
Leave the cats alone!!!!!
Hmmmm. Mimi, you might try a dictionary. A misanthrope is someone who hates or distrusts humans.
The term for a cat hater is "ailourophobe".
More to the point, though, is that domestic cats are indeed killers, and people who want to own them -- anywhere -- should keep them in their houses and out of the innocent birds' way.
RedSailor, my neighbors' cats crap allover my yard and in my garden all the time. And they don't always bury it. It's disgusting.
I'm not an ailourophobe, in fact I've had cats myself and love them, but I strongly believe that if you want to have a cat it should be kept inside.
I got one that is now about 30 pounds. Like having a small exotic animal. Much to his discontent he stays on a screened porch most of the day watching over his potential prey. As I have a bird sanctuary adjacent to my backyard he doesn't get to roam freely. But if he was an outdoor cat I would also have to deal with him fighting other animals like raccoons and possums. Keeping him indoors saves some major vet bills.
Never met a cat that I didn't want to make a tennis racket out of.
Housecats, or Felis catus, when they are an invasive species do a lot of destruction. They are also causing problems for the "Tasmanian devil" population which is already in serious trouble.
I'm all for eradicating all destructive invasive species in the wild, whether they be plants, livestock, feral pets or aliens. We are damaging the biota irreparably in many ways, including climate change from carbon dioxide and nitrous oxides, etc.--and I'm a "conservative" who is saying this!
You don't have to kill the cats or whatever the invasive animal species is. Just capture, neuter them and put them in a "natural" environment isolated from the wilderness.
@Wren, get a yard dog and you won't have cats in your yard.
@Miss Copper's Mom
I have bird dogs that can jump pretty high, and I often find wet, soggy remains of menacing birds like Blue Jays (similar to crows) in the yard. The jays taunt the dogs by diving at them, but they get a big surprise when they find out these dogs aren't limited in ways other dogs are. Also, our tree squirrel population is pretty thin near our house, in spite of very large oak trees yielding lots of acorns.
And alas, I digress too. Sorry.
We have a cat that my wife trained to fetch, believe it or not. But we keep him indoors and don't use him to hunt. LOL.
inMYday,
Tazmanian devils are limited to Tazmania, not New Zealand. There are none in NZ. Tazmanian devils demise is a facial cancer that gets transmitted through bites (they fight among each other) Feral cats or house cats have nothing to do with that. Most introduced species are the result of humans. (NZ also has a problem with possums, introduced through fur industry, but they are endangered in Australia. We are the problem)
Such warm sentiments. LOL
@inmyday
That's the biggest load of twaddle I've read here today.
Firstly a Tasmanian devil is more than a match for a house cat and any cat would be seriously outmatched; maybe you meant a cougar or mountain lion.
Secondly, Tasmanian devils are all but extinct because of genetic cancer which will eventually wipe them out. I wouldn't advise one as a pet.
Thirdly they only (for now) inhabit Tasmania.
Lastly all responsible (other than breeders) cat lovers should spay & neuter at 6 weeks and they should all be micro chipped. I just installed an electronic cat door that only lets my 3 cats in or out, it works on the chip. Highly recommended, don't get pets if you just want prisioners.
We really do need to find a cure for stupid.
More weirdness from the wacko left wing. Remember reading about the bubonic plague? Whenever Europeans would go on cat killing missions-when they believed that cats were witches-the plague would sweep over Europe. Why? Because cats killed the rodents that carried the plague. Mice and other rodents are hotbeds of various diseases. Cats are vital for the health and well-being of people.
Dang, that's no ordinary tongue...
If they were to get rid of cats, they would have to deal with an over population of birds.
Intrusion of humans into the natural habitats likely have way more to do with it than cats. That is someone who doesn't like their wifes cat...
In Gaungzhou, China cat meat is a delicacy. Big money hunting cats and shipping them to Gaungzhou. Hint..hint!!!!
Zheng He - As a cat owner I can say that IF our 'extra' cats (and dogs for that matter) were HUMANELY killed and then processed I would have NO problem sending them to places where meat is needed. Again I say I am a cat owner. The thing is the animals would have to be HUMANELY dealt with. That's never going to happen. (Living in farm country I witness firsthand the treatment meat animals receive here, hence my decision many years ago to AVOID consumption of these products.)
Hilarious, saw a news picture of police raiding a truck load of cats being shipped to Gaungzhou; some of the cats still had collars, leashes, cute little ribbons in their hair. Oh, well, better luck next time for the cat stew lovers.
Valid...your an idiot, they never had cats there in first place, they were introduced to control rats brought there by early sailing ships, it happens all over the world...just look at problem they're having with released "pet" snakes in florida...they're eating anything and everything in everglades....a cat no matter how cute and cuddy is frickin killin machine, thats just the way they're wired...
Hope : Truthfully, I agree with you.
COYOTEHUNTER ... you say I'm an idiot.
first, learn to post in in the correct comment thread.
second, you claim to know EVERYTHING that will happen in the future because you've discounted my observation, even I know what I don't KNOW.
Felis catus is native to the north Africa Sahara desert and Egypt. The cat has been exported with human expansion to every continent except the Antarctic (pets are forbidden). It's an exotic in every other ecosystem.
Domesticated Cats are one of the only animals on Earth that are known to kill just because. They catch mice, birds, snakes, etc... and just play with them until they die, but rarely eat them. I can see where Cats would be a problem like the story suggests, however, I feel that the "human" factor is far more damaging to the wild life than Cats. Though I can't stand Cats, I'm pretty sure that the author of this idea needs to point the finger at what he sees in the mirror everyday.
Never understood why we don't ship our excess dogs and cats to Asia. Imagine how much you could get for a 30lbs fat@ss American cat or a 35lbs overweight pooch.
I taught I taw a puddy tat...
A few months ago a movie camera was attached to a cats collar to record what it kills; thinking it probably kills a couple of mice a night. Instead the camera recorded a night of terror in which the cat constantly killed all night, birds, mice, rabbits, & everything smaller that it. They did the same to more cats, thinking maybe it was an anomaly, but all the cats did the same.
How about a reference for that? Can't find it? How about that! Wonder if you just made it up.
My cat may well--in summer--kill a couple mice a night, but she tries to bring anything special she catches into the house and it's a rare bird or baby rabbit or chipper that she catches. If she caught lots of birds, there would be feathers all over the yard, as well as dead animals galore. And she's never caught anything bigger than a 4 inch long baby rabbit. And I appreciate her catching the rabbit, because it's one less critter that will eat my seedling beans and peas next spring!
Yet, no link to the video....
I recall a similar finding when some researchers polled cat owners in a small English village over the course of a few weeks, asking what dead little critters these pets brought home to their owners. They said the toll was an order of magnitude higher than what they thought it was going to be. In short, the cats were having a huge effect on the local population of birds, mice, voles, and so on.
The cat may be your loving pet, but it really is a predator, and an exclusive carnivore (they're not raiding people's gardens and eating their carrots). Keep them inside.
Oh, and here's a link to one of the "camera on cat" stories:
http://news.discovery.com/earth/kittycam-catches-cats-preying-on-wildlife-120808.htm
A quote from one of the researchers:
Then, there's the local Dingo population . . . . "The dingo took my baby!!"
Dingos are wild dogs in Austrailia not New Zeeland.
In Florida we have a overpopulation of small lizards. Our cat does it's duty and thins them out but only eats the head. A yummy sight to see the headless lizard on the patio. We say one down a 1000 to go......
"Video cameras strapped to house cats witnessed tame tabbies transforming into tigers while stalking the backyard wilderness of Athens, Georgia. The kitty-cam provided evidence that house cats allowed to roam outside killed an average of 2.1 animals per week. The risky behavior of prowling pussycats, such as crawling into storm drains and crossing busy roads was also caught on tape."
2.1 animals per week....that is hardly the calamity this guy is speaking of, and might I remind you this is mostly rodents and not birds as birds tend to be up in trees and can fly away unless they are already injured. If they are already injured or sick, this is simply natural selection. If the cat doesn't get them, some other predator will. I have no idea where you feel this is relevant.
I saw that video when it aired on Discovery; it was truly eye-opening. I have 4 cats, but they are all spayed/neutered and stay indoors 24/7. Shoot, my Chihuahua has brought me 3 mice (inside the house and still alive)... What the heck are my cats doing?!?! lol
Smart Dog maybe?
Cat catches Mouse
Dog then takes Mouse from Cat
Dog gets praise and admiration from owner.
lol - that could be...however, I have seen the cats just toy with a mouse (before the dog came to live with us) and the cat just watched it, swatted a little, and then walked away. Maybe the cat is to well fed... :)
This guys seem kinda crazy. God put every thing on this earth to do what there to do. He made man to care for all animals. Humans do more harm to the planet the any animals do. Factory's,Car,Trains and planes do more harm to the Animal's and our self's are we going to get rid of them No I don't thinks. so other word's we are harming our self's and the animal's. I say keep the Cats they only doing what god made them for.
Sure sounds to me that this idiot should be eradicated, not the cats. Next thing this jerk off will want all babies be eradicated because they drink the cows milk. Does anybody really take this nut case serious?
Nut case?...You should look in mirror Cal680...
Morgan's over the top, but he does make two good points. If you want a cat, have it spayed or neutered, and keep it inside. Both are better for the cat.
Absolutely correct! I hate when folks allow their cats to run wild around the neighborhood. Simply no responsibility, and no respect for the feline's health.
Spayed, neutered, declawed, detoothed.
Zheng He
Hope that was just an attempt at Sarcasm.
I think this guy is a bit over the top with wanting to eradicate all cats but there certainly is a problem with feral cats, While I can not speak for NZ I can for the US and specifically NJ, Feral cat colonies here destroy native wildlife populations and there should be a bounty on them, It is unlawful in this state for a person to release non native wildlife yet for some reason the authorities let these cat nuts capture,spay/neuter and then release these feral cats, Feral cat colonies are breeding grounds for disease, There is feral cat colony not far from me and cats from this colony routinely target my livestock, I use a humane trap to capture them and take them to a shelter that destroys animals that can not be placed in a home.
One of the reasons I have a cat is to reduce the number of vermin attacking my garden. Cat's belong outside. While they may have shorter lifespans, their quality of life is probably better and they're more active and leaner. If you want to keep your cat inside, or if you have to, that's fine--most cats will adjust.
That's right, keep them inside! Outdoors cats have a life expectancy roughly half that of the house-cat because they pick up all kinds of diseases and worms when allowed outside, and if that doesn't get them a car will, or Bowser, who also should always be secured by a fence or a leash. Also, never, ever, declaw a cat! That is the cruelest thing that can be done, they have absolutely no way to defend themselves without claws if they ever do get out. As for feral cats, I have fed them regularly whenever I see one come around, they are discards from people who get a kitty for their kids and then move, leaving their trash by the curb and Tabby also, left to fend for himself.
Cat gets declawed or cat gets euthanized...Cat chose declawing and has lived happily ever after.
Then keep it on YOUR property. As a gardener I have to tell you there are other ways to reduce the vermin in your garden. I attract wild birds to my garden so I never have to spray chemicals on my vegetables to control insects.
I
hatedislike them furballs. You have no idea how much they cost me in carpet replacement. It's ridiculous. Women have cats to power trip against their husbands( that's me). They belong in Africa next to lions, where they can both mark their territories all day long.There's more than one way to skin a cat. I like birds better.
"They", meaning the cats or wives? (Sorry, had to do say it!)
I believe he meant "they" as in cats & wives.
Well, I'd like to eradicate MEN! They are the cause of most of the problems in the world!!
Ever think it might be you, darling? (lol)
But, Jan! All men were born from women. (LOL)
On the norm we usually cage predators that harm innocent ones. I truly feel as though this Morgan character could use a cage himself. This man is unbalanced!
We should get rid of people too, as long as we're at it. I mean we destroy far more of the environment than cats ever dreamed of.
Have your child spayed or neutered. Let this be your family's last generation.
You first...Or are you exempt!
Will there be no rodent control ?
There are other methods of rodent control that are more effective than allowing cats to run loose.
Freaks like Bill Gates, Ted Turner and others actually do believe in that.
I don't have a problem with cats. I have a problem with cat owners. Cat owners may have a problem picking all the BBs out of their cats. Keep your animal on your own property, and nobody has a problem.
I don't think he'll have much luck in his campaign, but there is a definate logic in his proposal. I've had cat(s) for much of my life..., and no matter how well fed and cared for they were they've all brought me "tributes" ranging from full grown rabbits (one still alive and kicking) down to large bugs. It's the nature of the cat to hunt, even if it's not hungry. It's cute and adorable when they are chasing a laser light around your living room---but it's life and death if you're a small animal or bird. So I can see his point..., but I don't think his "solution" will prove a practical one as long as mice and rats like to share human homes and barns.
Why are you letting your cat(s) run wild? So very irresponsible of you. Would you let a "pet" dog run the streets?
To think that feral or domestic outdoor cats have little or no impact on the wildlife is pretty ignorant.He makes a valid point-as cats were introduced to NZ,and are endangering native species.How is this any different then the problems we face in the US in regards to pet snakes being released into the wild only to cause havoc?Why is your sweet little kitty exempt from critique?I 'own' a cat-and she is spayed,and indoors at all times.
http://blog.nwf.org/2011/03/new-studies-highlight-impact-of-outdoor-cats-on-birds-and-other-wildlife/
So were Europeans. Ask the natives in NZ
Maybe if the Native New Zealanders would have eradicated the Europeans when they first came there they would not be having this cat problem now but since they didn't then eliminating feral cats and requiring spay/neutering of cats is a good solution.
I would be in favor of letting the government killing all cats found on public property. If the owners are not responsible enough to keep their cats on their own property, then they are fair game.
This is an issue of which most wildlife biologists are aware. Eradication of feral cats would be a useful start, but there's no need for an end to pet cats. It would be nearly as efficient, and less infuriating to most, to just keep them inside. I can't link scientific articles, as they are locked behind a paywall, but I can provide this link from a NY Times study a year or 2 ago.
I agree that cats, mostly abandoned feral cats have a negative impact on wildlife. But really people are the problem there because they don't spay/neuter and they abandon their cats to fend for themselves.
And.........human population and the attendant development of habitat have FAR WORSE impact and are responsible for huge declines in almost all bird species.
So..obviously humans are the real culprit.....everybody quit having kids. Live in high density apartment buildings. No more development.
We will be able to have kids again when the rat population explodes and 1/3 of the people die from the plague.
I'm a cat lover but I also understand that they are natural born hunters. They're not native to New Zealand and should be treated like dangerous invaders. If you want a pet cat in NZ then (1) neuter/spay (2) declaw or keep indoors (3) register all cats (4) remove any wandering cat. Look what happened in southern Florida, USA with non native snakes that irresponsible owners released into the everglades.
The world gets stupider by the year.
What next?.......
Well when they eradicate the cats, then they will have a rat epidemic and will have to eradicate the rats, when they eradicate the rats, then they will have to eradicate the cheese, and on and on.
I wish cat owners had to contain their cats like dog owners have to contain their dogs. Feral cats are a problem in alot of areas. I have a garden and I love my spring baby bunnies, I find at least one a year dead and uneaten in my yard. And I see a huge varity of cats hunting in my yard as I have birdbaths. Cats enjoy killing. Please keep your cat on a leash if it goes outside. Dogs don't come over my fence, cats do. I used to love cats myself, but after being unable to rescue a bunny, I had to listen to it squeal while the cat tortured it. No cats for me. I'll continue to use a quick kill mouse trap when needed.
It must be nice to have a country with no major problems so they can focus on something completely ridiculous.
Feral Cats are a big problem in parts of the U.S. Though this may not included peoples pets Feral animals are a problem.
Yes-completely ridiculous.
Obviously you don't like cats. We all get it.
Obviously you are too dense to read-I don't like when cat owners don't take responsibility for their pets.I own one,as much as a cat will allow ownership.But you bet that my cat is an indoor cat-and spayed.You won't find my cat crapping in a neighbors flower bed or garden,hunting and killing song birds you try to attract to your yard with bird feeders-nor will my cat leave a litter of kittens under your deck or shed.
Morgan is correct.
If your going to start removing all non native species from areas consider this there are no horses native to the Americas they are all offshoots of those that escaped from early explorers. Imagine if you tried to exterminate all the wild horses because they were destroying native species habitat removing a particular animal is no solution responsible ownership is the key.
So things like pythons destroying Everglades Eco system, Feral/wild pigs destroying an Eco system in Texas to parts of Wis. all OK with you?
Wild horses ARE a big problem... the BLM and other agencies have fits trying to control them... the destroy their habitat as their population grows. But some horse lovers want no controls or propose silly ideas for control. Much like cat lovers; many if not most of them think that it is inhumane to restrict them to a house, put a bell on them, or neuter them. I like cats, I like horses too. But they have their place.
I shoot feral (or tame) cats on my property. I'd rather not have to do so.
BLM has Horse round ups to try to control population.
@ Steven Robins - Equines (the Horse) evolved IN North America. The so-called "Native Americans" hunted them to extinction when they arrived over the land bridge from Siberia. The only reason horses survived is that some migrated into Asia at the same time.
The Spaniards merely reintroduced the horse back to its native range.
Cats live for themselves. Dogs are tribal. Dogs have evolved out of hunting prey. Cats never lost their lust for prey. Pets ofter mirror the real nature of the owner. Cat owners are envious. Dog owners are friendly.
I would disgree with much of that.
I have three domestic dogs (SPringer Spaniel, Black Lab, Golden Retriver) and all three would rip apart a squirrel and devour it if one fell in th eyard while they were out there. They are sweet dogs to our two cats, which they recognize as being part of our pack, but woe be it to any strange cat that wanders in our yard - their fate would be much like the previously mentioned squirrel. I'm sure they would also eagerly attack a rabbit.
As for cats "living for themselves", our older cat taught the younger one how to use th elitter box, how to groom herself, and in general how to be a domesticated cat. The older cat is every bit as affectionate with uus as the dogs. The cats spend a lot of time together, away from the rest of us, but not too far away. We never let them outside - too many perils, too many diseases, etc. Cats will live MUCH MUCH longer if kept indoors. Yes, they are "killers", but so are dogs.
You obviously aren't a dog owner. Every one of my five dobes has had a instinct to ambush, stalk and hunt prey.
My dad used to have a nice German Shorthair male, a sweetheart by all accounts. But he got himself a good two dozen cats in the back woods over his lifetime of 10 years. He'd literally climb trees for the felines. He loved them cats, as most women do.
Jack, you cant be serious with that inane drivel.
I own four 3 cats, They are outside cats. And yes they kill, I do not have a mouse problem. I have seen cats tear up a rabbits nest and kill all of the little ones first hand, But on their defence I have seen my dog do the same. Once he figures out were they are they are doomed. I totally get what this guy is saying and it has been said here in the USA as well. Homeless cats need to be delt with, They are the worst since their dinner isnt comming from a sack or can. House cats just kill for fun.
House cats just kill for fun.
Which is so much better?
Speaking as a veterinary specialist with a special interest in feline medicine, I'd just like to point out that someone has already invented a great tool to keep housecats from killing birds and other small wildlife, called the catbib: Sounds and looks a bit ridiculous, I know, but the product is extremely effective and its claims are backed up with sound scientific research - any pet owner who chooses to let their cats roam outside really should invest in one. The majority of North American feline veterinarians recommend that cats be kept indoors anyway, for the reasons outlined in this statement from the American Association of Feline Practitioners:
Either way then I guess the bunnies are done for.
The neighborhood cats would make fun of a cat wearing that. (sarcasm) Looks like the cat wearing that would lose every fight and they do fight when allowed to roam.
LOL Devil's Son,
Do you prefer the 2 AM fights or the 5 AM fights?