Feral cats exist in the wild in enormous numbers. They kill hundreds of millions of birds and other wildlife, and it's not going to be easy to get rid of them.
In November of 2006, a man was arrested in Galveston and charged with animal cruelty. He allegedly shot a feral cat that was hunting wild birds in an area that threatened and endangered species of birds frequent. The event sparked a furious debate between extremists on both sides and everyone in between – not a new debate, but an eruption of an issue that has been ongoing for many years.
What is a feral cat?
A feral cat is a domestic cat, Felis silvestris, that lives in the wild, unattached to any human “owner.” Felis silvestris, a cat species created by humans and introduced into the wild all over the world, has no natural place in the ecosystem. Some feral cats have strayed or gotten lost while roaming outside. Some have been deliberately released or abandoned because they are not wanted. Some are the offspring of feral parents, born in the wild.
What is the problem with feral cats?
Because of their relationship with humans, feral cats are able to multiply to incredible numbers in close proximity to human communities. Humans feed feral cats, both deliberately and inadvertently, but the cats also take a toll on wildlife, particularly small mammals and birds. Not only is this hard on the animals they kill, it puts pressure on other predator species that must compete for food.
How many feral cats are there?
It’s hard to get an accurate estimate of the number of feral cats in the environment. One estimate puts the number of feral cats in the state of Wisconsin alone at 2 million or more. In some parts of the state, researchers counted up to 114 feral cats per square mile. Another study estimated 500,000 feral cats in Chicago. Though an accurate total eludes us, it’s safe to say there are hundreds of millions of feral cats in North America.
How many birds do feral cats kill?
Again, estimates vary, but even if each cat killed only one bird each year (studies have shown that some cats kill up to 1000 animals each year), it’s clear that hundreds of millions of birds are dying. Add to this the toll taken by roaming domestic cats (pets that are allowed to roam out of doors), thought to also be in the hundreds of millions, and you begin to comprehend the catastrophic effect that Felis silvestris is having on bird populations. If you also consider all the other threats to birds created by humans – habitat destruction, pollution, automobiles, cell phone towers, wind turbines, tall buildings, airplanes etc. – it seems a miracle we have any birds at all.
What about eradication of feral cats?
Eradication of feral cats is a controversial approach to say the least. The bottom line, however, is that unless the eradication area is an island, it doesn’t work. Killing all the feral cats in one locality simply results in more cats moving in from outlying areas – the animals breed unchecked and the population quickly reverts to its former levels. Eradication can only work if it is applied everywhere at once – not a reasonable objective. Some success has been achieved, however, with trap and release programs, where feral cats are captured, neutered, and returned to the wild. Again, in order to reduce feral cat numbers over all, this approach would have to be applied consistently and in a widespread fashion, but it does seem to keep feral cat numbers down in limited areas much more effectively than eradication efforts. In San Diego, the number of feral cats caught and euthanized by animal control offices dropped by 50% after a trap and release program was started.
Clearly, there’s no quick fix for the feral cat problem. It’s a problem created by people, and it’s going to take a lot of time, effort, and cooperation to clean up the mess – if we ever do.
The copyright of the article Feral Cats Kill Birds in Birds is owned by Rosemary Drisdelle. Permission to republish Feral Cats Kill Birds in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
THis is a massive, massive problem here in SoCal, where it never gets cold
enough to entice feral cats (and semi-wild ones) into a warm place.
Unfortunately, there are also as many warm-hearted but misguided people
around as there are cats - or so it seems - who vote down plans for
trap-and-release sterilization. It's really upsetting to those of us who
see the big picture. thank you, Rosemary!
Jan 2, 2007 5:05 AM
Rosemary Drisdelle :
Hi Jennifer,
Thanks for your comments. Attitudes can change but
it happens slowly. I'm afraid this is a case of trying to close the barn
door after the horses have already left - I wonder if the birds have enough
time to wait for us all to come to our senses.
Jan 3, 2007 2:29 PM
Jill Florio :
this is one of those topics most people don't see clearly. I think the
educating part is a long haul...and in the meantime, cats have more
litters. :(
Jan 4, 2007 4:00 AM
Rosemary Drisdelle :
Even without the bird issue, it's a puzzle to me why people don't support
trap and release sterilization for the sake of the cats themselves. Do they
really believe that a population of wild (feral) cats suffering from hunger
and disease is a good thing? I met very few feral cats, but the ones I've
come across weren't cuddly...
Jan 7, 2007 3:53 AM
BirdAdvocate :
Exactly what is our priority here? Do we enjoy watching cats suffer in the
wild while they decimate our wildlife? Do we want to visit our parks to see
the colonies of deserted cats lounging around? That is what trap,
neuter, and abandon accomplishes, perpetuation of the status quo, while our
bird numbers continue to dwindle. We have to stop, cease, and desist
pandering to the kitty crowd. No more enabling the cute feral kitties.
There is no place for them in our ecology! Lobby Congress to enforce
the laws we have in place to protect our vanishing wildlife. Demand they
make stronger laws against abandoning destructive pests that kill billions
of birds and animals each year. A zero tolerance policy is the only
hope we have at this late date, there are too many millions of cats killing
birds to perpetuate it with trap, neuter, abandon.
Jan 7, 2007 4:29 AM
bo beolens :
A number of correspondence are critiscising well meaning people for not
supporting the trap-neuter-reurn policy for feral cats. I'm sorry to say
this is very mis-guided. These correspondents are very well meaning but
returning feral cats to the wild still means death for countless small
mammals, reptiles and millions of songbirds birds. The ONLY humane solution
is to trap and re-home and, where this is not possible, trap and put to
sleep. If well meaning cat lovers cannot accept this then they must keep
the feral cats in compounds and pay for their keep etc. Until people wake
up to this reality our environment will continue to be impoverished
Jan 7, 2007 6:27 AM
Rosemary Drisdelle :
I don't think we are at cross purposes here - the literature I've read
indicates that trap-neuter-release works better to reduce the numbers of
feral cats because it prevents the "overflowing bathtub"
situation where more cats just pour over into an eradicated area, breed
unchecked and restore the former numbers. I would be most interested to
read any solid documentation that refutes this. Eradication has only worked
on islands where new arrivals can be prevented. I don't think it's
reasonable to suggest that we can eradicate hundreds of millions of feral
cats overnight - how would this be accomplished? For the moment, isn't a
50% reduction (see my recent article
http://birds.suite101.com/article.cfm/feral_cats_kill_birds) in feral cats
better than no reduction, given that North American society as a whole is -
so far - not with the program?
Jan 7, 2007 11:26 AM
BirdAdvocate :
I would suggest we get behind the National Audubon Society and The Wildlife
Society in opposing any abandonment of ferals into the wild.
Jan 8, 2007 4:42 AM
Rosemary Drisdelle :
Many thanks for that sensible comment. For anyone who's interested, the
National Audubon Society's resolution regarding feral cats (1998) can be
found at http://www.audubon.org/local/cn/98march/nasr.html
It's
important that we realize what we're up against. On Ascension Island, an
isolated island with an area of about 91 sq mi (35 sq km), an eradication
program required more than three years, over a million dollars, and the
complete cooperation of the island residents. There were an estimated
600-800 feral cats on the island. This example clearly illustrates that we
face a challenge of staggering proportions in North America. Eradication is
even more probematic in such a large area for reasons already stated.
In my area, I'd support an eradication program (provided the
eradication area was inclusive and the design included public education and
incentive for domestic cat owners to have their pets neutered and
registered), but if a trap, neuter, release program was the attainable
compromise, I certainly wouldn't oppose it.
Jan 26, 2007 10:19 PM
Alan Sorum :
I don't see the problem with reducing the number of feral cats. It is
pretty clear they have a major impact on bird populations. Alaska has had
similiar problems with ground nesting birds on islands that accidently
receive rats. After a few years, the birds are gone.
Jan 28, 2007 5:10 PM
Rosemary Drisdelle :
Thanks for your comment Alan - yes, rats are a big problem as well. On
Ascension Island, where they finally succeeded in getting rid of their
feral cats, rats were next on the "to do list." I'm not sure how
they are doing with it. You can read about Ascension Island in my recent
article:
http://birds.suite101.com/article.cfm/cats__birds__and_ascension_island
Feb 26, 2007 5:08 PM
Maxine Beach :
Why is it so easy to make feral and domestic cats the scapegoat for bird
deaths? Because we catch them in the act? I love birds, enjoy watching and
feeding them. I love cats, too. Yes, cats eat birds and rodents, but for
survival. They were created to be part of the eco-system, to help keep
nature in balance. What about us? Man. What about our need to ravage
forests and woodlands, our race to live in the country, expanding urban
developments that ruin life for all wildlife. Ready to give up that green,
insect- and weed-free lawn? Read another Audubon Society article pointing
to an estimated 7 million birds that die each year because of exposure to
lawn pesticides alone. It includes information on a US Geological Survey
Analysis of 20 major rivers basins and aquifers systems that reveals
commonly used lawn and garden pesticides are found in surface and ground
water. Ready to give up your cell phone and/or TV? The FCC estimates that
up to 50 millions birds, mostly migratory, are killed by cell phone and TV
towers each year, threatening at least 50 species. What about
unconscionable pet owners who contribute to the feral cat problem? How
cruel and heartless of them to dispose of their former pet, forcing them to
a harsh life in an environment unfamiliar to them. People who don't
understand or like cats readily cast them on the "Get Rid Of"
list. Seems to me, it is man that has thrown nature out of balance, and now
to fix it so we can have a clear conscience using our modern day, high tech
conveniences, they say, kill the cats, too many of them, they kill birds.
Well, if we added up all the birds killed by man's technical advances, who
would the number one killer of birds be?
Mar 1, 2007 2:31 PM
james jonhs :
TNR is nonsense. Colonies never go away . Cats are fueled up by feeding.
Mortality on cats is reduced dramatiically, colonies attract more people
releasng cats and " rescuing cats " from shelters The
"cat nutters" fraudulently adopt all the cats they can and
release them to the cat colonies/ranches. Every bit of scientific research
done indicates TNR is propaganda. The old smart ferals never get trapped
and enjoy all the food for making kittens. TNR is designed get the
"cat nutters" viewed as the good guys. They are not and they are
organized, aggressive and politically active. They are being paid in some
juristictions (Florida KEYS)for gasoline and cat food. Cat
populations are exploding. Cat nutters are winning, kiss your wildlife
goodbye to say nothing of the huge public health hazard these tick and flea
covered cats are cauusing. Feral cats are meat eating "rats that say
meow" from a human disease transmission perspective,.
Mar 6, 2007 9:58 AM
Rosemary Drisdelle :
You've made a number of comments that I agree with wholeheartedly - there
is no question that many human activities kill millions of birds: cell
phone towers, chemicals, habitat destruction, airplanes, tall buildings,
wind farms, automobiles, fishing practices, the list goes on and on. It's not true, however, that nature created cats to keep things in check.
Domestic cats are a species created by humans and then released into the
wild without the usual balances provided by a healthy ecosystem. They are
an invasive species that puts serious pressure not only on birds, but on a
number of other species. We need to address the issue of feral cats just as
we need to address the other things that threaten native species. I
like cats too. I have one in fact - and I'd like to see all domestic cats
in safe comfortable caring homes where they do not threaten birds or any
other species.
Mar 6, 2007 10:17 AM
Rosemary Drisdelle :
I would be immensely interested in receiving references to solid scientific
publications that conclude that TNR causes an increase in feral cats, or
that the eradication approach has worked anywhere except on islands. Readers might be interested in visiting the AFCAT site at
http://www.cvm.tamu.edu/afcat/index.htm, a TNR program affiliated with a
university and a veterinary school. This program has succeeded in vastly
reducing the numbers of feral cats on the university campus and the website
shows 1 year and 5 year data for the program. A resource list is also
provided.
Feb 9, 2008 10:46 AM
james jonhs :
Feral Cat Population Explosion in Suffolk County, New York - A Threat to
the Public Health, Pets and Wildlife. by W.Giebel, B.S. M.A.
Introduction
Based upon repeated field observations in Suffolk
County , I have observed that the feral cat population is expanding at an
alarming rate. Feral cats represent a significant health hazard to
the communities in which they are found as they are vectors for a host of
diseases transmitted to the human population. These diseases include rabies
and toxoplasmosis. Feral cats destroy native wildlife species. Misguided people feeding, ranching and otherwise subsidizing these cats
are a large part of the problem.
Rabies
Feral cats are a nonnative species. Feral
cats are not wildlife. This species of cat is thought to have originally
come from Africa.
Rabies is a fatal disease in humans. Feral
cats on Long Island routinely interact with Long Island's raccoon
populations at natural food sources, human garbage/food supplies and
feeding stations set up by feral cat support groups. Long Island's raccoon
population is currently carrying rabies. seventy one rabid raccoons have
been discovered in Suffolk County since 2004. Feral cats are known to carry
rabies.
"Raccoon rabies entered the New York State in the
1990's. A total of 57,000 specimens were sent to New York State Laboratory
from 1993-1998. Sixteen percent of the animals were rabid. Over eighteen
thousand persons received post exposure treatment for rabies during this
period at a cost between $1000-4200 per person. 13.9 million dollars was
spent state wide on rabies control/prevention activities. Reported animal
rabies cases in the United States have increased dramatically since 1990 in
association with raccoon rabies epizootic in the mid-Atlantic and
northeastern states. In 1991, New York State accounted for 14% of all
reported rabid animals in the U.S. An estimated 16,000-39,000 persons /year
are receiving post exposure treatment for rabies annually in the U.S.
(http://www.medscape.comPublic - Health impact of reemergence of
rabies in New York. 2002). The United States spends approximately 560
million dollars annually in rabies control and prevention. (
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs/099/en/)
Developing
nations suffer tens of thousands of deaths annually from rabies. Asia
suffers approximately 31,000 and Africa approximately 24,000 annually. The
reason the United States avoids similar or greater numbers of
Feb 12, 2008 5:23 AM
Rosemary Drisdelle :
Dear James50
That last post is full of useful information and
statistics. It's well written and takes a very rational approach. Thank
you. I'm a little concerned, however, that posting it here might be a
breach of the author's copyright (I assume this isn't your writing?). Let
me know the source and whether you had permission to copy it, or if the
work is in the public domain - otherwise, with great regret, I'll have to
delete it. Thanks again for your contributions.
Feb 13, 2008 5:05 PM
james jonhs :
The feral cat paper is a compilation of previously published data and the
author encourages publication as a public service.
Feb 14, 2008 4:16 AM
Rosemary Drisdelle :
In a personal email to me, W. Geibel wrote: "you have my
permission to publish the paper . I wrote the paper as we are dealing with
a rash of cat ranching here in Suffolk County ( eastern Long Island) One
ranch has been positioned in a wildlife sanctuary containing endangered and
threatened bird species which are being destroyed. This behavior and the
logic supporting TNR is Orwellian . Thank you W. Giebel"
Many thanks again to James and to W. Geibel.
Many
readers will find the paper a bit long, especially for an internet format,
however it's well worth staying to the end. This is the most professional
and informed summary of the issue I've seen to date.
What do you
think about locating a feral cat colony in a wildlife sanctuary that is
home to threatened and endangered bird species? It seems utterly insane to
me.
Rosemary Drisdelle
Apr 27, 2008 7:40 PM
catlover2 :
I have a neighbor who is a cat nutter, and agree with you completely. The Allies/TNR people would have you believe that these cats aren't
seriously affecting the bird population. Oh, please. Cats left out will
hunt, and I've seen the dead birds, particular next door where the
TNR/Allies nutter keeps full bird feeders where the feral/stray cats she
feeds get killed. I can't enjoy feeding the birds anymore, with the
strays wandering about.
The Allies/TNR people have managed to
apparently argue away the danger or brainwash their volunteers into feeling
okay about setting up multiple BIRD FEEDERS where they also feed the CATS.
Common sense is discarded!
The neighbor has been a pain to live
near since becoming a cat collector, with yelling all night to get the
strays to come feed, with the attracted strays meaning my own pets are in
danger or teased by her TNR cats, and I'm not sure I appreciate how my
backyard has become her cat's litterbox.
Feral cats are cute,
and I like cats, and think cats should be neutered or spayed, and would
rather they be neutered or spayed than let otherwise, but people who want
to take of cats should adopt them, not send them back out as strays. It is
cruel to leave them outside that way and they kill the other animals.
Aug 23, 2008 11:16 PM
Guest :
I have a neighbor who is feeding feral cats across the street from my
place.They took over my property! It was a colony of 20+ cats.feral cats
don't always bury their feces,in fact the tom cats leave it to mark their
territory.The also spray their home turf (every corner of my
house,garage,front door,front porch,tree,mailbox,you name it,they spray
it). I spoke with her,and she acted as if it were none of my business
that the cats had over run my place and that my property wreaked of tom cat
urine. I found a solution.Animal Control brought out a Humane trap and
we found out what she was feeding the cats.Then baited the traps with that
very food. I bought 4 more traps and set up a feeding station of my
own.I would feed them for 5-6 days,then remove the food and start
trapping.I got rid of 20+ cats withing 3 weeks and still continue to trap
strays that come into my yard.I don't feed them now,the main colony is
gone,but I still set out traps a few times a week. The animal control
officers and I are on a first name basis. So the cat feeders still
(Illegally)feed the cats,but they don't last long.When they show up at my
house,they are trapped and taken away by Animal Control. That's the real
solution.
Aug 26, 2008 1:36 PM
Guest :
some poeple say cats turn eye colour then kill ther victum is it true or
not cause its making them not like cats cause of stories
Sep 11, 2008 7:26 AM
Guest :
shoot em all
Oct 9, 2008 6:49 PM
Guest :
cats are coool
HAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAAHHAHAA LOL
Oct 14, 2008 10:06 AM
Guest :
Bob
Cats are my friend
Jan 9, 2009 7:58 AM
Guest :
I love cats
Jan 25, 2009 8:35 AM
Guest :
I HATE cats. They come into my yard (over 7 ft fence) and kill MY birds.
I am sick of it and plan to do something about it. I don't care if YOU
have cats, just make sure they don't show up on MY property.
Dec 27, 2006
