Cats are Ruthless Killers. Should they be killed?
by Hannah Waters
published January 29, 2013 at ScientificAmerican.com
In a single year, cats in America alone kill an estimated 1.4 to 3.7 billion birds and 6.9 to 20.7 billion birds a year. They are regarded as a highly dangerous invasive species, devastating ecosystems. On island nations, they are responsible for about 14% of bird, mammal, and reptile extinction, while threatening about 8% of endangered species. Currently, many communities with large feral cat populations use a trap-neuter-release method of cat population control. This rests on the theory that if cats are unable to reproduce, than their population will decline, thereby protecting small mammal, reptile, and bird species. However, this method is ineffective, since a single female cat can have three litters of 4 to 6 cats every single year. In a response to this growing issue, Waters proposes the euthanasia of stray cats. Computer simulations have suggested that this would be highly effective at reducing the invasive predator populations. Waters claims that, "if we value biodiversity and wildlife and can manage to overcome our predilection for cute cat faces over cute bird faces, cat populations should be controlled through humane killing, just like many other invasive species." Animal rights organizations such as The Wildlife Society and PETA support the killing of stray cats to protect ecosystems.
This is a very interesting and controversial issue. On one hand, we don't want to kill adorable cats, but on the other, we do not want to upset fragile ecosystems or tolerate species extinctions. I must agree with the author though, the problem serious threatens ecosystems, as well as biodiversity in general. As Michael Hutchins, of The Wildlife Society says as, "we turn our backs on our native wildlife in favor of protection non-native predatory cats... [we] ignore the inconvenient truth about the morality they inflict." However, I think that preventative action should only occur in areas where the ecosystems are more fragile, like islands and more isolated locations, as well as when no suitable homes or shelters are available. In regard to domesticated, pet cats, I agree with Waters that they should be spayed or neutered and their owners should be aware of their hunting activities.
by Hannah Waters
published January 29, 2013 at ScientificAmerican.com
This is a very interesting and controversial issue. On one hand, we don't want to kill adorable cats, but on the other, we do not want to upset fragile ecosystems or tolerate species extinctions. I must agree with the author though, the problem serious threatens ecosystems, as well as biodiversity in general. As Michael Hutchins, of The Wildlife Society says as, "we turn our backs on our native wildlife in favor of protection non-native predatory cats... [we] ignore the inconvenient truth about the morality they inflict." However, I think that preventative action should only occur in areas where the ecosystems are more fragile, like islands and more isolated locations, as well as when no suitable homes or shelters are available. In regard to domesticated, pet cats, I agree with Waters that they should be spayed or neutered and their owners should be aware of their hunting activities.
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