Endangered Birds Versus Feral Cats In New Jersey
When a cat kills a bird, there typically isn’t a town-wide controversy when it occurs.
A New Jersey seaside town, Cape May, is dealing with a heated cat versus bird situation. But this isn’t just any other bird. The bird that is being affected is the piping plover.
This endangered bird is a sand-colored, sparrow-sized shorebird that nests and feeds along coastal sand and gravel beaches. The piping plovers breed on East Coast beaches during warm weather. Their predators include foxes, gulls, raccoons and cats. These birds have closed beaches, stopped development projects and even stopped a fireworks display in Maine to protect their habitat.
There are only 115 piping plovers in New Jersey and their declining numbers are being blamed on roaming feral cats in the area. Due to the endangered status of the piping plovers, the federal government may step in to help on the behalf of the birds. Cat lovers are worried that cats found roaming will be euthanized to save the piping plovers. On other hand, bird lovers are afraid that if nothing is done, this rare bird will become extinct.
Also, Cape May is one of the prime bird-watching spots in North America. The World Series of Birding is held here annually. Since the bird watching industry brings in about $2 billion a year to New Jersey’s economy, the piping plovers may win this battle.
Cape May residents are also divided over the issue.
“I think the cats are more of a nuisance than anything else,” said resident Bill Schemel. “They’re killing endangered birds that belong out here. Cats are not part of the natural environment. They’re here because someone’s cat had a litter and they dumped them out in the woods.”
“This is a very emotional issue; this really is a cat town,” said resident Pat Peckham. “I think they should leave the cats where they are. I’m a firm believer in letting nature take its course.”
The Fish and Wildlife Service is analyzing this cat versus bird situation in this seaside town. Some of their recommendations include requiring cats to be licensed, prohibit roaming cats and abandoning cats, and prohibit feeding any wildlife including feral cats.
For the past 12 years, Cape May has tried to keep the cat population in check with their trap, neuter and release program. Except in May, a fire destroyed the facility where the local animal rescue group kept the feral cats. A replacement place has not been found yet, so fewer cats have been picked up. And this means more cats that can possibly affect the well-being of the piping plover.
Eric Stiles, vice president of the New Jersey Audubon Society, says that it doesn’t have to be cats versus birds. It can be cats and birds. He is working on a program to satisfy both bird and cat lovers. The program would include bird and cat advocacy groups working together to find the locations of the piping plovers and the feral cat colonies. Cats near piping plover habitats could be relocated, while others that are further away could stay undisturbed.
Source: Washington Post
August 6th, 2007 at 11:38 am
It would be absolutely criminal to euthanize the cats to save a bunch of birds, even if the birds are endangered. Hopefully groups like Alley Cat Allies will step in prevent this from happening and offer humane alternatives. I think if this town starts killing the cats to suck up to a bunch of nerdy bird watchers and try to woo their tourist dollars, it would be absolutely despicable.
August 6th, 2007 at 12:22 pm
So it is okay for a bunch of birds to die? That is nice.
According the FWS (http://www.fws.gov/northeast/pipingplover/overview.html) there are only 1800 pairs of Piping Plovers on the Atlantic coast. Even the loss of a few pairs can be devastating to the population. Wouldn’t it be a shame to lose a species of bird simply because humans couldn’t control their pet populations?
This is a human problem, not a bird problem, not a cat problem. The city has failed to protect the native species from an intruding species. The city has also failed to control its feral cat poplulation.
I hope Cape May does come up with a viable solution that doesn’t involve any dying.
August 6th, 2007 at 1:56 pm
How sure are people that the problem is due to feral cats? Or even cats, period?
You have a bird that nests on the beach. Foxes, raccoons, gulls are listed as predators in addition to cats. It wouldn’t surprise us to find out rats, mice, squirrels and many other animals and birds also munched on plover eggs and young.
To paraphrase Homer Simpson: You sure God doesn’t want these birds extinct?
August 6th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
Feral cats are not a part of the natural eco-system. They are an invasive species.
August 6th, 2007 at 2:19 pm
I am beginning to lose hope in humanity. I am always stunned when people think it is just fine for a species to die out. With that kind of reasoning, everything, including ourselves will soon be extinct. Why protect anything.
August 6th, 2007 at 3:09 pm
So, Bridgett, the kneejerk advocation of killing all feral cats by these environmental groups to “save” some endangered species is fine by you? You think it’s ok for man to intervene with lethal measures against a group of animals to save an endangered species, right? Suppose there is an endangered cockroach that cats sometimes hunt…should all feral cats in an area be killed to save those roaches? You hope viable humane means will be discovered to spare both the cats and endangered birds…well that would be great. But that is never really what city officials do…they will not make the effort. Whenever a population of birds, insects, rodents etc…becomes endangered, city officials always choose to make the feral cats the scapegoat, in spite of the fact that it is usually human encroachment, various predatory species other than cats, hunters, climate change, disease or various other non- cat related causes that are to blame. And this city isn’t planning on killing the cats to save the endangered birds for the birds’ sakes…all they care about is their tourist dollars. If you’re so concerned about endangered species, speak out against the true culprits…hunters, unrestrained development, etc….instead of defending the position of those who are complaining about the cats.
August 6th, 2007 at 4:08 pm
Please read all of my posts before assuming my position on an issue. Like I said, I hope the city will come to a viable solution that doesn’t involve killing anything.
August 6th, 2007 at 6:46 pm
It makes me angry that people drop off their pets in the country or anywhere. I am a cat lover and hate to see anything happen to any of them. but.. when we have cats in the wild like that they tend to repopulate very quickly till there are just too many of them. Too many to get food, etc. and then they get diseased and carry viruses and things to our domestic cats. Our pets! This has to stop somehow.
I am really not a bird lover, but I feel the birds have a right to live too. Birds can over populate an area as well as cats and other animals. Anytime any species becomes over populated it is a danger to other animals, plants, etc.
To be honest the cats should not be there. The sad part is that many are wild and will not be domesticated. Some of the young may though. I feel they should have a chance.
I think that people that drop off cats in the wild and dogs too should be fined badly or even jailed. It is truly their fault that these poor animals have to suffer.
Just because I am not a bird lover does not give me the right to take away another persons joy of watching them. They have rights too.
I also wonder whether the cats were killing off these birds. The poor wild cats usually get the blame for so many things. Hunters feel they eat bird eggs and shoot them on sight. A cat can’t suck a bird egg like a hunter things. Their jaw is attached to the top of their head so they cannot suck. A dog can though. I have had more then one of my cats shot by hunters.
August 6th, 2007 at 8:35 pm
as a proud ‘owner’ of two feral cats- who were recued from their feral mom as part of a NTR program-i was made aware of this situation months ago and signed the alley cats petition.
neuter trap and spay programs are the most humane, effective manner to curb the feral cat population- saving both the cats and any alleged threat to the bird population. afterall, the feral cat problem is a human created situation as is the threat to the nesting grounds of the sorts of birds who nest on the beach. human encrouchment on beach nesting grounds probably is more of a threat to the birds then cats-it’s just convenient to blame the poor cats than the humans who are itching to build their dream house on the beach or to drag their familites en masse to the dunes and sand for summer recreation. blame the cats, kill the cats and set up that volley ball net…typical misplacement of blame by selfish humans on the voiceless and defenceless.
i thank the goddess for the feral cat peeps everywhere- they find homes for the cats who can be socialized( like my 2 still coming out of their feral shell ladies), fix and release those who cannot live in homes and feed them so they don’t have to dumpster dive or eat cute birdies. these people are cleaning up a mess left by other ignorant irresponsible humans-a job that when carried out by the animal control people usually means a policy of strict euthanization. the loss of the trailer was a big blow to what was becoming a very effective program that protected both the cats and the birds.
http://www.alleycat.org/
you can read up on the cape an program in cape may and sign the petition if you are so inclined.there is plenty of information on ntr programs .
August 7th, 2007 at 11:57 am
High Note, personally I think a cat’s right to live outweighs a person’s right to “watch birds”. Once again, humans putting their whims and fancies above all else.
August 7th, 2007 at 12:19 pm
What part of invasive species don’t you get?
Cats are not part of the natural ecosystem. I trap and turn in ANY feral cats on my property to protect my own cats, which are indoors. I can easily bring in any disease on my shoes or hands. DUH!!!!!
Cats’ rights? What about endangered species rights to live safely and procreate.
Face it people, there are too many cats out there killing too many other things. It is a human problem and humans should solve it by whatever means necessary to protect the creatures that SHOULD be there… Not cats OBVIOUSLY.
August 7th, 2007 at 1:48 pm
Of course, there is the question of how you define an ‘invasive species’. Animals and plants have expanded their range whenever and where ever possible for as long as the the earth has existed. That Bridgett, Gindy and others disapprove will not change that.
August 7th, 2007 at 6:29 pm
Gindy, as far as I’m concerned…it’s people like you who are the invasive species. You obviously are responsible for the deaths of many cats…haven’t you ever heard of trap-neuter-return?
August 7th, 2007 at 6:31 pm
i see no proof that humans aren’t the more the ‘invasive species’-causing far more damage then the cats . human building on shorelines causes more PROVABLE damage to the ecosystem then a freakin feral cat. our shorelines are endangered as it is and it’s not the fault of cats. sometimes its humans- sometimes it’s mother nature-storms eating away at shorelines and damaging the nesting sites.
western europeans aren’t exactly native to america and i don’t see hoards of caucasians pitching themseleves in the drink or slitting their wrists to save the pristine natural native environment. but we have no compunction about killing a bunch of cats we dumped at the beach because theyre more ‘unnatural’ then plovers in our smug little hieracrchy of man named ‘natural’ species. the fact is the most destructive force against nature is humans who always find it convenient to shift the blame and continue on their unnatural predatory ways.
August 7th, 2007 at 6:34 pm
I totally agree with you, Mittens.
August 7th, 2007 at 6:35 pm
Please read:
http://www.abcbirds.org/cats/NFWF.pdf
August 7th, 2007 at 6:38 pm
And Please don’t think I don’t like cats. I have 3 of the monsters and have had cats all my life. To say I love cats is a mild understatement.
August 7th, 2007 at 7:01 pm
That report is not objective, Bridgett…none of these “studies” are. They are put out by groups trying to get their particular point and view across. I do agree that the feral cat populations should be managed humanely but I feel that it must never be managed by lethal means. That, to me, is as unethical as killing a bunch of innocent humans because of human overpopulation. That’s just how I feel…I know there are those who are “humans first” who will be outraged at that comparison but it’s not going to change my mind. Cats should be indoor cats for their own protection…there’s just too many hazards for them out there. However, due to human irresponsibility, there are now feral cat colonies whose ancestors had the misfortune to be owned by irresponsible and careless owners. It is therefore a problem caused by HUMANS, and as a result, humans have an obligation to these cats to treat them humanely and fairly and to respect their right to exist.
August 7th, 2007 at 7:19 pm
Wescott20,
I agree with you. The problem is most definitely human caused. And I know feral cats are not the only reason these birds are dying out. Habitat loss and development play just as large a role in this as the cats. No doubt pet cats who are allowed outside are also hunting these birds. As usual, it is the innocents, both the cats and the birds, who are being harmed by human arrogance and lack of concern.
I don’t support euthansia either. Another method needs to be found. Adopt out the kittens, neuter/spay the adults who can’t be socialized and move them. Whatever it takes. Enough cats die in this country every year.
August 7th, 2007 at 7:49 pm
That’s true, Bridgett. The best solution would be one that spares the lives of the birds and the cats. Hopefully, groups like Alley Cat Allies and Alley Cat Rescue will be successful in convincing the city officials to use nonlethal methods…there are many available such as the ones you described and they have excellent success rates. I think the problem lies in the laziness of the city officials….they don’t want to take the extra effort to implement alternative strategies…that’s really where my frustration lies…with the officials who don’t respect the cats’ right to live enough to expend the effort needed to spare them and come up with a win-win solution. Hopefully the cat lovers of this town will convince them to adopt life saving strategies…they could consult with any feral cat advocacy group on how to do this.
August 7th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
It is odd how the city just let the situation go after the loss of the building considering how supposedly precious these little birds are to them. Of course, the group who was taking care of the ferals was probably all volunteers and those groups are always strapped for cash. I hope they come up with a solution quickly.
I am going to go home, hug my cats and hang out another bird feeder.
August 8th, 2007 at 10:59 am
Let’s get things straight, It’s because of all you bleeding hearts out there for cats is why we have a problem in the first place!! I have lived in North Cape May for over 40 years and have seen the Trap, neuter, and release program fail horribly. Look at what has happened at the lower township park, If the avarage life span of a cat is 8 to 12 years then why has cats been there over 20 and the population keeps growing. I’ll tell you why, because people know there unwanted cats will be taken care of if they drop them off there. Thats why there is a problem! The other problem is that these cats are using the beach as one big litter box. I cannot take my child down there with out stepping or smelling cat fecas or cat spray. It’s disgusting. Now, “here goes from you cat lovers” Dogs litter the beach too. Yes you are right, but there is a law that the dogs must be on a leash, and you must clean up after you dog or you will be fined. Let me also clarify something for you, in lower township there are 12 pages of laws on the books for dogs, but only 3 sentences in the same book for cats! Yes it’s true, I have been to the township on this issue. Lets look at another issue, I have a neighbor who has been feeding these stray and feral cats for years, none of these cats have been fixed, vaccinated, and do nothing but procreate. A cat is a natural born killer, no matter how well it is feed. Another example of this is the neighbor I spoke of before feeds these cats daily, but I still see the cats carrying squirrles, birds, and rodents almost daily. Now not to mention the also what else does these cats have, ticks fleas, parisites, desease, etc… I have dogs and mine are in to see the vet every six months. Are these cats? I don’t these animals in my yard. Lets face the facts, Cats do not belong roaming free, they were never wild animals and you cannot and will not control the population with out euthinasia. This problem has exploded all over the country, from Key West to San francisco. And to the very ignorant person who said above, leave the cats alone and let mother nature take it’s course, Think very hard, those birds were here thousands of years before the cats were. That’s nature! Cats were brought here, that’s not. And finally, If there were dog colonies or stray dogs running loose, it would be these cat lovers wanting to eliminate them as fast as possible. And in my personall opinion, any one who is that infatuated with these feral cats needs some help!!! there cats not kids. Get a life!
August 8th, 2007 at 11:33 am
Dave, thanks for your eyewitness account of what is happening. What has the township proposed to do to fix the problem?
August 8th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
Thank Eric Stiles of the New Jersey Audubon Society for considering solutions beyond euthanizing the feral cat population, he is the first person from an audubon group I’ve ever heard of that hasn’t been opposed to feral cats.
To Bridgett, I’ve worked within the feral cat community for a number of years and count on my fingers the number of cities that have considered any other option other than euthanizaing feral cats as a means of population control. It’s a shame too because statistics point to the fact that trap, neuter, returns programs save valuable tax dollars that could be used to offer affordable spay/neuter programs for folks that would be good homes for pets but that can’t afford skyrocketing veterinary costs.
Two notes I’d like to make, yes, more severe punishment for abandoning pets would be welcome; but it’s extremely difficult to enforce or catch the culprits. The other point, many here have referred to Alley Cat Allies, a wonderful group with many humane alternatives, and a board member whose written a few books on the subject (Ellen Perry Berkeley, Maverick Cats, TNR Past Present and Future). I don’t have it in front of me to quote precisely, but in Maverick Cats I remember her quoting a study done I believe by a fellow in England who did a study of the contents of an extraordinary number of feral cats. Bird contents 3%. Birds take more effort for a feral cat to catch. And if a colony is managed, cared for and fed they will be much less likely to kill any prey.
August 8th, 2007 at 2:16 pm
Good neighbors spay and neuter their pets, be a good neighbor!
August 8th, 2007 at 3:20 pm
I was talking to a woman who works with NM Animal Friends, a local animal rescue group. Recently Albuquerque adopted a mandatory spay/neuter law. I asked her if more pets were being surrendered since the law had been enacted. Interestingly, she said “No”. She said they had been receiving more calls about the low cost spay and neuter programs the city is now offering. Cool! People will take advantage of these programs if they are offered.
As a bird lover/watcher, I don’t want these birds wiped out. As a cat lover, I don’t want to see these cats euthanized. Since I live in NM, I really can’t do anything to protect those cats or those birds. But I can protect the environment that I am in. So my cats are totally indoor cats, they are spayed and neutered. I clean up after my dog on our walks. I watch birds and donate to Audobon when I can.
But how do we teach these principles to people who don’t care? That is my frustration.
August 8th, 2007 at 3:41 pm
BTW, if you thinks birders are nerds, take a risk and tag along with a group from Hawks Aloft or Hawk Watch International when they are banding. When the volunteers are banding hawks, they will bring the hawks out for the public to see and sometimes release. That is right, you can hold and release a wild hawk. Talk about a breath-taking experience. One of my first was a Peregrine Falcon.
August 9th, 2007 at 8:08 am
Bridgett, The township refuses to do anything about the problem. As a matter of fact there is a shelter in Cape May county that is paid for by tax payer money soley because of the problem. We have all these idiots crying to the polititions and they cave in. The usual, nobody wants to take a stand. I do but I’m only one voice. I would much rather see the birds then these dam cats. The shelter I’m refering to most likey has 2000+ feral and strays in it, There all stuck in small cages and will never be adopted. What kind of a life is that for the animal? Jane speaks of getting homes for these cats, Have you ever tried to handle a cat that is feral? You’ll get your arm torn off. These cats are not going to be reinstituted into a home. My next problem is, Who is going to pay for all this! I don’t own a cat so why sould my hard earned tax money go for some dam feral cats!. I can give you pages and pages of research of the problems feral cats play on the enviroment and the eco system. Can anyone give me one positive thing these cats are good for…….Oh! I’ve heard this one, they help with the rodents, “Guess what” so don’t snakes, foxes, hawks, owls, and other various wild life. If you do your research, many countries and states are now dealing with this problem, Austraila has had several bird species wiped out because of this! All because of ignorant people who don’t want to put the animal down. I have relatives in Wisconsin, it got so bad up there they wanted an open season on feral cats. So what are we to do?? keep letting the population explode. Fact! In a few years time, one female can produce, incuding her offspring 50,000+ young. Again as I said above, who is going to pay for this! If all those bleeding hearts want to do some good, put all the cats in there houses, I’ll bet that won’t happen. If you are a responsible cat owner, thats great and I have nothing against your cat. but as far as ferals I feel we should follow Wisconsin.
August 9th, 2007 at 9:25 am
I forgot to add a comment for Mittens, She reffered to people building there dream home on the beach, well here’s some news! I am active duty Coast Guard and I work very closely with the natural resourses and wild life in the states of New Jersey and Virginia. The beaches are closed where they nest during nesting season for the piping plovers and other various shore birds. You cannot so much as walk on some beaches. Assateague island in Virginia closes several miles of ther beach, get caught on it and get a BIG fine! Parts of New Jersey closes theirs as well. The park rangers even build cages around nests with tops on them so gulls won’t eat the eggs. Suprise, the cats have tunneled under to get to the chicks! Mittens also speaks about mother natures storms and beach erosion, Yes “but that is mother nature” and you have no control over that, If you look and read, every year, BILLIONS are put back in to save our beaches that storms have destroyed. Thats something we can fix and the birds will nest again!, add the equasion of a feral hungry natural killer and you decrease there chances of survival tremendously considering the bird only has a couple chicks a year. As I said before,Regardless of how well your cat or any cat is feed, It still wants to kill! Its instinct. And as I said before, Cats are not part of the natural population, they were put here by man so should we just let them take over? Thats how all of you feral cat lovers sound, colonies, cat farms, habitats. Good God! Do some good for the enviroment if you really want to do somthing. Saving cats sure as hell isn’t.
August 9th, 2007 at 11:48 am
My parents are dealing with something similar but on a mini-scale. My parents are working very hard at attracting birds to their yard. They have tons of feeders out and water drippers. A neighbor of theirs, who ironically is a veterinarian tech and so should know better, lets her 4 cats out everyday. These 4 cats are decimating the quail population in the area. They have killed off the chicks of several coveys that used to come through the area.
That proves your point, Dave, and I believe you because I have seen it myself; no matter how well fed the cat, it will still hunt.
My dad, a cat lover too, is about to take strong measures. He has talked to the neighbor and she refuses to control her cats. She won’t even put bells on their collars.
I am going to do some further research on this. I hate to think the only alternative to this problem is imprisonment of these cats for the rest of their lives. That isn’t a life.
August 9th, 2007 at 12:29 pm
Of course, we humans are really the ones to blame for this problem.
August 9th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
Bridgett, I am currently stationed at a Coast Guard facility that is mostly a wild life sancuary. I have another sad story about this issue, When I came here there were 39 free roaming cats on this base because people that lived close by were feeding them and felt sorry for them, now there are none! I’ll explain. This area is a natural haven for migratory ducks and other various birds, I have witnessed on many, many occasions of feral cats pouncing on the baby ducklings and ripping them to shreads, them carrying them as a prize. on one afternoon last summer I watched two ferals kill all 11 of a mothers chicks before I could get to them because they were on the other side of the fence. I had had enough! I went out and bought two have a heart traps and called the SPCA and informed them of what I was doing. They said fine, but when you catch them, call them and they will pick them up. All of those cats were so aggresive thay had to be handled with long thick leather gloves. Here is the other spectrum, two tested rabid….These cats were also using our recreation areas as their bathrooms, our volley ball court had so much fecas in it, after the cats were gone it took forever to get the crap out. You could not play in bare feet! Our horseshoe pits were a big toilet, Imagine throwing a horseshoe and picking up a handfull of cat feces. I cannot and will tolerate that! The fact is you can never adjust what mother nature is going to do, but I can adjust the feral cat population and will continue to do so legally.
August 9th, 2007 at 1:45 pm
That has also been my experience with feral cats. They aren’t healthy. Every one I have ever seen has been riddled with disease and parasites. It is a huge expense to give these cats practical health care.
From what I have been reading so far, TNR (trap, neuter, release) programs really only work if you have a large community involvement, not small groups of dedicated volunteers. You need massive support and donations from the public to maintain cat sanctuaries and healthcare programs for these kitties.
August 9th, 2007 at 2:12 pm
Bridgett, I have spoke with the local animal control personell and out of 100 to 150 cats that come in, “maybe” 1 can be reformed into a household if gotten early. Again, I’m sure there will be people reading these comments and saying, “he just hates cats” That is not at all true! I’m more angry with the people who are so ignorant to the fact that this is a serious, dangerous problem and a health issue. I have friends who have cats and visit them often, and there cat is a strictly indoor cat. when they take him outside it’s on a leash. one cat has such a personality he acts almost human. BUT its still an animal, People forget that. I could never in my wildest dreams understand what people are thinking when they even consider TNR, Thats giving a free pass for any one who wants to dump a cat the opportunity to do so and it will be cared for. If you go to New Jersey or Virginia,”I can only speak for these states” they have signs that say, abandoning any domestic animal will be subject to fine and inprisionment! Some please tell me how many people you know have gone to jail or done time for this, NO ONE! I still haven’t heard from the rest of the peanut gallery above but I’m sure it’s coming. All I have to say is I have facts! I have witnessed the trouble, and I will be glad to give you all the sources of information that support what I’m saying. You know we have a problem when national geographic gets involved! Yes look it up! Type in at google, feral cats and national geographic. I don’t have the site handy or I would have put it in.
August 9th, 2007 at 2:14 pm
Bridgett, I have spoke with the local animal control personell and out of 100 to 150 cats that come in, “maybe” 1 can be reformed into a household if gotten early. Again, I’m sure there will be people reading these comments and saying, “he just hates cats” That is not at all true! I’m more angry with the people who are so ignorant to the fact that this is a serious, dangerous problem and a health issue. I have friends who have cats and visit them often, and there cat is a strictly indoor cat. when they take him outside it’s on a leash. one cat has such a personality he acts almost human. BUT its still an animal, People forget that. I could never in my wildest dreams understand what people are thinking when they even consider TNR, Thats giving a free pass for any one who wants to dump a cat the opportunity to do so and it will be cared for. If you go to New Jersey or Virginia,”I can only speak for these states” they have signs that say, abandoning any domestic animal will be subject to fine and inprisionment! Some please tell me how many people you know have gone to jail or have been fined for this, NO ONE! I still haven’t heard from the rest of the peanut gallery above but I’m sure it’s coming. All I have to say is I have facts! I have witnessed the trouble, and I will be glad to give you all the sources of information that support what I’m saying. You know we have a problem when national geographic gets involved! Yes look it up! Type in at google, feral cats and national geographic. I don’t have the site handy or I would have put it in.
August 9th, 2007 at 6:32 pm
Remember, we came here to Itchmo! out of concern for our pets. They are more than pets to us. They are family members. Mine certainly are. We don’t want cats or dogs to suffer. The desire comes from the strong bond and appreciation for the amazing animals that share our homes. That is why we volunteer at shelters and foster (I have done that) cats and dogs. We want all of them to find homes and those that can’t we want to have as normal a life as they can.
This is where ‘quality of life’ comes into play though. I am sure I will get into big trouble for this. But in my mind, it is better for these cats to be euthanized than spending the rest of their lives in a small, sunless cages. That is cruelty in itself.
August 9th, 2007 at 7:11 pm
Bridgett, Very well said! People believe that keeping these cats alive, your doing them a favor. As you said before they have to have a very dedicated amount of volunteers to keep them healthy and happy. There is just not enough money, time, people,or resources to deal with this issue and you would be a fool to think there is. I can tell you first hand how devistated I was to put an old dog I had down, he lost his use of his back quarters and was dragging himself over the house. He still had plenty of spirit and fight left in him, but I realized this was not a quality of life for a Lab who needed to run and play with the kids. I was destroyed but I knew it had to be done. These cats have no quality of life! And what has happened is they became a parisite of society and now tax payers are footing the bill, not to mention the impact on “natural” wildlife. Just think if we all started letting Boa Constrictors loose, people would be going bezerk, but a cute, fuzzy, little kitten, nobody thinks of that impact. Times that by about 90 million in the states alone and look at the trouble!! and yes it’s a serious problem! I have many friends who are vets, animal welfare workers and friends who deal with this on a daily basis and most of them feel the same as I. But to a cat lover your talking to deaf ears, and they can’t see the forest through the trees. I’m glad to see someone who is a cat owner understands. The trouble is most of these people chose to ignore it and think it will go away. Wake up call, Its not! Have a nice day!
August 10th, 2007 at 3:22 pm
Following are two National Geographic links I found:
Short caption with photo quoting resounding success in feral #s in Key Largo program: http://magma.nationalgeographi.....zoom4.html
Article about the negative impact growing feral cat population has had on wildlife and public health: http://news.nationalgeographic.....lcats.html
There is no one answer, there are many solutions. Bridgett is correct, it has to be a community effort, prevention (spay/neuter), enforcement and management of a TNR program. And I dare say that your tax dollars will go farther with a TNR program than the time it takes for animal control to round-up the population and gas them, and as long as there is a food source they will keep coming back! You can find numbers that work for the pros or the cons. And to clarify “home”, Dave, it doesn’t have to be inside, nor does it have to be a cage. I built a 300SF arbor-like enclosure in my back yard for a small colony I cared for behind a store for years and moved them there. My one indoor/out pet cat stays in the back yard, we’re in the city, and already have enough free roaming neighbor cats. Check out Best Friends Sanctuary in Utah.
August 10th, 2007 at 5:25 pm
Hello Jane, I just have a few questions for you if I may. First, Why does one even want to take on the task of saving/having so many cats?? Is this healthy? you say you built a arbor and had these cats in it, what quality of life is that? Every one of these cats had to urinate and deficate daily, how could you possibly keep up with that? Next, The last time I looked cat food was not free! Did you pay for all of this? If you did you are truly a saint for the cats. I’ll give you a senario that I watched over about a 15 year time frame. Where I live is mostly tourism and when people came down for the summer they also wouls bring there pets. As sure as I’m writting this, at the end of the summer about 10 to 12 cats or maybe more would show up at this little park near the delaware bay in New Jersey. An elderly gentelman started feeding them on a daily bases so over the years the cats had more cats and etc….. Finally the local humane socitey “tried” to TNR. Some got put back some were euthanized some were never caught. The park that once was nice for a picnic or a barbeque now has tarps over tables for shelter, food cans everywhere, water containers everywhere, make shift house made out of plywood, and not to mention it stinks terribly. To add insult to injury the elderly man who was taking care of the cats just recently passed away. It seems there is a scattered few taking care of them. Now what really burns me is “this is a public place” but the cat lovers have raised such a fuss about the cat colony that it is left alone. I beg to differ with you on the TNR saving money, there is just no way! I’ll sum it up for you. Trap set, cat caught, taken to SPCA or humane socity, euthinasia, about $5.00 a shot, cat gone to land fill. about $10.00 a cat. Now, TNR, catch cat, fix, feed, shots, wormed, quarinteened till fit to socialize, release, repeat process yearly. Thats just one cat, estimate, $100.00 to $150.00. These figures are very close because I have looked very closely at the process and asked several animal welfare workers on this issue. How can you say it payes in the long run, just not possible. How much money did it cost you to build your arbor? I know thats not free. So I ask again, WHY????… Isn’t one cat or two enough? And you also said as Bridgett, it has to be a community effort. Why? I didn’t put them there, why should I be obligated for some cats I could care less about? Why should it be a burden on the tax payers? If you have positive answeres to these questions, I’d love to here them. And lastly as I said before, What is the POSITIVE thing about keeping these cats around, Just give me one!
August 10th, 2007 at 6:33 pm
Dave, we can’t fault Jane and others like her who choose to spend their time and money taking care of these cats. If we have more people like her maybe these cats wouldn’t be an issue and we wouldn’t have to consider euthanasia as a viable option.
Converting a public park into a sactuary is not reasonable however. That is what creates the anti-cat sentiment. It isn’t fair to the public.
Making it a community effort doesn’t necessarily involve the cats. It could be putting up nesting boxes or fences around beaches to help protect the birds.
August 10th, 2007 at 7:09 pm
http://www.environment.gov.au/.....index.html
Bridgett, I do not fault Jane for her efforts and she can surely spend her money any way she chooses to, but were not talking about 20 or 30 cats here, were talking about 90+ million nation wide. Also on your comment about putting nest boxes out or fences, Theres hundreds and hundreds of miles of shore line. This is where we started, to protect the birds. Who will pay for that? Read about some issues that happend in Aulstralia, the link is above on this paragraph. I’ll be glad to send you some more. I’ll send them out all together.
August 10th, 2007 at 7:45 pm
Heres four for a small start,
www.audubon.org/local/cn/98march/cats.html
www.cdri.org/discovery/feral%20cats.html
www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dofaw/cats/index.html
www.thepetcenter.com/imtop/speaker3.html
August 15th, 2007 at 9:42 am
http://www.napa.ufl.edu/2003news/feralcat.htm
Read this, this is a current study in Florida. I think it speaks for itself!
August 16th, 2007 at 3:43 pm
Hope you get this, been too busy to reply. First I mentioned before, there are articles and studies and numbers that “work” for both our sides. But to address a few of your issues:
- the cats that populated that beach shoud’ve been spayed and neutered to begin with
- the people feeding the cats should pick up their trash
- the four cats in my outdoor enclosure are obviously happy, two became quite friendly, and we change the environment regularly to avoid boredom
- the arbor was a beautiful addition to our deck & screen porch and garden and I scoop both a regular litter box and natural one about every other day
- community involvement means volunteerism, less tax dollars
- laws require holding a “stray” for a period of time in case they are a lost pet, just because a cat may act wild in a trap or be part of a colony doesn’t mean it wasn’t someone’s pet. This costs money, as does the (sometimes enormous) amount of time it can take to trap some cats.
- never heard of sometime keeping a feral long enough to socialize it when it’s going to be returned
- Boy Scouts and similar organizations can build nice feeding stations and shelters, or pick up stupid people’s trash
- Benefits: Remember the bubonic plague? There has been fear of reoccurrence in third world countries where they eat many cats; and has benefited my health, at 50 I look 35, 5′6″, 125 lb., strong, fit and 120/79 blood pressure :-)
- OH, and one or two cats are enough, but since there are so many irresponsible pet owners and I have the ability to help, I do. I won’t be taking in any more, I know my limits, but I’ll be trapping and releasing as long as I’m able!
August 16th, 2007 at 3:50 pm
To late for correction, last line:
Trapping, neutering, vaccinating and releasing!
August 16th, 2007 at 5:15 pm
In recent years and in other areas of your coastline where there isn’t a feral cat problem to blame it on, the population of the piping plover has also been decimated, mainly due to the use of off-road vehicles. The deep tracks left in the sand were causing chicks to get trapped, unable to climb out of the 6 inch deep steep sided trench and then run over.
Many other species of birds are also suffering due to road vehicles, there are far more birds killed this way than by the feral cat population.
My point is, no one was saying “Off road vehicle drivers must be caught and euthanised and all off road vehicles within 3 miles of the beach should be destroyed…”
It might sound like a ridiculous comparison, but then again, so is comparing a cat to a boa constrictor….
August 17th, 2007 at 10:51 am
Blade, I happen to have one of those off-road vehicles and fish the beaches when I can. “ALL” the beaches are closed to off road traffic when the birds are in nesting! Where did you get your information from? It is federally mandated to do so. Show me some facts! If you do not believe feral cats are a problem, open the links I have supplied. Jane again, I admire your willingness to give up your time to help these cats, and yes people are extremely irresponsible, but I have seen first hand the TNR program does not work. What you said above about people volunteering, this would take a enourmous amount of people to control what has got way out of hand. And Blade, your right no one is saying we should euthanize off road vehicle drivers, thats because they are following the law! and as far as comparing cats to boa constrictors, cats eat daily, boas only eat about one a month! no comparison there. Maybe you should open the links I have provided and get educated, then tell me we dont have a problem.
August 17th, 2007 at 11:24 am
Blade, one other comment I forgot, my beach licenses in two states, fishing license and other fees add up to about $400.00 per year and that goes directly to the depatrment of fish game and wildlife, These fees are paid so we can preserve mother nature and the wild life. Feral cats on the other hand are not wild life but mearly destroyers of it!
August 17th, 2007 at 5:03 pm
Dave, if you read what I said again properly, you’ll see that I said “in OTHER AREAS of your coastline where there ISN’T a feral cat problem”…i.e NOT your area. I didn’t say that you did not have feral cat problem.
There are some facts on one of those areas here:
http://www.endangeredspeciesha.....tions5.php
August 17th, 2007 at 5:25 pm
Sorry, when I said “your coastline” I was meaning your coastline in the USA, with me speaking as UK resident. I didn’t mean your own personal coastline, Dave. I realise that was confusing.
These wildlife problems are have always been created by man interfering with species in one way or another, somewhere along the line. Then the solution always seems to be to kill something to resolve it.
Cats were domesticated by humans thousands of years ago for their own benefit, to keep the rodents out of the grain stores. So they interfered there and moved them around the world to places where they weren’t native and ended up with a problem. The solution (as long as there’s a scapegoat to blame the problem on other than a human)…kill it, kill it, kill it….it’s always been the same, too much arrogance and not enough intelligence.
There are scientific studies to show that TNR does work.
August 19th, 2007 at 8:34 am
Blade, My apologies. I “was” thinking you were in the United States! I do see your point, but I as I said above just what are we going to do with 90+ million feral cats. I’ll put it in this perspective, If you had one or two ants in your house, it would not be a big deal, but if you had 90 million that would be a tad different. I do understand the fact that man has encrouched on our wild life areas and over here there is alot being done to stop this. I am in the military stationed on a small island and the island is infested with feral and stays. and it isn’t just the coast line, it’s the wooded areas, the housing areas, and even if you wanted to catch some of these cats it would be very difficult. These cats are also contributing to the death of our wild life problem. My research on this problem has shown that almost EVERY state here has a problem. I do understand your feelings but as I said in the past comments, what do we do??? People have been using the TNR for years but it has had “NO” affect on controling the population, if anything the population has exploded. TNR may work in certain areas where the population is minimul and natural forces also aid in control, so why does the cat population still continue to rise?
August 19th, 2007 at 6:54 pm
Addressing the root cause is the only answer to the cat over population problem. You can trap cats and take them be killed, every week or every day for all eternity but they will be always return as long as there are irresponsible people out there that aren’t spaying and neutering their cats. That may sit well with some people but to anyone with an ounce of humanity it does not.
TNR IS successful but is a long term commitment and it needs everybody in the community who has cats to participate in there own way. Those who think it’s OK to let their pet cat “just have one litter” are major culprits here - in just a few months time, that litter will be reproducing too.
I know that this does not solve the immediate problems facing your Piping Plover but their decline has not just popped up overnight - there was evidence to show widespread decline of these birds way back in 1985.
The major cause of this was the birds losing their natural habitat - it’s the same with most species of birds that are on the decline and are now endangered. But with the piping plover, as always, it’s been allowed to get to ‘crisis point’ and a ‘quick fix’ is needed to make everyone feel better and that they’re doing something to help these birds. It’s too little too late!
Cat people - PLEASE get your cats spayed and neutered for THEIR sakes as well as the birds and the cat-haters!
THOUSANDS of cats are being put to death everyday because there are simply TOO MANY! Why add to this death toll?
Cat proof fencing does exist, by the way. Unless they are Super-Cat, they cannot tunnel beneath it as has to be set beneath ground level to a depth of at least 12 inches.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:59 am
Blade, First I would like to say, you must think I have no humanity. On the contrary, I’m a God fearing individual and have quite a love for all animals. “BUT” you must remember, these are animals, not kids or people. Sure nobody likes to see anything put to death but is it fair to keep them alive, fending for food, getting desease, ticks, fleas, possibly rabies, ear mites, cat cough, feline lukemia, and possibly spreading these things to other animals. I truly understand some people see these cats as worth saving but your only compounding the problem that exists. Your right people are irresponsible!!! and will always be, “think of this” If people knew that by releasing a cat into socitey it will be euthinized, maybe people will think twice before doing so. And as I said many paragraphs back, If you have a cat and take care of it, I have no problem what so ever with you or the cat. But these free roaming cats are a parisite any way you look at it. It costs every one enormous amounts of money that is not needed to be spent. Our efforts should be concentrated on helping human needs, cancer research, child illness, etc… not on a bunch of cats that do nothing but eat, crap, kill and reproduce.
August 23rd, 2007 at 9:03 am
To all, after a visit to the local community park that I have mentioned in the above passages I feel compelled to write this, the feral cat lovers have struck again!!! This AM after taking my dog for a walk I counted two maybe more kittens! This is exactly why the population will never diminish. And what will be done about it? “NOTHING” !!!… Because all the bleeding hearts will say, Leave them alone, there not hurting anything. This has been going on for at least 20 years here, and I know a cat does not live that long! I counted at least nine adults and saw two kittens, I’m sure there are more. Here is a perfect example of whats going on not only in my town, but around the world! And you wonder why people like me are so upset with these people who “MUST” take care of these feral cats. I applaud those of you who take the correct responsibility and do the right thing. For the rest of you who think this is “no big deal”, YOU NEED YOUR HEAD EXAMINED!
March 6th, 2008 at 4:23 am
[…] May, New Jersey is one of North America’s prime bird-watching spots, and bird lovers have been trying to protect the endangered shore birds like the piping plover from feral cats on the beach. Cat advocates wanted to leave the cats at the […]