Yes, there are two sides to every story, and it is important to be able to have information from both sides. Ms. Cherkassky's letter to the editor in the July 8 issue of the Delta County Independent brought important information about feral cat management and songbird numbers to light and her thoughts do inspire additional thought as to whether Trap-Neuter-Return is a good idea or not in the management of feral cat colonies. Feral cats do factor into declining song and other bird populations, as does the number one cause of declining numbers, HUMANS, through chemical contamination and encroachment on natural habitat, not to mention the bb guns and slingshots which also take their toll. It should not be forgotten that birds are also carriers of many diseases which can affect humans, such as West Nile Virus and E. coli. Foxes, raccoons, hawks, eagles, mink, bobcats, cougars, bears and several other natural predators also play a role in the declining numbers of song and other birds.

Taking away the food does not make the feral cat colonies disappear, it simply makes them move to a different food source (maybe even songbirds for lunch), in search of sustenance, and allows them to reproduce and create more bird-killing offspring. There are positive aspects of feral cats, a couple of examples are that they help keep the rodent population under control, particularly around restaurants and park areas, and for many people provide a feeling of self worth they may not find in other facets of their life, in the overseeing of the animals. If they are properly managed, they are not reproducing, which is a major factor in the management process, and is especially important in reducing the number of songbirds killed by roaming predators, such as feral cats. They are much less likely to meet the cruel deaths mentioned in Ms. Cherkassky's letter if they are a part of a managed community and at least have a chance at becoming a positive factor in the community. With proper TNR, the colony will disappear through natural processes over a few years, as the cats become domesticated and find permanent homes, wander to other areas, age, or die from various causes, yes, some of which are trauma and disease, just like a housecat might experience.

What I read between the lines of her letter, but she wouldn't put in black and white, is that Ms. Cherkassky's solution to the feral cat problem would be to trap and euthanize (KILL) the feral cats... the same thing she doesn't want them doing to their NATURAL prey, birds. The City of Delta has taken a proactive position in passing their ordinance and should be congratulated. They are using less of the taxpayers money to try to eliminate a problem that is not going away, and they are taking a humane approach to make the miserable lives of the street cats better and less of a nuisance to the neighborhoods where they reside. Through a colony management plan, city officials can locate the pockets of feral colonies, begin tracking more accurate numbers, so they know how many and where the biggest problems are, and can have a record of vaccinations, so if a conflict between a feral cat and a human should occur, they will know when and if the cat had been vaccinated for rabies, saving the human involved the painful process of rabies treatment, often unsuccessful anyway. They are also not depleting an already minimal animal control budget (our taxes) on the capture, maintenance and eventual euthanasia of unowned cats. The ordinance provides an efficient tool for city government and residents to work together to put funds and manpower to better use for other critical needs.

If you want to learn more about feral cat management, TNR and the positive side of the effort to manage the feral cat problem, there are several websites that provide examples of communities where the program has worked effectively to reduce and manage the numbers of feral cats. Visit these websites for more information on the positive effects of feral cat management and TNR: www.kittico.org, alleycat.org., hsus.org.

Simi LaBoca

Feral Cat Advocate and Wildlife Rescue Volunteer Cory

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There are many human-related causes of bird mortality, cats included.
written by Linda Cherkassky , July 23, 2009

Simi,

Habitat loss is the biggest threat to wild birds, however, in some cases, cat predation may supersede habitat loss as a primary threat to birds' survival.

Due to a combination of their opportunistic predatory behavior and their occurrence in numbers exponentially higher than native predators, cats can wipe out bird populations from otherwise suitable habitat. Cats also have impact on birds through competition with native predators such as raptors, and through the harboring and transmission of diseases to birds and other wildlife. In addition to direct mortality, cats may also cause stress responses in birds that result in reductions in breeding success or survival.

Predation by native predators is natural. This serves ecological balance and adds to biodiversity. Cats do not add to biodiversity - they deplete it.

Yes, of course, wild birds carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans. However, people tend to come to the aid of cats and kittens and often there are approachable cats and kittens at managed cat colonies, as well as wild animals that also eat the food. This is cause for concern.

Cat removal involves removing the cats and the food, not just the food. And, removal does not always have to result in euthanasia. Many of these cats, including adults, can be socialized and adopted or rehomed or given sanctuary. Colonies can be fenced in.

Using cats as mousers is similar to using pesticides - many non-targeted species are affected. See here:

http://tnrrealitycheck.com/barn_cats.asp

Further, this study shows that the number of non-native rodents increased at cat colonies, native rodents decreased, and birds were also affected:

http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/adjunct/snr0704/snr07042l.pdf

People can find joy and purpose in their lives and care for animals in a multitude of different ways that do NOT impact native wildlife or public health or infringe on property rights or involve the re-abandonment of feral cats. Many find TNR to be self-indulgent and come at the expense of so many other things.

If TNR affected millions of cats rather than thousands or even hundreds of thousands, then a dent would be made. As is, TNR is a Band-aid for a gushing wound.

TNR will never help wildlife. Why? The cats are always there, and feeding them in no way lessens their motivation to hunt. Colonies are perpetually maintained. New cats simply replace old ones. Neighborhood cats find the food source. Irresponsible pet owners dump cats at managed colonies. Even colony caregivers relocate cats into existing colonies. Wildlife does not get a break.

To quote a wildlife rehabilitator in the NY Times:

"People who wouldn’t dream of taking a shotgun and blasting a bird out of a tree let their cats outside, which accomplishes the exact same thing but in a slower and more horrifying way. The cat doesn’t need to tear the bird to pieces, either: one tiny nick will of a cat’s claw or tooth will subject the bird to enough bacteria to kill it, only it will take the bird one or two days to die. If the bird is a single parent feeding nestlings, they will all starve to death."

Add to this an estimated 60 to 100 million feral cats roaming the country.

If you have a study that shows colony elimination through natural attrition "over a few years", please log on and provide a reference.

Any cat that evades capture in TNR is not only fed, but also better able to breed and remains unvaccinated. Cats are rarely re-trapped for subsequent vaccinations. The cost of rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is generally more than $1,000. This could place an excessive financial burden on public-health departments and insurance providers.

Public health and welfare should be the priority.

Linda

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