Trap, Neuter, and Release: Bad for Cats, Disaster for Birds

[XemaSab]

Each year free-roaming and feral cats kill hundreds of million of birds in the United States http://www.abcbirds.org/abcprograms/policy/cats/index.html. One controversial solution to deal with the feral cat problem is trap, neuter and release. However, evidence is growing that this method is not eliminating the cat colonies or the predation of birds and other wildlife. There are other problems created by feral cats as well including threats to human health, and public nuisance issues. For more information see American Bird Conservancy's website at http://www.abcbirds.org


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kejgi3p6-9E

[aquart]

1. There is nothing controversial about neuter and release.

It's humane. I'm sorry that the circle of life is lost on you, but cats eat meat. As do quite a few birds. And every damn thing eats krill.

You'd better worry about the krill, not the cats.

[Javaman]

7. +1 nt

[sinkingfeeling]

10. +2

[XemaSab]

11. Are you a biologist?

As a biologist, I think I understand the circle of life quite well. I think I also understand that cats are a non-native invasive species that have led to the extinction of dozens of bird species worldwide.

Native predators to not drive their prey to extinction.

[ashling]

13. The OP also talked about

"other problems created by feral cats as well including threats to human health, and public nuisance issues"
that the "circle of life" doesn't address.

[ashling]

2. Perhaps this should be tried on Republicans

:shrug:

[newfie11]

5. LOLOLOLOl nt

[Warren Stupidity]

3. huh? Over time it will decrease the feral population.

So it is arguably 'bad for cats', but a long term win for birds. Of course feral cats are only a small part of the problem. Perhaps that is what your rather uninformative post meant? Yes a successful education effort to convince people to keep their domestic cats indoors would be a huge help.

[XemaSab]

12. Did you watch the video?

There is no proof that TNR reduces the size of feral colonies in most cases.

[Warren Stupidity]

14. immaculate birth?

[Gman]

4. Cats are predators

While feral cats are a nuisance, nature needs predators to keep populations in balance.

[GliderGuider]

6. I understand that feral cats eat many more rodents than birds.

I don't like the idea of cats (feral or domesticated) hunting songbirds either, but they are useful for keeping rodent populations in check.

[Ready4Change]

8. I agree/disagree with their suggestions.

Clearly they are positioned to protect birds and view cats solely as a threat. Their proposed solution to feral cats is to trap them, then keep them in enclosures, adopt them out, or euthanize them. The way our world works, with animal control resources always being poorly financed, that will revolve down to simply trap-euthanize. The world is chock full of adoptable, hand raised kittens/cats. Few people will prefer a semi-wild used to be feral kitten/cat. And, with tight funds, creating enough enclosures for all the ferals out there just isn't feasible.

I like TNR, in concept at least. We have a couple of regular furred visitors to our back door, one of whom has a clipped ear we think indicates it's been TNRed. They hang out around our bird feeders, but seem much more intent on our (plentiful) population of moles, mice and chipmunks. Whenever we put out bird seed we have no lack of feathered customers.

[OKIsItJustMe]

9. I know a few people at least who practice BNA - Befriend Neuter Adopt

These people will slowly befriend a cat, bring them into their cat-loving homes, have then spayed or neutered, and then offer them up for adoption.

[stuntcat]

15. that's a lot better than IIC

Ignore-Ignore-Complain, what everyone in my neighborhood would do.
I had three young female cats TNR'ed. I knew from the start all that was wrong about it, cats just should not be out there. I wish I knew who their mother belonged to, who was caring for her, or their grandmother kitty, however far up it would go, because it is someone's else fault these girls were born. But they started coming to my yard because I always have water out for the birds and squirrels.
At first I trapped one and took it to the shelter, where they put it to sleep. I know that's not painful (I think) and definitely much better than the life they'd have trying to make babies in this neighborhood. But after having that cat killed I just wanted to leave them all alone, or let someone else take care of it. But that wasn't happening, I was the only one gonna do anything with them. Someone else down the hill was feeding them but they weren't gonna have them fixed or take them to the shelter. So I t-n-r'ed three girls. Now my neighbors to the left will always hold it against me. And I hated to have to do it, I mean I knew what's wrong with it, and also it cost me $300.
Now I've re-trapped two of the girls and brought them inside, never to go back out. One of them won't let us touch her but one has taken over the bed at night, and they both used the litter box right away. So now there's one more out there that I'm responsible for, and I know if I let my neighbors catch me alone for a second they'll complain to me about their cherished little #6,999,999,999 and #7,000,000,000 picking up a cat poo and putting it in their mouths :eyes:

anyway I fully understand everyone's problems with trn'ing, and I'll never forget that beautiful scared cat I had put to sleep. Now I feel better about my 3 girls because it's been over a year since I got them fixed and there were no new cats this year! The one I haven't brought in is really pretty and I think someone down the hill takes care of her now.. maybe whoever was feeding their mother? who probably died.
Luckily there's no colony of cats here, I'm afraid there would have been if these three girls had all had litters though!