Friday, March 20, 2009

Crowd asks city to deal with ferals

The Yuma City Council obviously hasn't heard the last word on feral cats, judging by the people who packed Wednesday night's meeting to share their thoughts on the subject during the call to the public.

Since the topic wasn't on the meeting's agenda, council members by law couldn't respond. But they did get an earful from residents who appealed to the city to come up with a way to control the cat population.

"We're willing to do our part," said Norman Weingart, a resident of Magnolia Village. In the past, residents have trapped the cats but no longer can afford to since the Humane Society of Yuma began charging $20 for each cat brought in, he said.

Weingart suggested government is partly to blame for the exploding feral cat population by restricting the only two natural enemies of the cats: making it illegal for humans to kill the cats and passing dog leash laws.

Feral cats have now become not only a nuisance for residents but also a potential health hazard, he said. And they're preying on birds and small rodents that bring pleasure and keep down potentially hazardous insects.

"I hope - insist - you find a way to fix the problem," he said.

15 comments:

Frankster said...

I am absolutely appalled by Norman Weingart's suggestion which inplies that the government should make it okay for humans and dogs to kill cats.

"Cat preying on birds and small rodents that bring pleasure and keep down potentially hazardous insects." How about the mice, rats, moles, voles, gophers and insects that cats keep in check?

Check out news article "Removing cats to protect birds backfires on island" at http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090113/ap_on_re_au_an/as_australia_rabbit_infestation_1 and see why killing one species for another does not work.

TNR works. It would keep down the feral cat population. Let's stop looking at all of our problems as "kill them" and work together to "save them" -- both feral cats AND birds. There's enough killing going on in the world.

Bird Advocate said...

What Norman Weingart says is the government has made the other controls illegal. Few people want to have to control cats, but it must be done in a responsible fashion. Sustaining cat colonies in our fragile ecosystem is not being responsible!
Australia's environment has been so messed up by both feral cats and feral rabbits it may never be fixed. The only way to fix it is take both out of their ecosystem. Neither belongs there!
TNR is a feel good method that benefits cat enablers only! It enables cats, a domestic animal not suited to the wild to continue preying on our natural fauna while being killed by cars, dogs, and cat haters.

Frankster said...

I reread the comments made by Weingart ready to apologize for misunderstanding the post, however, it says, "Weingart suggested government is partly to blame for the exploding feral cat population by restricting the only two natural enemies of the cats: making it illegal for humans to kill the cats and passing dog leash laws."

There is no other way to read this. Either the article was written in error or Winehart said this. Shrug. Either way, I stand by stop the killing.

The article I mentioned was only 1 example used because it is so blatant. Now, what do you think will happoen if they kill both the rabbits and the cats? What other part of the ecosystem will be sent out-of-wack?

In rural America, where I live, many outdoor cats (many ferals) are barn cats to help control the mice, rats, moles, voles, and gopher populations.

Many come from feral colonies where they were Trapped and Neutered then placed in barn homes -- the 1st choice of no-kill advocates. The farmers and other rural folks appreciate this especially after they lose their cat after a few months and come looking for another 1 or 2. This is another way that TNR programs reduce populations - they don't Retrun them, instead they Release them where they are wanted and cared for by someone (fed, given shots, taken to vet when sick, etc.)

Bird Advocate said...

"Now, what do you think will happoen if they kill both the rabbits and the cats? What other part of the ecosystem will be sent out-of-wack?"

The ecosystem will return to the normal balance it had before cats and rabbits were introduced, of course!

"In rural America, where I live, many outdoor cats (many ferals) are barn cats to help control the mice, rats, moles, voles, and gopher populations."

Yes, and this is done at the expense of America's natural predators! The cats are being fed and can unnaturally compete with our eagles, hawks, owls, snakes, foxes, bobcats, weasels, martens, raccoons, possums, and others. This throws our ecosystem further out of balance!

Bird Advocate said...

Frankster, your profile says you are an animal lover, but it also says you frequent a cat forum. You seem to be an intelligent person, so I am going to ask you to please study the issues on this blog and make your own decisions whether Trap, Neuter, Abandon most benefits our wildlife, the cats, or the egos of the feral cat enablers.

Frankster said...

Yes, I am an animal lover and that includes birds. I have been reading this excellent blog and dozens of other blogs and articles over the past several years. I research, read or write about cats daily especially the feral cat problem. I have a website that I invite you to check out: www.squidoo.com/saveferalcats. It was created in hopes of educating people about TNR -- which is only 1 part of the solution of feral cats -- and open a dialog.

It sounds like we both want the same thing: save the birds (and for me feral cats). Where we differ is in how we do that.

Humans created the problem by throwing out unwanted cats and by not neutering their cats. TNR is NOT the full answer. It is only 1 step. Here is my suggested 7 step program:

(1) Educate people about spay/neuter (start with kids).
(2) Have low-cost and free spay/neuter programs.
(3) Relocate feral cat colonies that are near endangered birds.
(4) Run TNR programs and allow caregivers to take care of the feral cat colonies with TNR, feeding, and medical care -- people ARE willing to do that. Let them.
(5) Educate people to keep cats indoors.
(6) Make and enforce laws that punish people for abandoning animals.
(7) Make and enforce laws that make spay/neutering mandatory.

Humans caused the problem and now humans want to do what we tend to do best as a solution: Kill the problem (cats).

My proposed 7 step program is not an overnight fix. But, killing the cats is not either.

I'd love to find a way for us to work together to find solutions to save both the birds and cats. Are you willing to work with me on this and if so, how would you suggest we start?

Bird Advocate said...

"Yes, I am an animal lover and that includes birds. I have been reading this excellent blog and dozens of other blogs and articles over the past several years. I research, read or write about cats daily especially the feral cat problem. I have a website that I invite you to check out: www.squidoo.com/saveferalcats. It was created in hopes of educating people about TNR -- which is only 1 part of the solution of feral cats -- and open a dialog.

It sounds like we both want the same thing: save the birds (and for me feral cats). Where we differ is in how we do that.

Humans created the problem by throwing out unwanted cats and by not neutering their cats. TNR is NOT the full answer. It is only 1 step. Here is my suggested 7 step program:

(1) Educate people about spay/neuter (start with kids).
(2) Have low-cost and free spay/neuter programs.
(3) Relocate feral cat colonies that are near endangered birds."



You just lost me! I was with you up to there. Everywhere in America is near endangered native birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles, and most birds are migratory to one extent or another. When you abandon one cat (domestic animal) outside anywhere you are showing you prefer their "freedom" over the lives of our native fauna!


"(4) Run TNR programs and allow caregivers to take care of the feral cat colonies with TNR, feeding, and medical care -- people ARE willing to do that. Let them."


No way! They're abandoning domestic animals, endangering our wildlife, and breaking Federal laws!


"(5) Educate people to keep cats indoors.
(6) Make and enforce laws that punish people for abandoning animals."



Yes, especially the Trap, Neuter, Abandon cats by the colony crowd!


"(7) Make and enforce laws that make spay/neutering mandatory.

Humans caused the problem and now humans want to do what we tend to do best as a solution: Kill the problem (cats).

My proposed 7 step program is not an overnight fix. But, killing the cats is not either."



Then confine them! Abandoning domestic animals is unethical, immoral, and unlawful especially when they are destroying our ecology and invading others property.


"I'd love to find a way for us to work together to find solutions to save both the birds and cats. Are you willing to work with me on this and if so, how would you suggest we start?"


I suggest you consider adding one more step to your plan. Confine your destructive alien domestic animals and stop breaking the law by enabling them to destroy our wildlife!

Bird Advocate said...

I accepted your invitation to visit your site and I see you are the Poster Child of Feral Cat Enablers. I will also say you delude yourself and lie to others when you say you love animals! How many hundreds of thousands of wild animals have you enabled your feral cats to murder?

Anonymous said...

The ignorance about feral cats is appalling. The Audubon Society disputes the nonsense about feral cats saying they are not the real problem. What makes you think that a bird's life is more valuable than any other species? Think about what you write before you show your complete ignorance. I love birds too but I also like feral cats. God created them both so they are good. Check out both sides of the issue before you advocate such a disturbing policy. You better hope there is never a bug that is endangered that your birds kill or they will be in the hot spot so to speak.

Bird Advocate said...

The ignorance about feral cats is appalling. The Audubon Society disputes the nonsense about feral cats saying they are not the real problem.

Show me a source for that and my membership and support for them will end now! I think we have another enabler on the blog!

What makes you think that a bird's life is more valuable than any other species? Think about what you write before you show your complete ignorance. I love birds too but I also like feral cats. God created them both so they are good.

That is not true. Man created the domestic cat from one of nature's creations. What makes me value the birds more? They evolved here, and because of your enabling them your cats are making them extinct!

Check out both sides of the issue before you advocate such a disturbing policy. You better hope there is never a bug that is endangered that your birds kill or they will be in the hot spot so to speak.

It disturbs you that I want you to keep a destructive domesticated alien predator indoors? You are pathetic!

Frankster said...

I'm appalled at your vicious response to my offer to work together to save both birds and cats. You obviously only want to kill cats.

I won't bother you again. Instead, I'll seek more open-minded and caring bird lovers (I'm one of those too) as I believe that the only way to solve this problem is a combined effort on all our parts.

Bird Advocate said...

The Audubon State of the Birds I see doesn't point fingers anywhere.

Bird Advocate said...

I'm appalled at your vicious response to my offer to work together to save both birds and cats. You obviously only want to kill cats.

I am appalled at your refusal to add just one step to your plan! Confine your vicious "fur babies" and stop enabling their murder of our wildlife!

I won't bother you again. Instead, I'll seek more open-minded and caring bird lovers (I'm one of those too) as I believe that the only way to solve this problem is a combined effort on all our parts.

You're one of us, too? I hardly think so! By the way you haven't yet shared with us how your abandoning destructive domestic animals is not unethical, immoral, and unlawful! How do you sleep at night and look at yourself in the mirror without seeing the bodies of half-eaten native animals?

Anonymous said...

You're absolutely right, Bird Advocate! If a cat is outside, it deserves to die. And while we're at it, let's remove all the glass from our windows, because that is estimated to kill twice as many birds per year as cats do.

Bird Advocate said...

You're absolutely right, Bird Advocate! If a cat is outside, it deserves to die.

Sarcastic, are we? Show us one moral and ethical reason your domestic cats should be outside killing our wildlife, Cat Enabler!

"And while we're at it, let's remove all the glass from our windows, because that is estimated to kill twice as many birds per year as cats do."

Your fur baby "experts" may tell you that. There are ways to minimize window loss, too. The experts I read say cats are second only to habitat loss.