Feral cats vs. birds debate continues

The neighbors' cat and I have an understanding. She doesn't hunt at my bird feeders when I can see her. But heaven only knows how many chickadees and cardinals she gets when I'm not home.

The beautiful calico is tiny by adult feline standards. Most of the time, she is adorable, unless, of course, she's looking at me with feathers sticking out both sides of her mouth. But I understand she's just doing what comes naturally to her species. She's a hunter who sees me as an impediment to following her instincts and doing her job.

But feral cats in the U.S., those that live in abandoned buildings, empty boxes and in tree trunks, are estimated to be in the tens of millions. Even if trapped, they can't be adopted to loving homes because of their fear of humans and antisocial behavior. Rescue groups in the U.S. are already inundated with homeless, loving and beautiful domestic cats, striving to give them some comfort until they can be adopted by a loving person.

The Humane Society of the United States claims that 4 million cats and dogs are euthanized in shelters each year. Spay and neuter programs are a proven way to reduce pet overpopulation, an abominable problem created in large part by humans. Many of them are feral cats that no one wants.

Trap/neuter/release is a method of humanely trapping feral cats, having them altered and returning them to the colony where they live out their lives. It is estimated that the life span of a feral cat is generally less than two years due to the conditions under which they live. Many times the program involves a caretaker who provides food and outdoor shelter.

Recently, the Stray Cat Alliance, an organization formed in California that supports trap/neuter/release (TNR) programs, has taken exception to an effort by the American Bird Conservancy to eliminate funding for TNR programs.

In October, the conservancy sent mayors of 50 large American cities a letter advising them of the threat "posed to birds and other wildlife in your city by feral and free-roaming cats."

In the letter, the conservancy claims "that outdoor cats, even well-fed ones, kill hundreds of millions of wild birds and other animals each year in the U.S., including endangered species."

The Stray Cat Alliance claims the letters are no more than a ploy by major bird organizations to erode public support for spay/neuter programs.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals endorses TNR as the only proven humane and effective method to manage feral cat colonies.

As more people lose their homes in a bad economy, the number of pets abandoned has escalated, according to Christi Metropole, founder and director at Stray Cat Alliance.

As an animal lover and a birder, I find myself perplexed by this situation. I believe TNR is the only way to stem the overpopulation and suffering of feral cats, but I don't want them killing the birds at my feeders, either.

---

---