They've done studies where established groups of cats which are killed create an artificial void with an extreme rebound effect. You just end up with more wild cats. The most effective method (which not unimportantly happens to be the most humane) is a systematic trap, spay/neuter, and release program. San Diego uses this method city wide and has great success. Here's a link to the feral cat network website which discusses San Diego among other things. There are better, more scientific, more objective websites out there that I've seen, I'm just too damn tired to look now. BTW, if a person killed one of my cats on purpose, out of malace, and I for sure who did it, I would kill them right back, as slowly and painfuly as I could possibly endure, and not feel a whim of regret afterwards. Ever. (I think my cats are proxies for the children I don't have, if that helps anybody understand).
They make hormonal repellants that signal nearby predators for many animals, cats included, but also snakes and possums, etc. Similarly, cats automatically use a litterbox as an instinct to mask their specific fecal odors from predators. BTW, cats like catnip because it contains a chemical: That stimulates a series of cognative centers which include some sexual activation centers.
Cats fight back http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050310/D88O47CG0.html BATES TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) - A man cooking in his kitchen was shot after one of his cats knocked his 9mm handgun onto the floor, discharging the weapon, Michigan State Police said. Joseph Stanton, 29, of Bates Township in Iron County, was shot in his lower torso around 6 p.m. Tuesday, the state police post in Iron River reported. He was transported to Iron County Community Hospital. Michelle Sand, a spokeswoman at the Iron River hospital, said Stanton was treated there before being transferred to Marquette General Hospital for further treatment. But Marcie Miller, a representative of the Marquette facility, said there was no record of the hospital receiving a patient by that name. A telephone message seeking comment was left Wednesday at Stanton's home. State police said he was cooking at his stove when the cat knocked the loaded gun off the kitchen counter behind him.
I think that depends on the species of cat. A former GF of mine has Maine Coons and they will roam for several blocks even though she lives in a city.
Don't let your cats out to roam free, they should have the same restrictions as dogs. I agree with the bill. DD
when wild cats roam free and breed they can become a nuisance. Can you imagine wild packs of dogs? now what about a huge population of cats that eat everything that moves in site. I dont know how I feel about shooting/killing cats.. how about using tranquilizer guns and capturing them. sounds like a win / win to me! J
What would be done with them after they are captured? If they are captured and they are feral then what could be done with them?
Release rabid cat hating dogs in the area to eat the cats. A more "natural" solution. Then shoot the dogs.
