Well, it's a New England farm exhibit, and they have cats on farms, so when the zoo caught the stray, it seemed logical to put it on display since the enclosure was empty. I think that's the story anyway.
Me neither. I understand where jb is coming from and I agree that zoos should focus more on wild species and not domesticated animals but Beardsley is a small zoo and an exhibit like this is pretty vital to it. If it makes you feel better, the exhibit is also home to a porcupine, a raven, a pair of Snowy Owls, a trio of Barn Owls, Striped Newts, Brown Rats, a pair of Greater Rhea (until their new enclosure is built), an Eastern Snapping Turtle, several additional wild reptile species native to the state, a Great Horned Owl, several insect species, and a multitude of birds (mostly waterfowl but also some guineafowl) along with the domestics.
