Should New Zealand be rid of cats?

This is pretty old news, and died down a while back here. It was a big fuss at the time, mostly blown well out of proportion by the pro-cat people. Morgan suggested that people consider not replacing cats when they die, that efforts be made to keep them indoors, neuter, maybe a bell on the collar to warn potential prey, and that efforts be made to reduce feral cat numbers, and he put out some statistics on the numbers of wildlife they kill. However, he did use some ill advised and sensationalistic terms like "serial killers" - however, he's probably smart enough to have been doing so because he knew it would draw attention to the issue. On the whole, everything he was proposing makes perfect sense, but a very vocal group got up in arms as if he was raising a posse to come into people's houses and shoot their moggies.
 
as if he was raising a posse to come into people's houses and shoot their moggies.

That would get faster results.

The bell idea was a great idea in theory but it backfired big time. Scientific studies have shown cats with bells actually kill more than those without. The cat realises the bell makes a noise, so they move in a more stealthy manner to prevent it from ringing. As far as I'm concerned, the only bell that will stop a cat from catching wildlife is a church bell.

:p

Hix
 
That would be worthwhile if feral cats could be eradicated.

In Australia feral cats are so widespread and cunning they can not be eradicated. I shoot a lot of cats, but more keep coming. Our pet cats are also from kittens I find in the wild. Their behavior is quite wild and they love to play fight as I lose a bit of skin to them. They are the best mousers though.
 
Back
Top