Domestic cats have no business being left outdoors to roam
By Lethbridge Herald on December 7, 2024.
Editor:
Re: Dale E. Finlay’s letter of Nov. 29:
First, let me say I have friends and relatives who have or have had barn cats, and several friends and my own family have adopted feral cats, so much of what follows is based on personal experience.
Do the duties of free-ranging cats include the yearly killing of millions of song birds in Canada alone, including endangered species?
How about chipmunks and immature cottontails?
The rats and mice mentioned may be carrying diseases and parasites for the cat to pick up; true for “gophers” (Richardson’s ground squirrels?) as well. They may also be easy to catch because they are full of poison. Free-ranging cats bring back fleas, chiggers, ticks and intestinal worms: Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever or Lyme Disease anyone?
On the other hand, loose cats provide prey for great horned owls, coyotes and cougars. Should I take comfort from the fact that raw cat excrement is alleged to be good fertilizer (highly debatable) when a cat turns my flower bed into its toilet and I have to deal with this while planting?
Does the scent of cat spray enhance the smell of my rose bushes? How many traffic accidents do loose cats cause, and how many are run over? Loose cats, especially males, fight and injure each other regularly.
The estimate of life expectancy generally quoted for cats that are let loose outdoors is half that for indoor cats, and I have seen various neighbours’ cats (some of whom I was quite attached to—this can be heartbreaking) die from infection, disease, vehicle impact, predation and poisoning (probably herbicides and pesticides, possibly poisoned mice). Loose cats can be kidnapped and sold as lab animals; and note the number of “missing cat” notices you see regularly.
Domestic cats are not a native free-ranging animal unless you live in North Africa; feral domestic cats are an invasive species (and nothing like bobcats). They aren’t made for -30°C.
Many loose cats are not spayed or neutered, hence the unmanageable overloading of animal services and cat adoption organizations, many of which can’t accept any cats at the moment (a problem Mr. Finlay neglects to mention). This is presumably why stray cats are being sent to Calgary from Lethbridge. Of course, in many places they are just euthanised.
Note that if a cat has a chip and the owner is identified by most civic animal services, a fine must be paid to retrieve the cat. My conclusion: if you love your cat and want to behave responsibly, keep it indoors. Veterinarians and animal rescuers I have talked to agree vehemently. Barn cats may be a different question (or a necessary evil).
John Black
Lethbridge
15-14
An excellent summation of the dangers resulting from free roaming felines. Toxoplasmosis, a serious condition in some people can be picked up from cat feces deposited in gardens , yet another reason to not let your cat roam.
The reference to poison contamination is also a reminder of the dangers of indiscriminate use of “vermin” control agents. Their use targets not only the target but many other animals in the food chain.