Feral Cats

"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." (George Orwell, Animal Farm)

Usually when someone references Animal Farm, they are talking about politics. After all, Animal Farm was a political work first and foremost. However, in this case, like with my entry about pit bulls, I am meaning that quote to be taken literally.

One of PETA's arguments against eating meat and using animals in experiments is to remind us that we wouldn't treat our pets that way. Well, would we euthanize our pets for no reason? Well, PETA seems to think that we should be euthanizing feral cats. Here is what AskCarla.com says about the issue:

We believe that trap, vaccinate, spay/neuter, and release programs are acceptable when the cats are isolated from roads, people, and other animals who could harm them; regularly attended to by people who not only feed them but care for their medical needs; and situated in an area where they do not have access to wildlife and where the weather is temperate.

Here is AskCarla.com's arument for euthanizing feral cats:

Sadly, our experience with trap, spay-and-neuter, and release programs and "managed" feral cat colonies has led us to question whether or not these programs are truly in the cats’ best interests. We receive countless reports of incidents in which cats—"managed" or not—suffer and die horrible deaths because they must fend for themselves outdoors. Having witnessed firsthand the gruesome things that can happen to feral cats, we cannot in good conscience advocate trapping and releasing as a humane way to deal with overpopulation.

Advocates argue that feral cats are just as deserving as other felines and that it is our responsibility to alleviate their suffering and assure their safety. We absolutely agree. It is precisely because we would never encourage anyone to let their own cats outdoors to roam that we do not encourage the same for feral cats. In fact, the act of releasing a feral cat is, in the eyes of the law, abandonment and is illegal in many areas.

We believe that although altering feral cats prevents the suffering of future generations, it does little to improve the quality of life for the cats who are left outdoors and that allowing feral cats to continue their daily struggle for survival in a hostile environment is not usually a humane option.

So, because feral cats have to fend for themselves outdoors and they can get run over by cars, we should euthanize them? Well, let's euthanize raccoons, then. Of all the animals I've seen dead or dying in the road, I've seen more raccoons than anything else. Plus, they are notorious for carrying rabies. So let's kill them. Oh, and let's likk all the deer, too. They can get hit by cars, too.

As for their problem with Trap-Neuter-Return programs, the Feral Cat Network tells a different story:

The empirical evidence is indisputable that TNR is the most effective way to help reduce the number of homeless feral cats in both urban and suburban areas. For example, in Hamilton, New Jersey, TNR has resulted in Township health department statistics showing that the number of homeless cats killed last year is less than 20 percent of the 571 cats put to death in Hamilton five years ago. Numbers also indicate that fewer strays are brought to the shelter each year. Township spokesperson Rich McClellan attributed the decreasing number of cats killed in shelters to the work of TNR caregivers. Gwyn Sondike, who for the past year has served on a NJ state task force appointed by Gov. James E. McGreevey to examine animal welfare, stated: "It's actually more expensive to have animal control officers go out and find these cats and have them euthanized than it is to have members of these (cat welfare) groups trap, neuter and release them." According to Lucinda Tucker, who operates the TNR plan, trapping and killing a cat can cost a township between $75 and $125, while TNR costs about $50 and is paid for by volunteer organizations.

Hmm... TNR is more cost-effective and it actually works. Here is what the Feral Cat Network had to say about trapping and killing:

Traditional, agency-run attempts to trap and kill cats have historically resulted in greater numbers -- and greater suffering for that reason alone -- of stray animals, than have well-planned systems to trap, neuter, and return cats. TNR, in conjunction with public education and low-cost spay/neuter clinics, stabilizes numbers and facilitates the eventual elimination of colonies of homeless cats.

The Feral Cat Network also lists the erroneous arguments supporting euthanization and presents the facts on their webpage. It's worth a look.

Anyhow, back to PETA. I would like to know how the same group that decries the fact that we kill animals in an attempt to control their populations and their effect on local ecosystems could possibly advocate ki
lling animals that pose no real threat to the ecosystem. If it's okay to euthanize feral cats, then shouldn't it be okay to hunt seals in Canada? They aren't threatened, and they pose a threat to the ecosystem there. They are competing with polar bears for resources, and, without human intervention, the bears would lose. How about deer hunting? In my area, the deer are reproducing out of control. Should we not hunt these deer, even though they will destroy the ecosystem? Of course, PETA will say that they shouldn't be hunted, but, after knowing about their policy concerning feral cats, how could anyone really believe that they honestly care about animals? How the fuck could anyone take these douchebags serously?