Let me start off by saying I don't have much knowledge about caring for feral cats.
I caught the show DOC ZONE on CBC this past Saturday but in the middle of the segment on feral cats. Well, that is just a guess but the point at which I caught the show was talking about a trap & neuter program run by Alley Cats. First of all, I am amazed at the work that these people do. It costs them $1 million dollars a year to run the program and it's all by donation.
Then the show talked about the issue of feral cat colonies and how some people oppose caring for them. Some have shot these cats. Another issue in one area is that one lady feeds a colony of cats and another lady in the same area is upset because the.cats have reduced the once-thriving population of songbirds and other birds. The lady caring for the cats say no way because she feeds them so they have no reason to hunt.
There was some discussion about how some people believe that cats should be outdoors and their average lifespan is three years.
I'm sorry for the much abbreviated synopsis but I also could not watch it properly as my cat was very interested this show and sat right in front of the tv. He meowed and even watched the commercials. Keep in mind as well that this was in Canada.
My question to you all is what do you think about the issue of caring for feral cats and the reducing of bird, mouse populations? Is the goal of the trap & neuter programs to fix all feral cats so that there will be.no feral cats at all? Sorry for the simplistic question, but if there were programs like these everywhere, would it not be possible that the feral cat population would be reduced to nil (keep in mind I am talking hypothetically)? How do you feel about people shooting these cats? I don't think the shooters were doing it for sport but the.cats were either encroaching on their property or they think there are too many of them.
I can't say I have an opinion because I don't know enough. The hospital where I work has rescued a feral cat who at first hissed at everyone but never bit anyone. He is now a clinic cat and while still a 'fraidy cat' he is so sweet. That is my limited experience.
I caught the show DOC ZONE on CBC this past Saturday but in the middle of the segment on feral cats. Well, that is just a guess but the point at which I caught the show was talking about a trap & neuter program run by Alley Cats. First of all, I am amazed at the work that these people do. It costs them $1 million dollars a year to run the program and it's all by donation.
Then the show talked about the issue of feral cat colonies and how some people oppose caring for them. Some have shot these cats. Another issue in one area is that one lady feeds a colony of cats and another lady in the same area is upset because the.cats have reduced the once-thriving population of songbirds and other birds. The lady caring for the cats say no way because she feeds them so they have no reason to hunt.
There was some discussion about how some people believe that cats should be outdoors and their average lifespan is three years.
I'm sorry for the much abbreviated synopsis but I also could not watch it properly as my cat was very interested this show and sat right in front of the tv. He meowed and even watched the commercials. Keep in mind as well that this was in Canada.
My question to you all is what do you think about the issue of caring for feral cats and the reducing of bird, mouse populations? Is the goal of the trap & neuter programs to fix all feral cats so that there will be.no feral cats at all? Sorry for the simplistic question, but if there were programs like these everywhere, would it not be possible that the feral cat population would be reduced to nil (keep in mind I am talking hypothetically)? How do you feel about people shooting these cats? I don't think the shooters were doing it for sport but the.cats were either encroaching on their property or they think there are too many of them.
I can't say I have an opinion because I don't know enough. The hospital where I work has rescued a feral cat who at first hissed at everyone but never bit anyone. He is now a clinic cat and while still a 'fraidy cat' he is so sweet. That is my limited experience.