Anyone ever see this?

[jackmichigan]

Originally Posted by J5K5LY

Now, what about the cell phone towers, the lit up city buildings and the airplanes that kill hundreds of thousands of birds? What about farmers that poison thousands? If you want to rally for the birds, look at those issues too, not just cats.
I am not being facetious. I care deeply about the birds but to place so much blame on cats is not fair.

Life isn't fair...and for cats to kill so many birds isn't fair either. Towers (especially those with guy wires), tall lit buildings (especially during migration), window glass, pesticides, wind turbines, etc.,--and habitat loss--are ALL taking a toll on bird populations. Far too many migratory bird species are seeing population declines year after year. Those issues, indeed, are of great concern--and many people are working to lessen their impacts upon birds (lights out programs, better siting of turbines, developing "bird friendly" glass, etc.). However, that does not lessen, in any way, the tremendous concern about cats killing millions of birds.

While your anecdotal stories may give some comfort, it's the overall story with cats that is the problem. My neighbor's cat managed to kill 12 birds in just a couple of days, proudly piling them up in a heap by their back door. Surely, not all cats are that proficient, but cats are predators and they do have an instinct to kill. Cat owners need to be responsible and keep their cats indoors; or let them outdoors only while attended.

[Katie1]

In spring birds remove dead hair. They use it to line their nests. In summer they removed ticks... Who else going to groom the wild life???

[Old Gringo]

Here in Texas, it's fairly common to see mockingbirds dive-bombing cats during nesting season. They're territorial critters and fairly aggressive.

It's also not uncommon to find a pile of mockingbird feathers laying around here and there.

[HomersBoy]

My wife had a calico cat she named Smores. Smores was a very proficient hunter and very well fed too but she had a taste for mice and rabbits according to all the heads and entrails we'd find on our porch. In all the 15 1/2 years we had Smores, I never found any evidence that she had killed a bird. Mocking birds used to dive bomb her all the time to the point she would only go outside when it was dark or would sneak around under the shrubbery and then make a break for cover if she left the house during the day. I would venture to say that birds kill more birds than cats do. I saw a crow empty a nest of newly hatched baby robins down by my garden early one morning before I realized what was going on. I've seen hawks take mourning doves right out of the air and just last week a hawk made a pass over my purple martin house in an attempt to grab a quick meal. Snakes and raccoons also take a toll on birds by eating the eggs and young but then that's how nature operates. Cats are doing what they are designed by nature to do, just like the crows,hawks, snakes and raccoons. There's at least 8 or 9 cats in my neighborhood and definitely no shortage of birds.

[sholomar]

Originally Posted by NJmmadude

You have to love all of the apologists though-usually they toggle between 'well, the animals (other than humans) were here first' and 'well, snuffy (beloved cat) is just acting on instinct'.

the cat is just acting on instinct... given all the chickens, cattles, and pigs we imprison in factory farms and slaughter every year for our (delicious) burger and brats, the last thing I'm going to worry about are my cats killing a few birds. I've also seen black labs swallow baby rabbits whole. This is what animals do. It's instinct and survival.

Personally I don't like to be around animal suffering and death.. I just put the blinders on.. I don't want to know how beef are slaughtered... I'll just enjoy the meat ... I'm glad there are those out there trying to bring change to these practices though. They are a better person than I.

[bjh]

Originally Posted by jackmichigan

Since roaming cats kill hundreds of millions of birds each year, the birds have reason to be upset. (Too bad they weren't hawks.)

Ever eaten chicken? Predators seeking prey is a valid part of nature.

[bjh]

Originally Posted by bjh

Ever eaten chicken? Predators seeking prey is a valid part of nature.

Someone left this anonymous rep message for the above post: "You get today's CD dumb comment award. Congrats."

You're a coward as well as a fool. Congrats.