How Feeding Feral Cats Affects Natural Ecosystems

After reading several recent newspaper articles about people's so-called "good" actions of feeding feral cats, I started thinking about the ecological consequences. Should we be feeding wild cats that are disrupting the natural ecology? Let me start by saying that I am not a cat-hater. I have two cats in my household and love them; they are in-door cats. I know this is a touchy subject and expect to here others views. However, feeding wandering feral cats is harmful to natural ecosystems.

First, let's get a good definition of what a feral cat is. According to Wikipedia, "A feral cat is an unowned and untamed domestic cat. Feral cats are born in the wild or may be abandoned or lost pets that have reverted to a wild state." The bottom line is that no human is there to make sure the cat is fed and properly inoculated to protect it from diseases; some diseases that are communicable to humans. Feral cats are the 'wild' offspring of domestic cats and are primarily the result of pet owners' abandonment or failure to spay and neuter their animals, allowing uncontrolled breeding.

It is important to recognize the American domestic and feral cat (Felis catus) that roams our lands are not native to the United States. They are descendants of European and African wild cats. These imported cats became abundant during the 1800's in an effort to fight off rats that were consuming American agricultural products. In the U.S. and Canada, native species are non-domesticated like the European and African imports.

Feral cats prey on populations of birds and other wildlife that native animal species naturally prey on. Feral cats produce an unnatural competitive environment for animals such as native hawks and owls. The small mammals that feral cats prey on are important to maintaining a diverse biological ecosystem. Feral cats often exist in high densities forming colonies, thus being able to out-compete native predators. With this in place, the natural ecological balance is upset.

There are important diseases that risk the health of feral cats. Below is a partial list of various diseases feral cats may acquire.

Feline Leukemia Virus

Upper Respiratory Infections

Plague

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus

Feline Panleukopenia Virus

Cat-Scratch Disease

Roundworms

Toxoplasmosis

Hookworms

Rabies

Of the above diseases, Plague, Cat Scratch Disease, Toxoplasmosis, Hookworms, and Rabies are transmitted to humans. Feral cats normally go unvaccinated and must suffer through a disease because they do not get needed medical attention. They also have to suffer from attacks from fleas and ticks, which may carry some of the diseases. Is it humane to allow feral cats to suffer from these diseases? Of course not! The average person does not see the impact diseases have on feral cats so to many, it is not even an issue.

Consider other possible fates of feral cats such as cars running over them. At least once a month I see a dead cat laying along-side the road near a woodlot where I live. The woodlot is a dwelling for feral cats. How long did these cats lay there suffering before they died? Humans also harass feral cats. They are shot with pellet guns or air rifles that only wound them. Chances of infection and crippling are high. Another fate of feral cats is being chewed- up by dogs. A dog pack will often leave a chewed-up cat hanging in a tree where it awaits death.

As previously mentioned, cats will form colonies. They are often attracted to one area because some kind hearted person started feeding them - sometimes garbage. These populations can grow rapidly. In warm climates, a female cat can have as many as three litters a year. Three liters can easily yield 10 new members to the colony per year. A small colony with only 2 breeding females can grow to over 100 cats in less than 2 years. A large colony will soon split apart because of a lack of food or they could simply starve. The impact on native wildlife is tremendous. Native wildlife will need to relocate in order to find areas with less competition. As a population reaches the critical point in population, cats become more susceptible to diseases. Diseases that may be transferred to local domesticated cats or even humans.

Programs that trap, neuter and return are employed around the North America. A few have shown to be effective with reducing colony size. However, do they reduce a colonies need to prey on native wildlife, especially endangered birds, rodents and other small animals? No. Cats will continue to kill native wildlife. There is little evidence showing that feeding feral cats will prevent their predation of birds and other wildlife.

Does trap, neuter, and return (TNR) reduce diseases in the colony? No. Feral cats do not normally receive vaccinations and medical follow-up through most of the TNR programs. To make matters worse, many TRN programs continue to feed feral cats after neutering and releasing, leaving them to prey on other animals. There are organizations that are beginning to apply the trap, neuter, vaccine, and release (TNVR) system but they account for a small minority of the fed feral cats.

Feeding increases colony size and creates an off-setting situation requiring more and more trapping. Some TRN programs include capturing kittens and adopting them out. This is sound management. The problem is finding suitable homes for the kittens. Have you ever tried finding a home for a litter of wild kittens? It is not easy. The theory behind TRN is based on continuous neutering and spaying, along with protection of cat colonies, will ultimately do away with them. As of now, only a few colonies have disappeared while others continue to exist for as long as 10 years.

Feral cats do not discriminate when invading a nest of baby birds. Whether it is a starling or endangered neo-tropical nest, feral cats will kill the chicks in it, sometimes just for amusement. This is the bottom-line for many people who understand the role feral cats play in an ecosystem. The American Bird Conservancy claims there are millions of feral cats in the USA. They recommend the following steps to control feral cat populations.

1. Educate the public that feeding stray cats is not the
best solution for cats, wildlife, or people.

2. Enact and enforce legislation prohibiting
abandonment of cats, and post warning signs in public
wildlife areas.

3. Prohibit the feeding of stray cats, including those in
managed colonies, in public parks and on beaches,
wildlife refuges or other public lands that serve as
wildlife habitat; and publicize this information.

4. Involve wildlife experts from nearby colleges, parks,
or state/federal agencies, community health officials,
veterinarians, conservation groups, and animal shelter
facilities to work together to solve cat overpopulation
problems in your area.

5. Humanely remove stray and feral cats from
communities, parks, and other public areas that
provide habitat for wildlife, and take them to a shelter.

6. Support fully enclosed stray and feral cat sanctuaries
on private property. Cats in sanctuaries are safe, sheltered,
and well-fed. In addition, the cats do not harm wildlife
or create health hazards for the general public.

Euthanasia is one answer but not the only answer to our feral cat problems. A community will be well on its way to controlling feral cats while maintaining a healthy diverse ecosystem if it chooses to follow the six recommendations by the American Bird Conservancy.

Ref:
AMERICAN BIRD CONSERVANCY
CATS INDOORS! THE CAMPAIGN FOR SAFER BIRDS AND CATS
1731 Connecticut Avenue, NW, 3rd Floor, Washington, DC 20009
Phone: 202/234-7181; Fax: 202/234-7182; E-mail: abc@abcbirds.org; Web site: www.abcbirds.org