New Jersey to Propose Legislation to Label Feral Cats as "Exotic"

Yes you heard right. This idea by the New Jersey Game, Fish and Wildlife is not exactly a new one, as it was first proposed as long ago as 2007. The whole idea is to change the status of feral and stray cats into "exotic" and dangerous animals that pose a threat to the natural wildlife in New Jersey, and by changing the status would allow people to hunt cats in the same manner as deer, rabbits, bear, etc.

I think most people are aware that in many areas, there are large populations of feral and stray cats and yes perhaps considered a nuisance, however, the many TNR (trap, neuter, release) programs available have proven effective in that by trapping the cats, spaying/neutering them then releasing does bring the cat population down. One such advocate of the TNR means is Alley Cat Allies, a forerunner in this program. To do the TNR method is also more cost effective, rather than the other means of dealing with the feral/stray cat issue, which is for Animal Care and Control to trap, bring to a shelter then euthanized. To do this latter method means that these feral/stray cats in effect take up shelter space in a system already bulging to the seams with unwanted cats, and little or zero hope of them being adopted out.

I don't think passing legislation to include feral/stray cats as "wildlife" and can be hunted down is the answer. The rational of the people proposing this idea is that feral cats interfere with the natural wildlife of New Jersey by hunting rodents, rabbits and birds. Like duh? I see this as a natural order of the chain cycle, and especially in the case of rodents keeps the population down of such animals--one only has to remember what happened in the Medieval period of history where cats were rounded up and killed due to superstitions of the time that cats were evil and witches familiars...what happened? Since the cats were killed off the rat population went rampart, and created the devastating Black Death since the rats were carriers of the Bubonic Plague.

As I see it too, if such legislation is passed, I almost guarantee that sooner or later domestic cats belonging to people will become the unfortunate victims. Yes, in my opinion, cats should be kept indoors when they belong to someone, but often cat owners will allow their cats to go outdoors to roam, and also, even when pet owners do confine their cats indoors sometimes there is the chance of the cat(s) escaping.

If you're interested in reading up more about this proposed plan just google Legislation Proposed For Cats To Be Hunted In New Jersey, not only will you find articles but many petitions to sign should you wish to do so, however I've included sources at the end of this article one can click on.

Here is one such article, and with it is a link to the on-line contact form to the NJ Fish, Game and Wildlife should you wish to voice your opinion.

While I'm not a resident of New Jersey,I decided to email the New Jersey Fish and Wildlife to voice my opinion and here's my letter to them:
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I, as well no doubt many other people, totally oppose plans to pass legislation in New Jersey that would reclassify feral and/or stray cats as "exotic and therefore dangerous" and thus allowing the idea that cats can be hunted down in the same manner as deer, bear, coyote, etc., when TNR is and has proven to be an effective means to keep the feral/stray cat population down.

Those who are pro for the idea of reclassifying feral/stray cats as "exotic" claim that feral/stray cats threaten the natural "wildlife" of New Jersey since they hunt rabbits, birds, rodents, etc. Somehow I and many others don't buy this as an excuse to change the status of feral/stray cats into the "exotic" status that would allow them to be hunted down and killed. One only has to reflect what happened during the Medieval period of history when cats were systematically rounded up and killed due to the superstitions of those times, being that they were considered as "evil" and familiars of witches. The result? The Black Death due to the rise of the rodent population that carried the Bubonic Plague.

Also, by changing the status of feral/stray cats into targets for hunters to be killed in the same manner as deer during hunting season, we in effect would be no better than China, a country noted for skinning cats alive for the fur trade, and selling live cats in open market places as a food; something many of us in the USA are totally and fervently opposed to. Here in America, cats whether wild or as pets are associated and considered companion type animals, not wildlife and certainly not an animal to be hunted down, skinned for fur or eaten.

Lastly, if such legislation is passed, I almost guarantee that sooner or later domestic cats belonging to people will become the unfortunate victims. Yes, in my opinion, cats should be kept indoors when they belong to someone, but often cat owners will allow their cats to go outdoors, and also, even when pet owners do confine their cats indoors sometimes there is the chance of the cat(s) escaping.

Passing such legislation to reclassify cats as "exotic" is NOT the answer--cats should not be classified in the same manner as other "game" and wildlife, but in my opinion, further efforts for the TNR means and system should be encouraged.

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Well lo and behold I got a response back from them and here it is:

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I do not know where the misinformation you and others are reacting to is coming from.

There is no legislation or proposal of any sort to allow the hunting of cats.

There is a developing body of information and research findings that indicate feral cats pose a significant threat to wildlife through predation and transmission of diseases.

The NJ Endangered and Nongame Species Advisory Committee (Committee) and the NJ Fish and Game Council (Council) have responded to this by passing a joint resolution acknowledging the detrimental impact of free-roaming cats on wildlife and strongly stating that TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) is not an effective means of reducing the feral cat populations and thus not an effective means of addressing the impacts of cats on wildlife.

Both the Committee and the Council have stated that there is absolutely no consideration being given to allow hunting of feral cats. The Committee and Council have convened a working group to gather information regarding the issue of feral cats and to propose recommendations for effective policies and management measures to address the impacts of feral cats on wildlife. This working group will get input from local governments, including local animal control officers, and animal welfare organizations, wildlife experts and wildlife rehabilitators in formulating its recommendations.

These recommendations will be presented to the Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Fish and Wildlife for consideration in formulating a response to the concerns regarding feral cats and native wildlife. PT

Paul Tarlowe, Wildlife Education Specialist
NJFishandWildlife@dep.state.nj.us
The N.J. Division of Fish and Wildlife is a professional, environmental agency dedicated to the protection, management and wise use of the state's fish and wildlife resources.
http://www.NJFishandWildlife.com/

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As Jerry Seinfeld would say to such a response, yada yada yada. So much gobbledegook double-speak to my mind. Not only has the TNR system of taking care of the feral/stray cat population been an extreme success in many states, in most cases, these cats aren't always necessarily roaming free, but are confined to feral "colonies" where they are taken care of, that is volunteers and rescuers regularly feed them.

One can even read success stories of helping feral cats especially through the TNR program by the organization Alley Cat Allies which was founded in 1990.

To my mind, any legislation such as New Jersey is proposing could have detrimental effects, one being that it could create an open season for any cat, whether truly a stray/feral or a cat that is a pet caught roaming loose. Two, it could also attract people who hate cats and have a tendency toward animal cruelty and abuse issues and would thus give them "legal" cause to shoot cats.

Whether you're a resident of New Jersey or not, voice your opinion. Here's one petition via the Change.org site one can sign. Also I encourage people to write to the New Jersey Fish and Game itself.

Sources:

My Central Jersey

Lovemeow

Cats as Venison

Animals.change.org

Pets Weekly

CatDefender article 1

CaDefender article 2