This really bugs me....feral cats being spayed/neutered then released...

[Tammy]

I saw a special on Animal Planet about the feral cat population in the hurricane ravished areas of Louisiana. Animal Control...sets traps for all these feral cats.....takes them back to the vet....spays/neuters them....and TAKES THEM BACK TO WHERE THEY CAUGHT THEM AND LETS THEM GO.

I don't get it....these cats are not caught out in the country or anything.

I can't imagine it being acceptable to anyone to let a bunch of feral cats go free in any neighborhood....regardless if they are 'fixed' or not.

The time and money put in to something like this....makes me scratch my head. You would think they could use that money to help 'people'....not a bunch of feral cats.

What do you all think?

Tammy

[GothicGyrl]

I'd rather see a bunch of fixed feral cats--who are well better equipped to take care of themselves in the wild than any other animal--released back out in to the wild; than to see a bunch of UNfixed feral cats pregnant with a bunch of babies that are only going to die.

We've too many cats in shelters now. No one wants them. If they aren't reproducing and ARE helping keep the rat population down (which is my guess in this situation), then I say go for it.

[Audrey]

Toni said it perfectly. No one is going to take care of these cats, which leaves them to breed unchecked, resulting in a huge overpopulation problem. I'm glad to see someone taking some humane responsibility for their reproduction. Euthanasia is not the preferable option, IMO.

[nancypants]

I'd rather see a bunch of fixed feral cats--who are well better equipped to take care of themselves in the wild than any other animal--released back out in to the wild; than to see a bunch of UNfixed feral cats pregnant with a bunch of babies that are only going to die.

We've too many cats in shelters now. No one wants them. If they aren't reproducing and ARE helping keep the rat population down (which is my guess in this situation), then I say go for it.

Good point on the rat population. I do tend to think it would probably be best to just have them euthanized (sorry!!) but the rat angle makes me change my tune a bit. great point Toni.

[StaceyinLA]

to keep the population of unwanted kitties under control. If they became a problem, I could agree that euthanizing some might be a solution (if an unwanted one), but the rat population in N.O. is HORRIBLE, and probably worse since the hurricane, so I think this is a good idea at present.

As far as helping them instead of humans, I'm sure animal groups are providing the funds for this because they WANT to. Rest assured, money is not coming from funds that would alternately help people instead. Cruelty and ill-treatment of animals usually precedes cruelty toward humans (learned through many studies on serial killers). Having a society where people still care for God's creatures in this way gives me hope in mankind.

Also, let's remember that none of this overpopulation would happen if people would SPAY and NEUTER their own animals!! There really is a horrible overpopulation problem, and too many innocent animals die daily because of their owners' carelessness.

[Adrianne]

Cats eat rats and mice!

People do not want these cats reproducing and making more cats. I guess it is better than the cat death squad.

Adrianne

[GothicGyrl]

As far as helping them instead of humans, I'm sure animal groups are providing the funds for this because they WANT to. Rest assured, money is not coming from funds that would alternately help people instead. Cruelty and ill-treatment of animals usually precedes cruelty toward humans (learned through many studies on serial killers). Having a society where people still care for God's creatures in this way gives me hope in mankind.

::CSI CAP ON:::
It's called the Triad or triangle-- bed wetting, fire starting, animal cruelty, all precursors to serial killing. And yes, there are people who are more than happy to fork over the money to see this animal population controlled and yes, you are correct that the already mis-managed funds are not being taken from the human aspect of it.

Honestly, I'd rather see them euthenized. However, given the situation in NOLA, given all that has happened, having feral fixed cats is probably one of the best solutions.

The Pied Piper, unfortunately, is only a fairy tale. Cats are much more efficient. :)

[Jean in Newcastle]

With feral cats (unless they are really young) the only real choices are to euthanize them or to sterilize them and let them go. They do not make good pets (or even bad pets). They are wild and are not easily tamed.

[Unicorn]

Sorry, but I have to agree with others here. I think it is wonderful that someone cares enough to do something for these cats. I don't believe in killing an animal just because they don't belong to someone. I am more outraged that it was more important to fix the football stadium than it apparently is to help those who are still waiting to rebuild their homes.

[Karin]

Thankfully, however, most bedwetters aren't in the Triad!!!!! And since they've survived this long, they're hunting, which is a very, very good thing. We wouldn't want any epidemics from diseases in which rats and fleas are vectors.

[GothicGyrl]

Thankfully, however, most bedwetters aren't in the Triad

Nope..only if they graduate to animal cruelty and fire starting. But even then, there is a fine line between a "kid being a kid" and a "kid doing horrible things to a live animal so they can look inside".

And the point about fleas--that's about the only thing that bugs me, is that the feral's will bring fleas. And worms and whatever disease the rat might carry. However, because of the way Mother Nature works :), these things usually work out before a pandemic occurs.

[strider]

As whose children found a dead rat in our back yard once--I am so glad there are feral cats to deal with the rats in the alley. People in the city just are not careful about their garbage, and that results in a rat problem. I am totally fine with the alley cats--it's a much healthier alternative than the regular city treatments (ie--poison).

[Tammy]

I thought they should be euthanized... Cats can't help the ecosystem at all....They don't only eat rats and mice....they eat their fair share of birds. Cats are not indigenous to any area...so it certainly hurts the ecosystem, not to mention fleas and ticks they carry.

Snakes, birds, etc. eat rats and mice too....

I don't see it as a good thing....at all.

Tammy

[nancypants]

My (late) great aunt used to care for feral cats on her country property. Even had an article written up about her in the newspaper! It was so sweet!

They would fix them and then bring them out to the farm and she would feed them and talk to them. :) Again, great for the mouse population and a neat thing for her to do.

[GothicGyrl]

I thought they should be euthanized... Cats can't help the ecosystem at all....They don't only eat rats and mice....they eat their fair share of birds. Cats are not indigenous to any area...so it certainly hurts the ecosystem, not to mention fleas and ticks they carry.

Snakes, birds, etc. eat rats and mice too....

I don't see it as a good thing....at all.

I do believe you need to do some better research. Cats ARE indigeninous to many areas within the US. Your argument of them not being able to help the ecosystem is not supported by scientific fact. Please research this a bit more before you try to convince us of what you are saying.

You may or may not believe in evolution, so take this as you wish, however, here is a good resource to start your research:

http://www.hdw-inc.com/historyofcat.htm
http://www.geocities.com/Petsburgh/4840/histfolk.html (another good place)
And another http://www.lookd.com/cats/history.html

They've been used throughout the centuries for just this reason. They help the ecosystem more than you give them credit for.

[j.griff]

And birds dump more than their fair share of dung on cities daily- and this causes problems.
I don't get it. Are the cats bothering someone? Are they a danger to someone? :confused:
I don't like the idea of exterminating mammals at all, people who are capable of catching and killing animals just because they don't like where they live scare me. :eek:Being able to completely disconnect yourself like that, de-sensitise yourself to another living being, and cold bloodedly kill another creature just because it's "in your way" or whatever lame reason :( - that really just bothers me. :eek:
I don't get it. Honestly, it bothers me that they feel the need to "fix" the cats. I know I'm probably considered a whacko, but IMO it's not THAT far of a stretch between forcibly sterilizing animal species you don't like and forcibly sterilizing humans you don't like.

[j.griff]

And I must say I don't like being limited to only using 4 smilies, LOL. BUT, I don't pay the bills so I'll deal with it. ;)

[j.griff]

http://www.feralcat.com/
I thought you might like to read more info about how what they do affects the area in which they release the "fixed" cats. :)

[Tammy]

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/09/0907_040907_feralcats.html

Tammy

[Karin]

Yes, fleas are a problem with cats, but do cats carry the same flea borne diseases that rodents do? Just wondering. As I recall, with the bubonic plague both rats and fleas were involved, but it's been a long time since I read about that, and I don't know if I've just completely forgotten the cycle or if it's my migraine messing with my memory.

[PrairieAir]

about big city police stations using shelter cats to control the rat population within their buildings and parking garages. Sounds like a good idea to me. The cats have a home and a purpose.

As for sterilizing and releasing feral cats, that doesn't sound like a bad idea either as long as the cat population does not get too far out of control. Out here we have plenty of farm cats and feral cats roaming the area. There is plenty to keep the cat population in check.

We have 12 outdoor cats. Some came to us as strays or are the offspring of cats that came to us as strays. We've thought about spaying and neutering the cats, but haven't gotten around to it. It's expensive! Plus, as I said, there is plenty to keep the population in check out here. When I mentioned to some of our neighbors that I was planning to have them fixed eventually, they laughed. They said nature will take care of things. We certainly are not overrun with cats and they do help keep the rats out of the barn, garage, and shed.

Our cats do eat birds. They are excellent at cleaning up the unfortunate birds that crash into our windows. I don't think cats would be able to catch many birds that are strong and healthy. Predators go after the weak and injured first--those that would likely not survive anyway. Yes, nature is very good at taking care of things.

For an interesting look at predators that have been unjustly villanized, check out the movie "Never Cry Wolf". It's old. I remember seeing it when I was in (?) middle school or something. I've checked it out from the library for my kids before.

[Karen sn]

These cats ARE helping the human population. When they are hungry - they eat rats. I guess I just can't see your point that we should be helping people with the money - the people can probably help themselves more that the poor cats. I see plenty of people get money from the gov't and go blow it on drugs. It doesn't cost a whole lot to fix these cats. It's money well spent IMO.

[Sebastian (a lady)]

We've too many cats in shelters now. No one wants them. If they aren't reproducing and ARE helping keep the rat population down (which is my guess in this situation), then I say go for it.

They also keep down the populations of local birds, including endangered songbirds and shorebirds. A couple feral cats can almost eliminate a colony of birds, especially if they are able to get at the nestlings. Many of our shore birds make their nests on the ground, not in trees, so they are easy prey.

NYTimes Magazine had an interesting article about cats v. birds a few weeks ago. Kill the Cat that Kills the Bird? (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/02/magazine/02cats-v--birds-t.html)

[Tammy]

but they don't only kill things to eat them....they kill for the sport of it, LOL!

Tammy

[GothicGyrl]

They also keep down the populations of local birds, including endangered songbirds and shorebirds. A couple feral cats can almost eliminate a colony of birds, especially if they are able to get at the nestlings. Many of our shore birds make their nests on the ground, not in trees, so they are easy prey.

NYTimes Magazine had an interesting article about cats v. birds a few weeks ago. Kill the Cat that Kills the Bird? (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/02/magazine/02cats-v--birds-t.html)
And? I'd be willing to lose a few songbirds for the benefit of not having an overrun city of rats/mice/bugs, infestation of whatever.

Sorry, I don't sympathize with you on this one. If they are worried about protecting a species, do something to protect them better. The cats stay and are doing a fine job of cleaning that city up.

[Karen sn]

Please ignore this if you were not the "bad" reputation poster - but if you were -
My point about drugs - you can't know what people spend their money on.
Spaying and neutering - we know what we are spending our money on.
So sorry that you feel I deserve a "bad reputation" because of that. I feel it had everything to do with what YOU brought up in your post saying that we should be doing for the people before we worry about cats.
And if you've ever seen a bunch of sad starving kittens - it's depressing. To know they are fixed and can't continue in misery for generations DOES help the people who have to watch them starve and pee all over their yard and property for generations.

[GothicGyrl]

Karen--I got a bad point for using the word "ebil" --if they are giving out bad points because of that and what you said, maybe they aren't equipped to handle a message board properly--you know, actually converse like an adult? :)

Don't worry about what you said, you said nothing wrong. In fact, I agree with you. I've seen more welfare moms blow their money on drugs/whatever and spit out more babies just to get more money than I've seen them actually spend it properly. So you said nothing wrong, nothing but the truth.

Don't give that person another thought. Laugh at it. They obviously are not properly equipped to handle an adult discussion where adults are wont to agree/disagree. Not everything is peachy keen in the world.

[Karen sn]

Thanks GothicGyrl. I can't believe the drama. And search as I may the word "reputation" on the how to board - I can't find what the different colors mean. One would think that info would be in our user control panel - you know - you could hover over the color and it would pop up with an explanation.
This new format makes abuse real easy. And turns the board into a click of "popular" versus "bad reputation."

[Karen sn]

A starving feral cat kills for the sport of it? I think they actually eat their prey.

[Tammy]

What do you mean....bad reputation post? I certainly haven't given ANYONE a bad reputation.....

I thought they were going to do away with that ridiculous function....see how much trouble is causes.....

How do you check your 'reputation' anyway?

The whole thing reminds me of grade school....geeze.

Tammy

[j.griff]

What do you all think?

Tammy

I totally disagree with you. ;) That's what I think. :D

[j.griff]

Or it could be another troll. Maybe the trolls are evolving, LOL. "Oh no! You mean the anonymous troll doesn't like me? WhatEVER shall I DO with myself? Life is so meaningless and there must be something TERRIBLY wrong with me if a TROLL doesn't like me! Boo-Hoo!" (I am poking fun at the troll, NOT you, Karen and GothicGyrl).

[Karen sn]

Ok - then ignore the post. I got a bad reputation point for "straying" off the mark when I made the comment (based on my own observation) of people using gov't money to buy drugs. Which I think totally applies to a point you made regarding helping people instead of cats. (Not that I am anti people either....I say quit taxing the people to death and they would have their own money to do with as they see fit).
I hate everything about the new forums (bet I'll get some bad rep points for that!) and can't believe that someone actually thought "bad reputation" points was a good idea! No one saw the potential for abuse?!?!?!

[Robin in Tx]

I think I'm with you, Tammy. I'd rather see a cat euthanized than set lose to fend for itself, trying to find food and shelter and water, possibly starving to death or getting ill or becoming prey itself (how else does a feral cat die?). Most of those cats were probably pets before the hurricane and have been suffering. There are probably enough pet cats around to keep the rodent population down, and yes... a well fed pet cat will kill a rodent for sport. Mine do all the time. Seems like they'd target the rodent population directly and it would cost less than operating on a bunch of abandoned pets, just to reabandon them.

Robin

[Tammy]

I just looked in my 'control panel'.....and I have 11 POINTS, LOLOLOL....but how do you find out why someone gave them to you?

The whole 'reputation' thing....is so silly.

Tammy

[Karen sn]

Yes -that was funny. I got it that you weren't making fun of us.
I am so disappointed in this whole new forum. It is sooooooo highschool click.

[Kate in Arabia]

They actually do that in some cities over here (spay/neuter then release); I thought it was more humane than rounding them up and killing them, and perhaps (don't know) it gives the ecosystem a chance to balance out, rather than have a sudden drop in the number of feral cats. When I was living in Egypt they put poison out to get rid of feral cats, then there was this sudden massive jump in the number of rats. I think the city planners, or whoever, have a lot they need to consider when they come up with plans to deal with "pests".

I wish they'd do something in Saudi, though, because the feral cat population there is truly out of control.

[Robin in Tx]

You mention a starving feral cat... this is the crux of the issue. I think it comes down to your idea of what is humane.

Some think that putting down a starving abandoned pet (which is what most of these likely are) is more humane than performing painful surgery on it, only to re-release it to totally fend for itself with no hope of ever being cared for again.

I can see both sides of this, but I'm leaning towards it being more humane to euthanize unwanted, abandoned, starving pets.

[Kate in Arabia]

I don't know about New Orleans, but over here these are definitely not abandoned pets.. maybe generations upon generations ago, but not now. If they were housepets that were left to fend for themselves, then I'd agree that releasing them back into such a strange environment is not very humane.

[Karen sn]

Hey. I think they are anon unless the person tells you in the message.
FWIW - I haven't given anyone a rep point - bad, good, or otherwise......so it wasn't me! :-)
I disagree with plenty of people and still respect them and even their opinions.
I like differences.

[GothicGyrl]

Except that we aren't talking about a regular normal case of unwanted pets here. These cats were made "unwanted" by the storm and were never reclaimed becuase lots of people haven't returned home yet. So, the government is seizing the opportunity to utilize what these cats can offer them--free clean up crew.

I do agree with euthinazia, I do. But in this particular case, I can see the benefits of keeping those cats ON the streets more than I can see them being put to sleep.

Oh and I'm NOT a people person anyway. :)

[Robin in Tx]

I don't know if that's the case. Thousands of pets were left behind. New Orleans had a huge feral cat population beforehand, and many residents fed them. Those residents are gone, and the cats are being fed anymore. One worker said they found 11 cats dead on a street in one day. There is not enough prey and food to keep these feral populations alive and healthy, plus, as I understand it, these animals are being released back into the wild still recovering from their surgery, and most of them *are* dependent on people to set out food for them, etc.

Whatever caused these pets to be abandoned is not the point... it doesn't make the pet feel less "abandoned" when it's provision suddenly disappears and it suddenly has to fend for itself. They will never catch all the feral cats and do this to all of them... they only catch the ones that are hanging around in neighborhoods where some people are trying to feed them. These are starving, abandoned pets for the most part.

[Bee]

Every cat I own was "dropped off" by somebody who couldn't be bothered to care for,spay,or neuter their pet.I have 6 right now.I've had more than that,over the years.One of my dogs too.We have called the dog warden several times for dogs that have been abandoned.Abandoned animals are a huge problem.None of these animals are ever spayed or neutered when they appear.Spaying and neutering programs help to reduce the population of unwanted animals in the long term and it's humane.Don't even get me started on what I think about people who abandon their pets on country roads or near farms.

[GothicGyrl]

Every cat I own was "dropped off" by somebody who couldn't be bothered to care for,spay,or neuter their pet.I have 6 right now.I've had more than that,over the years.One of my dogs too.We have called the dog warden several times for dogs that have been abandoned.Abandoned animals are a huge problem.None of these animals are ever spayed or neutered when they appear.Spaying and neutering programs help to reduce the population of unwanted animals in the long term and it's humane.Don't even get me started on what I think about people who abandon their pets on country roads or near farms.
I live near both. And I've got a neighbor who enjoys taking in strays. Normally there wouldn't be a problem with this at all, except that these strays do not live in her home and do not become "house pets". They stay outside most of the time, get little to no interaction from her other than food and sometimes a walk around the neighborhood for them to use my yard as their litter box, and that's it.

They attack the cars, the kids on bikes, they are mean. And she doesn't care because she thinks it "cruel" to keep them on a leash or in her fenced in back yard. That burns me more than this program does.

[momo4]

I didn't read every post, but if someone didn't mention it, feral cats are wild cats and don't tame too easily. I know people who have tried and they weren't extremely successful.

[Bee]

Unleashed dogs-that's another pet peeve of mine.So many of my neighbors think they have to let their dogs run free to "protect their property".That would be fine if the dog would stay on it's own property and out of the road.Course I'm a bad neighbor.I had my ex-neighbor's new dog picked up as a stray because it wandered onto my property.How was I to know?It didn't have any tags and I'd never seen it before.

[Tammy]

My neighbor's dog wouldn't get off of my porch.....it looked like it had mange....so I figured no one owned it.....I called Animal Control....they came picked up the dog.

Then my other neighbor told me whose dog it was, LOL!

Tammy

[Jeannie in NJ]

2 of them were treated very badly before being abandoned. One was enclosed in a box and left under the boardwalk at only 6 weeks old. It took him 2 years with us before he started trusting people again and now he is our most gentle cat. The other wild one was found abandoned on a dock and in ill health, she is about 5 months old (we got her when she was 10 weeks old) she is scared to death of people, including all of us but she loves all of our cats so we are just being patient with her. Our others were found with their feral mother when they were only about 4 weeks old, were raised in a foster home until they were 6 weeks when we adopted them and they are very loving. Feral cats in our area are trappped, spayed and either released or given to farms, etc (that is the adults are, people that want pets can adopt the kittens. like we did.) Our back yard is marshes and meadowlands (we live on an island) and there are lots of feral cats but the local humane society is good about trapping them, giving them their shots, spaying, etc. THey even have fixed a outdoor selter with blankets, food, water for the outdoor ones . the shelter can't have them all live at the actual humane shelter as it is always crowded with adoptable cats. At the end of every summer, there are hundreds of cats abandoned in my resort town from the tourists, that the shelter ends up taking care of, they try to adopt out all that they can. Any that don't get adopted out will live at the shelter for the rest of their life.
Lastly, I obviously love cats. I believe that they are God's creatures and that He gave people the means and responsibilty to help care for His creatures.

[cin]

Unleashed dogs-that's another pet peeve of mine.So many of my neighbors think they have to let their dogs run free to "protect their property".That would be fine if the dog would stay on it's own property and out of the road.Course I'm a bad neighbor.I had my ex-neighbor's new dog picked up as a stray because it wandered onto my property.How was I to know?It didn't have any tags and I'd never seen it before.

I won't even get started on this one.....12 houses on our street and 4-5 'roaming' dogs. And I too, and a bad neighbor. :p

[Karin]

I read the book. It's by Farley Mowatt and it quite interesting. He's been big on animals ever since he was a boy growing up in Saskatchewan. He wrote a kids' book, I think it was called Owls in the Family that is quite funny. He also wrote The Dog Who Wouldn't Be. Both based on real pets (He's about my dad's age, so grew up when farm boys still brought home wild animals as pets, so those who are opposed please don't be too upset. Plus, he became one of Canada's most vocal animal people.) Later on, he took to books such as Never Cry Wolf.