So it started out fairly innocent. A lizard here and a mouse there. But now, it's gotten out of control. Birds, sqirrels, chipmonks, and now baby rabbits. What's next? A fox? A dog? Who knows! Last night I was laying about my house, reading to pass the time before bed when I noticed my darling kitty trot on in through my open front door. What I didn't notice at first, was the poor and mangeled baby bunny clenched between his jaws. When SUELO! let go of the poor thing it pounced about my kitchen trying to use it's lame body to escape the horror of the snout that watched it. Emmediately I trapped the innocent animal in a parmasian cheese container from my recycling bin and kept put it into a box to keep SUELO! from continuing his hunt. I fear the bunny will die by nightfall, but I havn't the heart to kill it before. Also just yesterday, I came home in the afternoon to find a dead squirrel on my front porch. Not to mention the OTHER squirrel he was chewing on on Sunday. Then last Saterday, it was a chipmonk on my porch. Along with a whole slew of songbirds, rodents from the woods, and lizards he kills weekly. I really don't know what to do about the whole dilema. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know.
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
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4 comments:
And the bunny has died.
And today it was a bird. A wee little dead bird.
Conclusion: Cats are not ultimately responsible for killing our native wildlife—people are. The only way to prevent domestic cat predation on wildlife is for owners to keep their cats indoors.Nationwide, cats are estimated to kill hundreds of millions of birds and more than a billion small mammals, such as rabbits, chipmunks, squirrels, and shrews each year. Cats kill not only plentiful animals, but rare and endangered species for which the loss of even one animal is significant. The scientific community is increasingly concerned about cat predation. Well-fed Cats Do Kill Birds: Well-fed cats kill birds and other wildlife because the hunting instinct is independent of the urge to eat. In one study, six cats were presented with a live small rat while eating their preferred food. All six cats stopped eating the food, killed the rat, and then resumed eating the food.
Cats With Bells on Their Collars Do Kill Birds: Studies have shown that bells on collars are not effective in preventing cats from killing birds or other wildlife. Birds do not necessarily associate the sound of a bell with danger, and cast with bells can learn to silently stalk their prey. Even if the bell on the collar rings, it may ring too late, and bells offer no protection for helpless nestlings and fledglings.
Birds That Seem to Escape Don’t Get Away Unscathed: Contrary to popular belief that birds and other small animals can be rescued from a cat attack and get away unharmed, wildlife rehabilitation centers report that most small animals injured by cats die. Cats carry many types of bacteria and viruses in their mouths, some of which can be transmitted to their victims. Even if treatment is administered immediately, only about 20 percent of these patients survive the ordeal. A victim that looks perfectly healthy may die from internal hemorrhaging or injury to vital organs.
I know it's a tough decision, but cats can only be stopped from outcompeting the natural predators by being kept inside. Of course, the inventive cat owner builds a wire play area connected to the house, so the cat can enjoy being outside without raoming free to kill, Kill, KILL.
Peace,
LizO
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