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"Cats Gone Wild" and the myth of "no kill" facilities.

We eliminated the feral cats in out rural jail facility, the former "county farm". The inmates fed the rodents (on purpose as well as through their not using trash cans and hiding food for later), and we had a rodent boom. This was blunted by trapping and poisoning, but then we had a vole explosion from the wilds. The cats were reintroduced and the problem with rats and voles has failed to reappear.

The cats are replacing the snakes, coyotes, raptors, mink, ferrets, skunks, etc who formerly, along with periodic grassfires, controlled the rodent population through predation. The cats require additonal feeding for health and to keep them dependent enough upon humans to allow trapping, spaying, and immunization, as well as removing sick or injured cats. The odd cat disappears through predation (by critters, not people), and frequently some of the kittens are informally adopted out.

But can this be official? No. It is under the counter...but it is the best solution.

If the population becomes too large, some are removed...I think to the County pound, where they are likely to be euthanized due to the overwhelming number of cats they receive (especially in the spring).

PS:a "dirty secret" of animal control. Organization like SPCA brag about being "no-kill" organizations. They may have a deal with the local authorities...the "no-kill" group comes and cherry-picks cats and dogs to adopt out, and in exchange drops off their unadoptables...to have one last try for a home, then euthanized.

posted by majroj on October 28, 2007 at 12:04 PM | link to this | reply

Re: I hate the tone of that article

Matie, you seem to be projecting something of your own on this article. The tone is meant to be ironic, irreverent, a touch of humor, but also a little sad at how helpless and a bit stupid we are as a species. Who said anything about extermination? Not me. You did.

posted by Cynthia on October 28, 2007 at 5:20 AM | link to this | reply

Re: You have left a great question and answer as well in the last line

Afzal, It's not clear to me I really had any answer...but if you see one there, let me know;-)

posted by Cynthia on October 28, 2007 at 5:17 AM | link to this | reply

Re: Thanks Kayzzaman!

posted by Cynthia on October 28, 2007 at 5:16 AM | link to this | reply

I hate the tone of that article

Humans and cats should be exterminated then? That's just irrational.