Special tags to measure how often cats kill

Electronic tracking will test scientists' theory that Britain's 9m feline pets slay 150m animals a year

Robin McKie, science editor The Observer, Sunday 15 February 2009

Wildlife researchers have hired the services of some unusual helpers: 200 neighbourhood cats equipped with electronic tags. The animals have been recruited in an attempt to discover how much wildlife destruction is wrought by feline pets.

Some experts believe Britain's 9m cats could be killing more than 150m birds, mice, rabbits, moles and other creatures every year. For species such as the house sparrow - whose numbers are dwindling sharply - cat predation could be a serious threat. Others, however, say cats mainly kill sick, weak or old creatures and are not a major problem.



The Reading University project, led by Rebecca Dulieu, a biologist, has been set up to provide answers, using electronic tracking and computing analysis to monitor cat movements in unprecedented detail. "We know what cats do in our homes - they sleep," said Dulieu. "But we have virtually no idea of what they get up to outdoors, particularly at night. Now we can find out."

A typical project recruit is Guinness, an 11-year-old black moggie owned by Robert Davey, an IT engineer. He has been given a diary to record his cat's kill record and a plastic bag to store the bodies. These are then analysed by Dulieu.

"We have found our cats are bringing back, on average, 4.8 dead animals a year," Dulieu said. "Most are mice but there are also rats, dormice and shrews. Birds make up about a third of the total. One cat even brought back a weasel."

The kill rate found by Dulieu would therefore suggest that British cats bring back about 40m creatures a year to their homes. However, previous studies have also indicated that only 30% of dead animals are actually returned to homes. Large prey, such as rabbits, are too heavy, while very small creatures are usually eaten on the spot, for example.

That analysis suggests, in turn, that the average cat's annual kill record must be closer to 16 - which in turn suggests that about 145m wild animals are perishing at the paws and claws of the nation's feline population every year. However, even that figure may be an underestimate. Some studies put the cat's kill return rate at about only 20% - which would raise their overall toll even further, to almost 200m. "The trouble is that we do not have enough reliable data about cats' outdoor activities, especially at dark," said Dulieu. "We could be overestimating or underestimating their kill return rate quite significantly.

"For the first time, cats will be fitted with data loggers that will show their movements, range and behaviour 24 hours a day. We will know when one kills an animal - typically by the way it plays with its prey.

"We will then be able to work out precisely how many animals a cat is killing every year, and from that estimate a national figure. It will be a pretty formidable number."

• Pets are are being abandoned or killed by owners unable to afford to keep them, animal rescue centres report. "From being a nation of animal lovers, it seems people are increasingly counting the pennies and realising how many of them are spent caring for their pets," said Scott Craddock, of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.

The Blue Cross has reported a 30% rise in the number of animals being brought in and the RSPCA said its centres were "full to bursting".

This article was first published on guardian.co.uk at 00.01 GMT on Sunday 15 February 2009. It appeared in the Observer on Sunday 15 February 2009 on p23 of the News section. It was last updated at 00.30 GMT on Sunday 15 February 2009.

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Paying for feral cat colonies - Port Colborne City Council has a loose connection!

Letter to Port Colborne City Council re: $5,000 grant to trap/neuter/release 20 'feral' cats on the lakeshore.

FERAL or DOMESTIC CATS ARE NOT 'WILD' ANIMALS

Dear Mayor Badawey and council members,

Re: Port may spend $5,000 to trap, neuter and release feral cats (Tribune Wed. Feb. 4, 2009)

With disbelief, I read that Port council is considering a $5,000 grant to round up feral cats along the lakeshore. Mayor Vance Badawey appears to have sense when he acknowledges this as only a draft approval. Councillor Barb Butters on the other hand, was quoted as saying “Sometimes the stars align in the right place at the right time.” Let’s hope Mayor Badawey puts his ability to good use and attempts to realign the stars in Councillor Butters’ head.



Council also discussed their need to trim the budget stating, “There is "still a lot of work to do.” Reporter Mark Tayti summed up by saying it will take sharper pencils than were being wielded. He’s correct. Council can trim $5,000 off the top by not approving a poorly thought out plan to spend taxpayers’ money - on just 20 feral cats for whom this plan is no more than pie in the sky.

Council has an obligation to protect indigenous wildlife – not cats. Wild animals are a heritage - a natural resource entrusted to all of us. This earth is their home. Lake Erie is part of a major flyway for thousands of migratory wild birds, a stopover point on their arduous northward journey. Those species have a right to be there and we must preserve and protect them, not a select group of 20 cats.

Feral cats are not native wild animals. They are domesticated animals that live in despicable conditions having been dumped at some point by irresponsible pet owners. Within 2-3 yrs, they become distrustful of humans – but that reaction does not magically transform them into wild animals. It is possible to regain the trust of some of those cats and every effort to do that should be the first step. These are cats who have forgotten how to interact with human beings.

Spaying/neutering/vaccinating, releasing, and continuing to feed feral cat colonies is wasting taxpayers’ money. I firmly believe that it is far more merciful to trap those cats and humanely end their suffering if there are no other options. It is no different than a dog that for various reasons continues to display aggression, can’t be trusted as a family companion animal, and can’t be in the company of people. Is anyone proposing to spay/neuter and release those dogs into feral colonies? The city has a contract for animal control with the Welland and District Humane Society and one would assume that rounding up lost, stray, or homeless cats is part of that mandate.

It’s mind boggling that any humane society would advocate housing and feeding cats outdoors as being acceptable. The damage that domestic cats do to wildlife is well documented. If they aren’t aware of that fact, they should be. The suffering these cats continue to endure living in such colonies, is another important factor that has not been addressed. Why would Port Colborne want to promote that?

As a provincially and federally licensed wildlife rehabilitator, the sheer number of indigenous wild animals I admit to our rehabilitation facility that have been maimed beyond hope, by cats - feral or otherwise - is shocking. It’s a never-ending revolving door. Although cat caught birds compromise the largest numbers, a bored, well fed pet cat won’t hesitate to maim, toss, and chew up a small mammal – just for fun.

Cats also carry Pasteurella multocida bacteria in their saliva, and if antibiotics aren’t administered within 24 hrs of a bite, or contact with that saliva and ingestion of the bacteria, it proves fatal to the bird or mammal. In the grand scheme of things, it may not appear to be such a tragic loss when more common bird species are cat injured or killed (although that is not an acceptable part of nature in any way) but when I see less common birds in this area maimed by cats owned by irresponsible people it is disheartening.

A baseless excuse at best is the argument that a domestic cat will only predate on the weakest of any given species as if that somehow makes it ok for them to kill wildlife. It is true that the weakest of any species is subject to predation and that this is the way of nature and wild animals are part of the food chain. It is not true however, that cats are wild animals so they are not part of that chain. Their presence outdoors is un-natural. Those who claim that cats help by eating and killing only pest species such as mice need to remind themselves that the mouse would likely have been another wild animals dinner and now it’s been deprived of that meal by a domestic cat.

If Vogel and her group want to help these cats, then by all means, trap them and take them home to assess them and care for them. It is a false claim that they can never be indoor cats again. With time and attention, some of them will come around and settle in and others will be content to keep distant and remain shy, from their new owner, but still live a far better life indoors. Those too traumatized to forget the horrors inflicted on them certainly don’t deserve to live appalling lives, being dumped back outside by any group of people using taxpayers dollars.

People who promote TNR (trap/neuter/release) believe that it’s humane to put these cats back outside. Facts belie that. These cats have greatly shortened life spans, are subject to death by vehicle impact, territorial fights, disease, parasites and more. Any vaccinations given do not last a lifetime, e.g. there is no lifetime rabies vaccine. Booster shots must be continued or these cats will once again be subjected to diseases that they will pass on to wildlife or other cats they come in contact with (feline panleukopenia for example.) They will be infested with fleas, ticks and tapeworms within months of being released, and will be carrying a veritable banquet of internal parasites continuing to re-infect themselves and others.

They are forced to endure the ravages of the seasons, suffering through our highest heat spells all the way down to our harshest winter periods. Is the colony caregiver going to be there when the winds are blowing and the temperatures are sub zero and roads are impassable? How long will a bucket of water stay unfrozen on such days or dishes of food remain mould, maggot, and fly free in hot summer months?

The idea of putting out food for them is fundamentally wrong. It is an open invitation to other species to come into the area that would normally not be there and creates an imbalance in nature. Free food is free food in the wild animal kingdom, those wild prey species don’t care if food was put there for the cats. Food attracts rodents, which in turn attract more wildlife.
There’s one more thing these feral cat colonies will do – encourage the irresponsible dumping of more unwanted cats and kittens in that same area once word gets out. For transparency to the citizens (taxpayers funds), the location needs to be disclosed, not kept secret. What provisions and oversights are in place to ensure these animals are treated well? Who oversees that?

Numerous folks know all too well that if they feel sorry for a stray cat and feed it, then contact the humane society for help, they are told that you are considered the legal owner of the cat if you are feeding and provide care for it. Justifiably so, the humane society cannot help if the cat has a caretaker/owner. Does the city of Port Colborne intend to become legal owners of these cats? They will be if they provide this money to this group. This is not funding for a picnic, a parade, or a festival.

The group spouts statistics and states that what has happened in San Francisco will work the same in Port Colborne. Wake up! San Francisco - population: 799,183 (2007); Port Colborne – population: 18,450. San Francisco – 16 million tourists in 2007, economy - major financial, biomedical, biotechnology centre with highly skilled workforce and a median family income of $67,809 (2005). It is absurd and irresponsible to make that comparison. It also fails to take into account that much more than just a TNR program was initiated in San Francisco and is paid for in full by the city. Port is a unique and vibrant community - but it’s not San Francisco.

Stray cats in distress should be captured by the agency currently being paid to do so. Port Colborne already pays the Welland & District SPCA for animal control – why is it necessary to pay a second group for the same job?

If this new group wants to assist, then work with the SPCA and after the claiming period passes take the cats home to foster them for individual assessment and evaluation. Rehabilitate them. Those that cannot be integrated back to living as indoor cats in a safe home setting should then be humanely euthanized. Give them that gift of freedom from the wretched life you are attempting to force them to endure. It is a far more merciful thing to do than what is being proposed.

Numbers (not verified) such as 5,000 cats euthanized in Niagara in 2007 have been tossed out. Where are these figures published and how were they verified? If these figures are verifiable, then the problem needs to be addressed in ways that are more effective. More time and money needs to be spent to educate people about pet ownership, to make identification on cats mandatory and capturing strays routine, so that they can be traced to their owners just like dogs.

If the city has an excess in their budget of $5,000 to give away, there are far better causes than this for them to spend that money on. What value is the city assessing for each native wild animal these cats will kill and maim? That weakened bird or eastern cottontail rabbit was destined to be dinner for another prey wild animal further up the food chain in nature but now it will have lost its dinner thanks to a domestic cat. That resting bird taking a pause from a long migration may not be able to avoid predation by these cats. Who will pick up those bodies and bring them in for care? The lakeshore they stopped at belongs to them, not the cats.

Before council arrives at a final decision on this funding, each member of council owes it to himself or herself to read the facts on why these colonies do not work. For the truth about feral cat colonies, visit the “TNR Reality Check” website at

http://www.tnrrealitycheck.com/welcome.asp

Mary-Catharine Kuruziak, Manager,
Niagara Wildlife Haven AWC, CWS
Welland, Ontario
http://www.niagarawildlifehaven.org/

NOTE: Send an email to Port Council members letting them know that you do not support feral cat colonies or cats outdoors. Wild animals have a right to be on this earth, and as the expression goes, this is their earth. We all share it. Outdoor cats kill MILLIONS of wild birds and animals each year. It is tragic. It is heartbreaking. It has to stop.

Port Colborne Council Members Email Addresses:
mayor@portcolborne.ca;
billsteele@portcolborne.ca;
frankdibartolomeo@portcolborne.ca;
domenicursini@portcolborne.ca;
beakenny@portcolborne.ca;
garybruno@portcolborne.ca;
barbarabutters@portcolborne.ca;
kateleigh@portcolborne.ca;
davidbarrick@portcolborne.ca

Please cc us so we can count you in as a supporter of wildlife in Niagara. admin@niagarawildlifehaven.org

Also call the Welland and District Humane Society and ask them how they can possibly support cats being kept outdoors and having to endure the ravages of the seasons, parasite infestations, exposure to predation through outdoor feeding, and so on, when those cats have no home? How is that humane? Unfortunately, unlike other humane societies their website does not have any useful information on it (other than a pet adoption link), nor does it list any contact information for them other than a telephone number and that is 905-735-1552. You'll have to limit your calls to their office hours.

And please, don't tell us that feral cats cannot be rehabilitated. That is bunk! We have more than one so called feral cat here that we have opened our heart and home to, and had great success. Some of them have turned into deluxe lap cats, a few remain shy, but one look in their eyes let's you know that they are grateful to be able to live indoors with us, even if they hide periodically. At least their hiding places are indoors, they are warm, dry, loved and well fed. They would rather be here than living in a feral cat colony outside.

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Everything has to start somewhere...

Well. It's a freaking deep subject. And wells are wet too. Usually filled with water, kind of like our house has been for the past month and a half. I'm currently writing an article called "Two Floods and a Royal Flush". Watch for it here. Considering it's January and part of February we're talking about here, you'd think flooding would be the least of our concerns, but noooooo. Not in this cursed house.

Have decided (making decisions can be dangerous as you all know) to post all the articles I've written for the Tribune. So this is where you'll find them.

Today though, we pause with heavy hearts and sadness and can only add our sympathies to those families whose lives have been touched by the tragedy of last night's commuter plane crash in Clarence NY (just west of Buffalo NY). Fifty souls were lost in the devastating crash. I know what tragedy feels like firsthand, and my heart bleeds for those people who lost family, and friends in the crash. Buffalo is a mere twenty minutes from here so it's like a 'neighbour' to those of us who live here. We mourn with them all. May they find the strength to carry on and may they never forget the memories of those they lost.

Keep reading. It's good for what ails you.

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To Feed or Not to Feed - Wildlife in Winter

Feeding wildlife (or not) in winter months is a subject often discussed but never fully resolved. There is no real hard and fast answer. A recent article in the Tribune suggested feeding wild birds in winter helps them survive and gave numerous artificial feeding methods and foods to use.

Those suggestions will not help wild birds survive our winters because they are un-natural solutions, with no basis in science. They complicate things by encouraging wild animals to become dependent on insufficient diets.

Woodpeckers for example, do need fats and proteins in their diets but not those found in commercially prepared suet. They need animal protein from insects – not rendered cow fat. 75% of a Downy Woodpeckers winter diet consists of insects and other larva that winter in tree bark. Woodpeckers spend days foraging on specific trees digging out these pests, some of which are harmful to the trees and to farmers crops.

As human beings, we want to believe we are doing good things for wildlife - that we’re helping them. Leaving food out for wild animals, does not allow them to be wild, nor fend for themselves. More birds have likely become ill and died, than have survived, due to misguided feeding by humans.

Feeders are left outside, rain or snow. The contents routinely become soaked and can quickly mold. If just one sick bird feeds there, it leaves bacteria that thrives in that moisture behind, and passes that on to other birds who visit. Suet can become rancid very quickly. The type and quality of seeds we place in feeders is dubious at best; the majority of such seed mixes are corn based. That may be nutritious for some species but is not suitable for all. Feeding breadcrumbs is unwise. Bread is not a part of any bird’s natural diet in the wild – have you ever seen a bird in a grocery store buying bread? Bread contains preservatives and additives that may be harmful to these fragile creatures. You may feel rather noble in thinking you’re doing good, but are you really? The diet you’re providing may be very inadequate for optimum health.

Spilled birdseed, breadcrumbs and the likes, attracts all manner of other wildlife to the area. They may not be so desirable to have in your backyard and not quite as cute as the birds you want to watch. Those living near you will not enjoy the mouse and rat parade under those feeders, if spilled seed is not promptly cleaned up. Nor will you (or the neighbours) be thrilled when those rodents start looking for a place to call home as winter approaches.

There’s another detriment to feeding wild birds that causes high mortality and that’s death by cat. Attracting birds to your yard also attracts all the free roaming pet cats in your area and possibly some feral cats as well. People think that because Fluffy has a bell on his collar all birds will hear it and fly away safely, are mistaken. Parent birds do not teach ‘bell avoidance’ to their offspring. It’s just not part of the repertoire in raising their young. The same people think that because Fluffy is well fed, he couldn’t possibly leave their yard, or go after any birds or small mammals. Too many people are irresponsible pet owners and allow their cats to roam freely without thinking for a moment what those cats do to native wildlife. If you care about Fluffy - keep him inside.

Wild animals survive through a natural process not controlled by human beings. Food sources don’t disappear just because it’s winter. Wildlife is genetically programmed and hard wired at birth - as they mature, they instinctively know how to forage for food and find shelter. Those unable to do so, or who are imperfect in some way, will not make it, regardless of what we do. That is the way of nature.

If you truly want to help wild birds, learn about the species native to your area, the types of plants, shrubs, grasses, and trees that support those birds. Grow those. You will attract these beautiful species, naturally. For non-migratory songbirds, these plantings provide food through the winter months. Provide shelter with tall, thick shrubbery in a corner away from prevailing wind so they can utilize this in inclement weather. Make sure these areas are cat proof.

If you do decide to put out bird feeders, don’t fill them on a daily basis. Do it on an intermittent and unreliable basis so you don’t cause the birds to become dependent. Empty them weekly, and scrub in hot soapy water with a bit of bleach to disinfect them then rinse twice more. Dry naturally.

Artificial feeding of wildlife causes major imbalances in nature. Birds may remain in the area because they have become dependent on handouts, habituated to humans and rather than migrating, they stay. Evidence of this is available - just go to the Welland River near the aqueduct. Artificial feeding also invites other species to the area that may predate on the very birds you want to enjoy. Make your choice wisely.

Mary-Catharine Kuruziak is a member of the Tribune Community Editorial Board and manager of Niagara Wildlife Haven. Their website is at www.niagarawildlifehaven.org

(C) The Tribune. This article was published in The Tribune 11 February 2009

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