Caution, cat lovers? Toxoplasmosis & suicide

[Blind groper]

Here in New Zealand, cats are a disaster. Our native birds evolved in an environment free of mammalian predators, and the native birds have no defenses. A single cat can kill hundreds of our rare and endangered birds in a single year.

In spite of that, people insist on owning cats, and very few do anything to reduce the wandering and hunting activities. I have come close to blows with several of my neighbours over this issue, since I live in a place surrounded by native rain forest, which includes a small (sadly reducing) population of our vulnerable flightless kiwi bird.

My view of cat owners is not very positive.

[hadespussercats]

Here in New Zealand, cats are a disaster. Our native birds evolved in an environment free of mammalian predators, and the native birds have no defenses. A single cat can kill hundreds of our rare and endangered birds in a single year.

In spite of that, people insist on owning cats, and very few do anything to reduce the wandering and hunting activities. I have come close to blows with several of my neighbours over this issue, since I live in a place surrounded by native rain forest, which includes a small (sadly reducing) population of our vulnerable flightless kiwi bird.

My view of cat owners is not very positive.

Well, cats can be an environmental menace. But then, so are people.

My cat's been fixed, and she doesn't go outside. And we got her from a shelter-- we weren't supporting cat breeding. In fact, the shelter we got her from supports the catch, spay, and release of homeless cats in the city-- so we're doing what we can to reduce the problem.

I don't blame you for being angry at pet owners who are irresponsible. Not all of us are.