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It seems there is some measure of truth in this, i.e. feral cats keeping down other introduced predators, but extreme caution would need to be exercised about extrapolating the finding from one island study where equilibrium may have been reached.
I'd accept your title if amended to "Feral cats aren't all that bad on small islands that also have rats."
Please, don't not encourage the wacky feral-cat fanatics here.
Posted by: Sven DiMIlo | January 10, 2008 12:37 PM
This is a comment from over on Laelaps. I have to agree. Even though I am a huge cat lover. Too much of any good thing can become a bad thing sometimes. It's hard to believe, but that applies to cats too. :~)
Dave Briggs :~)
Yeah, I was going to say that too. Feral cats are decimating the birds around here. There's no ambiguity or nuance to what's happening -- I've seen two birds caught in front of my eyes.
In populated areas feral cats are subsidized by humans, deliberately or accidentally, making to worse yet for the birds. "A well-fed cat is the best hunter". They don't necessarily need the birds for food, they're like sport hunters.
Everywhere outdoors in America is near endangered native birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles, and most birds are migratory to one extent or another. When you abandon one cat outside, knowing it is a destructive domestic animal, you are showing you prefer their "freedom" over the lives of our native fauna!
Do you come here often?