Don't Shoot the Cat!

So here's an interesting debate. Folks all around Wisconsin met tonight to decide whether or not it would be a good idea to declare open season on feral cats in rural areas. The folks favoring it say that the 1.2 or so million feral cats roaming WI outnumber other mid-size predators (raccoons, weasels, etc.) in some places, and are decimating small bird populations. They state that there should be no issue and no risk to a responsible cat owner who makes sure their cats are collared and under control.

The folks against it say that there's no reason to declare open season on cats, and that the problems they are causing are blown way out of porportion. They vote for compassion, not extermination.

What's my take on the issue? Glad you asked. I don't really know where I stand. I had a mother cat and kittens living under the shed at my house this summer. I would leave it food sometimes, but really didn't need to. Those cats are very good hunters. My neighbours took it upon them to trap the cats and hand them over to animal control. I was kinda sad when the cats left. However, this measure is only for rural WI, and I can see how lots of cats could cause a problem and would need to be controlled. So even though they're cute, they're not a part of the ecosystems around here, they're not domestic, so they should be controlled as necessary...and if that means having an open season on cats, then I guess I approve.


What do you think?