#Feral Cats

[some1s-sista]

Chica, the feral porch kitty enjoying her heated/insulated house on this cold morning.

[rebeccathenaturalist]

A study that just came out demonstrates that outdoor cats are known to prey on over two thousands species of wild animal, from mammals to birds to insects. That includes 347 species that are endangered, threatened or otherwise of concern, and they've been a key factor of the permanent extinction of over 60 species. And while cats may not always bring home what they catch, chances are if your cat is allowed to roam unsupervised outside, they're killing your local wildlife.

Why is this so important? Worldwide, wild animal populations have decreased in number by 69% in the past fifty years; that means that in my lifetime (born in 1978), the sheer number of wild animals in the world has been decreased by over half. Even "common" wild species are less numerous than before. While habitat population is the single biggest cause of species endangerment and extinction overall, outdoor and indoor/outdoor cats are a significant cause as well. In fact, they are the single biggest cause of human-caused mortality in wild birds.

Most importantly, it's very, very simple to fix this problem: keep your cats indoors, and spay and neuter them. If your cat is bored, they need more enrichment, and there are plenty of ways to make your home more exciting for them, from bringing home cardboard boxes for them to explore, to playing with them more often. If you want your cat to get some outdoor enrichment, leash train them (yes, it can be done!) If you have the space and resources, build them a catio where they can be safe from outdoor dangers like predators and cars, while also keeping local wildlife safe from them.

If you just give into their whining and pawing at the door, then they know that that's what they have to do to get their way; I know it's a tough transition, but it's worth it in the end for everyone involved. Cats are domesticated, which means they are not native anywhere in the world; there are exactly zero ecosystems in which they belong, save for the safety of your home. It is your responsibility to give them an enriching environment without taking the shortcut of letting them go wreak havoc outside.

[rinibayphoto]

[kittypatch]

Brownie & Grey doing their morning greeting. 😍

[antoinemaillard]

An illustration I did in this week New Yorker for an article about feral cats in California by Jonathan Franzen. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/01/01/how-the-no-kill-movement-betrays-its-name

AD Stephanie Wu

[fannyyann]

nhl: YOU KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS 🍾

[alfedurka]

Friendly kitty

[spinus-pinus]

Domestic Cat Felis catus

2/16/2023 Disney California Adventure Park, California

One of the more well-known Disney cats, because she can frequently be seen hanging out near Grizzly River Run and being admired by parkgoers. Her name is Francisco! The Disneyland Resort actively encourages these feral cats to hang around, as they help with rodent control, but will remove any that become aggressive towards people.

[postingwasteland]

“Finally, peace and stability”

“This family makes me want to murder people”

[pati-ka]

Flow (2024) AKA Straume

[reptile-garden]

He’s regretting his life choices

[manber]

Poor Shadowsight

[rinibayphoto]

[kittypatch]

Izzy flashback ❤️❤️❤️

[demonsthenes13-blog]

dragon people be like, "this is my little trash goblin, I fed her some sheepies and gave her a bath and now she lives here"

[fannyyann]

of course matthew's the only one to eat poutine straight from the mini cup