Living with killers
In the Guardian: Electronic tracking will test scientists’ theory that Britain’s 9m feline pets slay 150m animals a year.
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.
Ever wonder what your cats do outside the house?
Answers to questions you might be asking, unless you wandered onto this site purely by accident >>>
February 16th, 2009 at 03:05
Hungry cats prowl the neighbourhood for food left uncovered on dining tables or kitchen tops. Oftentimes, you would hear a human scream just before dinner time, followed by a flying tsinelas.
I grew up in a household dominated by cats; 10 humans vs. 15 cats, at one time. But since our cats were well fed, they mostly chased mice or they were chased by bully kids.
But nightime is a different story.
February 16th, 2009 at 23:47
I always worry when my big orange tabby is not at home at night. So when he comes home to feed I lock him in for the entire night. He’s either got scars and other wounds after fighting with other neighborhood cats, or motor oil stains all over his body (my cat is addicted to the stuff, he sleeps under my car or my neighbors’ cars sometimes.) Occasionally he pounces on lizards, cockroaches, and mice. When he was smaller he’d look up attentively to scan for birds, though he never really succeeded in catching one. But I think he would not hesitate to eat them if he can catch them.
February 18th, 2009 at 12:38
i’m not sure where i could mail you but you should see this: http://www.catsthatlooklikehitler.com/cgi-bin/seigbest.pl