Editor:
I am a cat owner and do not like what Ken Burton has to say (“Not So Cute,” Aug. 20). Specifically, he says that the migratory Bird Treaty Act makes it illegal to allow a cat to kill a native bird. Allow being the operative word here. My neighbors have a huge bird feeding station, which has turned into a cat feeding, and rat feeding station.
I do not allow my cats to kill birds, they do it on their own without permission. This is just what cats do. Putting a bib on a cat is cruel, not allowing it to live a normal life. And as far as “inflicting them on neighbors who don’t want them around” is concerned, there are cats in every neighborhood and they will go where they want to. My cats like to be both inside and outside. Cats have been around for thousands of years, and none have been credited with any bird going extinct.
People have dogs which are seen in my yard on many occasions, and poo in my yard too, which I clean up. Are these people inflicting their dogs upon me? I don’t think so. Dogs get loose and wander, just like cats do.
Keith Andersen, Arcata
This article appears in The $50 Million Henhouse.
Way to justify your little four legged Eco-terrorist! Domesticated cats should be declawed and inside pets only. EVERY feral housecat should be hunted to extinction to save our native songbirds and other small critters. As an irresponsible pet owner, you want to let your cat do the damage it is genetically engineered to do. Just like the owner of a cage trained pit bull is responsible for the damage it may do to other dogs and people, YOU are responsible for the death and destruction your pet inflicts on our collective habitat. Shame on you for not keeping your murderous little beast inside.
The majority of individuals living in this hick city you call Eureja just have nothing better to do but find worthless causes to complain about. Let’s worry about getting these run down streets repaired, getting rid of that eye-sore Blue Herron on Broadway, stop the blatant discrimination at the Humboldt County Department of Social Services, ridding the City of these worthless bums, stop the hate crimes e.g., happening in this City–a racist wanting all the [EDIT] off the block. The old mindset of this community needs to just shut up. This is the worst prejudiced community by far in California. You worry about cats killing birds what about those worthless bums pissing around the buildings in Old Town and causing such a foul odor?
if there are people so concerned about cats killing the birds here’s what you can do. Organize a group of people that does not have anything better to do have them meet at the Twenty Thirty Park that is the west side of Eureka located off Buhne and Summer. With cages and/or boxes go block to block collecting all the stray cats, stray dogs, and the bums strung out on drugs that are camped out underneath the trees. That would be a start. After that, start knocking on the doors of lawyers and judges and have them enforce Orders to remove the old railroad trains near the waterfront. There is slots of projects to keep anyone busy in this Cty instead if complaining about cats killing birds. Next project is to create good paying jobs so people can support themselves and their families. This City will never moved forward because of your petty issues over cats.
Get a life!
I agree with the writer about people and their issues about cats attacking birds. This City needs to improve their infrastructure.
Aurelio Casillas
I doubt we will ever convince enough people to to change the the way they ‘manage’ their cats to make a significant difference in their negative affect on wildlife. The unfortunate fact of the matter is that most people don’t value wildlife enough to care that much. Just read some of the posts here to get an idea of what peoples priorities are. Personally, i don’t care as much about people pissing on buildings, even though i smell it regularly in Old Town. The number of cats out there that have ‘owners’ must be a very small fraction of the total number of cats that are wreaking havoc on wild birds and other critters. I don’t think cat owners is the most effective piece of the problem to focus efforts. Feral cats likely kill far more birds than cats who are cared for and fed by their owners, as they are effectively part of the wildlife and MUST kill in order to survive. There has been much debate about spay/neuter programs and it seems to have generally settled with an overall acceptance of spay-neuter-release programs. Of course there are those on both sides that oppose this approach, but it seems to be the vast central accepted strategy. I say let it be as such. Of course, people should be encouraged to take responsibility for their cats natural behavior that kills birds, and there are many things that can be done. If you have bird feeders, feeding areas, put a fence around them. This wont save entire species or populations, but hey, individual lives matter, right? Loss of habitat through deforestation, conversion, development and ultimately human overpopulation must be more important than the irresponsibility of pet owners. At least most pet owners show that they have affection for animals. I know of more than a few scientists/birders who seem to lack that. I think there is much greater good to be done with far less resistance by continuing to nurture an appreciation for nature and wildlife through schools and public outreach — opening the eyes of our youth to the wonders of nature, helping them to see their connection with it, and dissolving fears of it. If we can achieve more of that, the rest will fall in place.