October 9, 2020 – An article published recently in the highly respected peer-reviewed Journal of Conservation Biology focuses on key issues within the ongoing debate over how to control feral cat populations. We found it quite interesting and think it is a worthwhile read.

Some key takeaways:

• While cats are predators, arguments that community (sometimes referred to as feral) cats are a main contributor to mass extinctions were found to be both overblown and oversimplified, according to an interdisciplinary team of scientists and ethicists
• In some cases, there is evidence that cats can contribute to the the conservation of endangered birds by preying on rats and mice (who eat bird eggs)
• Ultimately, both the well-being of cats, and the survival of threatened species are legitimate concerns, and there is a need for a more rigorous approach to the topic