A New Book Called ‘Cat Wars’ Calls For Killing Free-Ranging Cats

[tapper]

37. Cruel and unworkable

I don't believe a 'kill them all' policy could really work, and it would only increase suffering and (indirectly) encourage those who are inclined to cruelty against animals.

The existence of feral cats won't disappear as long as too many humans consider cats as little more than commodities to be uncaringly disposed of, when they become inconvenient.

As long as there are ferals, I think that the trap-neuter-release programs are the most humane approach. There are also programs which help place some of these cats with companies or farms to become 'working' pest-control cats.

A good site to learn more about one TNR+ effort is http://tinykittens.com or Facebook.com/tinykittens . This group has, in the last year and a half, neutered about 95% of a 200+ cat colony, pioneered capturing feral pregnant cats, and giving them a safe, cage-free rooms to birth and raise their babies (with the babies socialized and adopted, and mom spayed and, in most cases, released back to the colony).

They've also managed to socialize and adopt out well over a dozen feral adult cats and older kittens, including one who is half-blind and has a heart condition.

And, of course, there are also the kitten cams. At the moment, one cam (http://livestream.com/tinykittens/felicity) watches a pair of rambunctious, 6-week-old bengal kitties, whose mom was rescued from a backyard breeder. The other cam is on a dilute-calico, 16-month old feral who will be giving birth to her second and last litter in a couple of weeks (http://livestream.com/tinykittens/starling).

The TinyKittens approach is what she should all be supporting.

(Owned by one rescued black kitty, and one adopted black tuxedo.)