‘Here Kitty, Kitty, Kitty…” BLAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry: we could care less how people jump through mental hoops to justify it, but this is just one more sign of the brutalization of society — always couched with an intellectual justification…but there are some of us that’ll be resisting this one by signing petitions and writing letters:

Cat lovers might be outraged by the idea of allowing hunters to stalk their furry friends, but some naturalists say pet owners ought to take the proposal as a wake-up call to be more responsible.

The issue of whether to make feral cats an unprotected species, meaning they could be hunted and killed, was put before the Wisconsin Conservation Congress, an independent organization created by the state 70 years ago to take public input on conservation issues, last night. Representatives from 72 counties listened to residents’ concerns about the issue.

The proposal, which was raised five years ago and voted down by the congress, was revived after a 2004 University of Wisconsin study that found non-native feral cats were a threat to native animals such as lovebirds.

Estimates of the number of songbirds killed each year by feral cats in Wisconsin alone range from 8 million to 217 million, though the number is actually believed to be around 39 million, said Steven Oestreicher, the chairman of the congress.

“When you’re talking about millions and millions of songbirds in state, you’ve got take a harder look at this,” he said.

It was raised by a resident again during last spring’s Conservation Congress hearing in La Crosse County, after the university’s report, and the resolution passed 53-1, which put it on the agenda for this year’s congress…..

If most of the counties approve the proposal, the Conservation Congress could decide to recommend to the state Natural Resources Board that cats be listed as an unprotected species. If the board agrees, it would make the suggestion to the state legislature, which would have the final say in the matter.

I will admit I am PERSONALLY BIASED.

My 12 year old cat Clawdette was a feral kitten, found meowing and nearly starving at the doorstep of a private detective who was horribly allergic to cats. He took her in and loved this month old mangy kitten. There are many people and some groups in San Diego that work at helping feral cats and Clawdette (I chose the name and spelling of it) fell through the cracks.

He kept her even though he could barely breathe with her, and took her to the nearby vet, who called me because I had just lost my 14 year old cat to cancer. I was travelling and couldn’t agree to it — but he held onto her for me.

She has proven to be a wonderful pet. And I know people who work to help feral cats and limit the expansion of the population.

BOTTOM LINE: It is a fact that there is feral cat problem nationally. But we also know there are some people who’d just love to be able to feel alive and powerful by going out there and shooting some cats, just as some people jump through intellectual hoops to justify battering wide-eyed baby seals who never had a chance to live bloody and senseless. And we’re sure in their minds they have the intellectual justification for doing so. We wish them a happy life (well, almost..)

But there are other ways…but these folks would rather take the easy (and apparently for them FUN) way out.

Sorry. I love the birds (and as a teenager really loved the birds and the bees) but I’ll be one of those crazy ones signing petitions and writing letters on this one.

On the other hand, I see this photo of this proud, brave hunter above and it warms my heart..

RELATED LINKS 4 U:
Feral Cat Coalition (San Diego)
Alley Cat Allies
Feral Cat Info Page
Feral Cat Coaltion of Oregon
Aggie Feral Cat Alliance of Texas

And a lot more…



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