The Posting of the other day discussing domestic cats, the toll they take on wildlife and the emotions and controversies that surround the debate between "wildlife people" and "cat people" registered some informative and thoughtful commentary from blog readers Sally Mackle and Carmel Severson.............See below for their equally passionate and well thought out responses regarding this serious topic

From: smackle49@gmail.com
.Sally Mackle
Date: Sat, 8 Sep 2012 22:52:28 -0700
To: Rick Meril
re: Feral and domestic Cats and wildlife

hi rick,

As someone who has worked for domesticated as well as wild critters for decades, I can tell you that everyone would like the feral cat population to be eliminated entirely.  but this is not going to happen as long as people are irresponsible and cats prolific reproductive potential exists, neither of these factors are going to change any time during our lifetimes, and probably never will.

  If bird lovers are serious about reducing the impact of cats on birds, then they should be donating to and supporting spay/neuter.  pet owners are not going to keep their cats indoors, even though they are counseled to do so.

Pet cats are as responsible, if not more so, than feral cats for predating on birds. I  know we've discussed this before, but it would be nice to sight some other studies that show different results from those coming from wildlife advocates.  Those studies can be found at alley cat allies website and the aspca, and man others.  T

The major conventional humane organizations we are all familiar with advocate trap neuter and release for feral cats.  go to aspca, hsus, best friends in utah etc.  for more info.

thanks,

sally
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From: "Carmel Severson"


Date: Sun, 9 Sep 2012 14:04:23 -0400

To: Rick Meril

Subject: Feral/Domestic Cats


Rick - that was an excellent article about the reason we should keep our companion cats under wraps.

I love cats, I have had house cats since childhood & once upon a time I too would have been horrified of someone telling me my cat should not & could not have its freedoms. But having opened my mind & studied wildlife, I grew to have a greater respect for other creatures & knowledge of how we all interact,

 I can aknowledge that our pets have become an extension of how we have messed up in the world. Sad but true. I today fully support having non native cats controlled,  my pets behavior curtailed for the health & well being of wildlife