Sometimes our love pets This can lead us to big mistakes. For example, we may think that saving cat being locked up at home is inhuman, and that he would be much happier hanging around and only coming back to us when he wants to. Unfortunately, while this may seem like an ode to their freedom, it is a condemnation of many other animal species. And the fact is that, although they look at us with eyes like they have never broken plates, cats are natural hunters, so they can significantly affect the world. urban biodiversity.
This is because if we release them, they will become invasive species. That is, the animals they are not in their natural environment and therefore can dangerously affect and displace existing species.
To help us understand each other, an example of an invasive species is the hippopotamus, which Pablo Escobar relocated a few decades ago to his private zoo in Colombia. After the death of the drug dealer, the animals continued to reproduce freely in an environment alien to them, influencing river biodiversity with their faeces and endangering species that already existed there naturally. There are also invasive plantswhich grow so fast that they crowd out their relatives, or even large predators invaders that upset the balance of some animal populations that become their victims. What happens to cats would be exactly the last. But what can we do to fix it?
Cat as a hunter
It is not known exactly how cats appeared in our lives. In fact, according to the biologist and popularizer of science Angel Lion Honeycomb in his book History of invasive speciesit is not even clear what their origin is, although the species from which they are descended is clear: wild african cats, Felice lubica.
It is believed that they may have entered Europe and the Mediterranean Basin hand in hand with the Egyptians, Phoenicians and Romans precisely because of their hunting skills. They were so good that they could be used for pest control animals such as mice. However, over time, it was noticed that in fact their favorite victims are birds.
In a study published in 2018, a curious experiment was described in this regard. This involved leaving a group of cats in contact with the colony 100 rats for 79 days. Further, it was observed how many rodents were caught. And, against all odds, they only killed two. However, it has also been observed that when the expenditures roamed nearby, these small mammals would disappear, mainly because They hid in their holes.
group fight
Unlike rats, birds get into their nets much more. In fact, in his book, Leon Panal tells how this preference for felines led to late 19th century a kind of gang war will be created in germany, in the most fucking style West Side Story. On the one hand, we find Volgelshützerprotectors of birds, and on the other with KatzenshützerOr cat protectors.
The former advocated that cats be removed from the streets in order to save the birds they hunted. On the other hand, the latter claimed that the hunt was in full swing. nature of cats and that it would be unfair to lock them up. All this led to a lot of controversy, ending with some of the bird advocates taking justice into their own hands and putting an end to the lives of birds roaming the area. It was wrong, no doubt. But they were right about one thing: cats are an invasive species that pose a danger to humanity. local fauna.
Numbers that say everything
According to a study published in 2013, cats are killed every year in the US alone. 1.3 to 4 billion birds and 6.3 to 22.3 billion mammals. This may contradict the sympathy for birds described above. However, we must remember that they fly and are more difficult prey. However, when they can, he prefers them.
In any case, except for the little mouse that got into the house, most of these species hunting abroadso these are street cats or indoor cats whose owners release them regularly.
Don’t let them leave the house
We have already seen that cats were artificially brought to our territory a very long time ago. And that, moreover, over time they were domesticated to give rise to a new species: Felis silvestris catusbetter known as domestic cat. As the name suggests, this animal should live in our homes and everything else is an invasion.
explained it hypertext Himself Angel Leon Cellular. “Ecosystem of the cat sofa“, the verdict. “They are part of that group of species that we humans have assimilated into our systems and that in a certain way no longer fit into what we consider nature.” Therefore, the considerations we have to make with them are different. They must live at home and not go out unsupervised.In addition, this also includes parks and gardenseven if they are private.
“There is an aspect of urban or rural green environments, both public and private, that is often overlooked. These places can serve, and in many cases they do, as a haven for urban biodiversity. There are many species of animals and plants that have shown incredible tenacity in colonizing the anthropic environment. I believe that this biodiversity can be seen as part of the heritage of cities. Watching birds or other organisms in cities can be very rewarding, and there are even cases where endangered species enter cities. The administration and citizens should facilitate the penetration of these species into the urban environment, which we will not achieve if cats roam in our gardens and private gardens.”
Angel Leon Panal, biologist and science communicator
It’s also for your own good.
Last but not least, although cats born huntersThey are not ready to live abroad. Outside the home, they are exposed to hazards such as traffic, which can put their lives at risk. Therefore, it is not just about protecting other species from cats, but about protect them too. “As a person who lives in the same apartment with two cats, I feel uncomfortable letting them out on the street, where anything can happen to them,” says Leon Panal. “Personally, this is not only an environmental issue, but also the safety of our pets.”
What about cat colonies?
As for cat colonies, this is a very controversial topic. These are places where a group of people provide food and shelter for stray cats. Because they live outdoors, they endanger urban biodiversity, which is why some people think the easiest solution is to throw them away.
At the opposite extreme, however, are animal advocates who claim to be taking their own measures to eliminate them. minimize risks. For this, the trend must be sterilize all animals and in case someone takes advantage of the colony to abandon the puppies, take them to protective find them a human family.
The problem is that with the elders this option is no longer feasible, because they are so wild that they couldn’t live with anyone. For this reason, colony volunteers try to ensure that they always have food so that they hunt as little as possible. Of course, this is not ideal. But the goal is that, thanks to sterilization, the time will come when there will be no more colonies.
Conflict is not an option
For León Panal, this is a complex issue in which conflict between both sides must be avoided. “I don’t consider myself an expert on this subject to say what should be done or how to manage them,” he warns to begin with. “What I would like to comment on is that we must avoid castling between the parties involved in this discussion. I understand the motives of those who oppose species control and those who have enough evidence to show what the problem is.”
In addition, he adds that he would like to “see a fusion between the two.” And in the fact that, as the biologist rightly notes, “the opposite scenario leads to an unresolved problem that mankind has created and which, therefore, we are responsible for the decision“.
At the moment it is already waiting to find the best solution for cats that already live on the street, what is clear is that those who have a cat at home must give up the belief that it is natural to let them walk on their own. . In fact, natural is not always the best. This applies to medicines, food, and pet care. your cat you can be very happy at home. Take a close look at what it is, and by the way, help take care of the ecosystem around you.
Source: Hiper Textual
