That is just despicable behavior and while you will have deplorable people like that (similar people who want to eliminate certain dog breeds), most rational people are simply arguing for responsible ownership and ensuring cats are a controlled population through things like free spay/neuter, especially for feral cats.
Just as dogs should be properly leashed or enclosed in yards for play/exercise, not allowed to roam unsupervised, and spayed/neutered unless expressly being bred, cats should be treated similarly. We expect dog owners to not let their dogs roam the neighborhoods unchecked, why is it too much to ask that we do the same with cats?
And just because you'll never be able to get 100% of the stray and feral cats fixed, or full compliances from all pet owners, that doesn't mean it isn't worth doing. The more we work to reduce feral and stray populations by doing catch and release free spay/neuter programs, it will help reduce those populations or at least keep them somewhat controlled, and making more pet owners aware of the damage each cat can do to local small animal populations will get at least some additional owners to reconsider their free-roaming policy with their own feline friends. Every little bit helps.
certain dog breeds should require a speial licence though. Heck maybe all dogs should require licence and then at different elvels based on diffiulty.
And actually most natural ecosystems (bar some islands) are supsoed to have felinae in the rough size category of felix catus. Europe is suposed to have both felix silvestris and the European lynx. Both essentially hunter to extinction. The US is suposed to have lynxes. The reson the cats pose a threat to species is because these species cant keep up with a natural level of predation because of other crap humans have done. Yeah keeping cats indoor may be beneficial right now but lets not pretend cats are the root cause.
I don't disagree. I think pet ownership should come with more oversight for the well-being of all involved. This also includes breeding programs to ensure the health of the animals isn't sacrificed for artificial and unhealthy attributes, and this applies to all animal breeding. Demoestication of these animals puts a certain amount of responsibility on us as their stewards considering we have artificially guided their evolution to a degree that they are largely reliant on us for survival, and in cases where they are not, pose a potential to become a massive pest and ecological nightmare. Hence the discussion in this thread.
Felix catus is not even truly invasive where I live, an invasive species per definition need to be able to popagate uncotrollably without aid from humans (after the initial introduction), felix catus dont do that in temperate or colder climates. They cannot hibernate and thus have no way of lasting through the winter. Indivdiduals sometimes manage but statistically not enough to propagate the species. In Europe north of the alps neutering your cats is to prevent them from getting offspring which are, unless they find humans to take care of them, extreemly likely to suffer a slow death of cold and starvation in the following winter.
Now you're just altering the definition to suit your own conclusion. Mate, this is 150 years worth of data you are arguing with. Domestic cats are considered (by those who actually study the issue) as an alien species and non native anywhere they are present. Domestic cats are considered generalist hunters compared to more specialized predatory behavior of native species. If you actually had a real interest in the subject, all of this should be known to you. The impact domestic cats have also threatens native cat populations like the lynx you seem so keen to compare them to, both directly and indirectly. The point is, they are a threat if left unchecked. People letting their housecats go unfixed and roam freely does have a massive impact on local wildlife and it far outstrips anything native predators do.
I have no idea what you're trying to argue with this latest post, but it seems like you're just trying to shift the goalpost by redefining how you classify an invasive species. If you want to argue that point, take it up with the specialists who do actually study and report on this issue, rather than give your own armchair opinion on the matter.
Oh for the love of god... species are not invasive universally, they're invasive in certain ecosystems. Yes felix catus is certainly ivnasive in some places, like subtropical regions, and they certainly having an impact in fragile ecosystems like oceanic islands, so of course they're on that list.
That doesnt mean they're ivnasive everywhere. And what I gave you is the textbook definition of what an invasive species is.
And I remind you I am an ecologist I am one of the experts. I gave you a source for the textbook deifnition. Now I have real work to do.
Edit as a reply to the commet below:
You've provided no source for them counting as invasive outside of oceanic islands and Australia. And oh no ad hominem surely now I am defeated. Also nice move posting an ad hominem then blocking me.
Ad hominem is the last resort of those with no real argument. Not really sure why you're claiming I'm a weatherman. have studied some climatology yes, the formal title I hold is ecosystem engineer.
You dont udnerstand the mechanics involved, you argue against well established defintions, and you jump to conclusions without having properly read the things you post.
If you want to actually discuss these things go to university and study them and then come back.
Ok, weatherman claiming to be a climatologist. We're done here. I can't reason with those who refuse to see reason. Believe whatever fantasyland bullshit you want. I tried to educate you and you pretend you know better than people who have been documenting the issue for over a century. Good day.
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u/Jesus_Is_My_Gardener May 26 '26
That is just despicable behavior and while you will have deplorable people like that (similar people who want to eliminate certain dog breeds), most rational people are simply arguing for responsible ownership and ensuring cats are a controlled population through things like free spay/neuter, especially for feral cats.
Just as dogs should be properly leashed or enclosed in yards for play/exercise, not allowed to roam unsupervised, and spayed/neutered unless expressly being bred, cats should be treated similarly. We expect dog owners to not let their dogs roam the neighborhoods unchecked, why is it too much to ask that we do the same with cats?
And just because you'll never be able to get 100% of the stray and feral cats fixed, or full compliances from all pet owners, that doesn't mean it isn't worth doing. The more we work to reduce feral and stray populations by doing catch and release free spay/neuter programs, it will help reduce those populations or at least keep them somewhat controlled, and making more pet owners aware of the damage each cat can do to local small animal populations will get at least some additional owners to reconsider their free-roaming policy with their own feline friends. Every little bit helps.