The real story of damage caused by cats

RE: Licensing cats

In light of the “cat debates” in Hamilton, the following may add scientific data to the discussion.

Scientific American is a science magazine in continuous publication for 170 years. It is read in print by 3.5 million worldwide consumers in more than 30 countries. Each month, Scientific American recommends books on various topics.

The following is a summary of a recommended book. It should be noted that the summary does not refer to cats that are kept indoors. The full summary can be read in the October 2016 issue of Scientific American.

Note: This book has only been recently published and is not available from the Hamilton Public Library, although a request for its purchase has been submitted.

“Cat Wars: The Devastating Consequence of a Cuddly Killer” by Peter P. Marra and Chris Santella.

Outdoor cats kill roughly 2.4 billion birds a year in the U.S. alone, plus an additional 12.3 billion mammals and hundreds of millions of reptiles and amphibians. They are one of the greatest threats to wildlife in the country and are responsible for the extinction and decline of numerous bird species.

Yet well-meaning cat lovers have consistently denied the evidence of cats’ misdeeds and resisted efforts to combat the problem ...

Marra, director of the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Centre, and writer Santella make an impassioned plea for action in this compelling report on an often overlooked threat.” Tom Weinstein, Milton