Kick Cats

             Domestic cats have been in America since the early eighteenth century when they were brought over on ships. Like the abundant Rock Dove (pigeon) these few individuals multiplied over the years until their numbers have shot into the millions. Although cats provide comfort and companionship to many Americans, this alien variety has wreaked havoc on many of the existing bird and mammal species, to the point that it has become a menace to nature. Because we brought the domestic cat to North America, we have a responsibility to both the cats and to the wild animals they may affect. Cat and bird lovers alike agree that not only for the safety of wild animals, but for the safety of cats as well, that household felines should be confined inside the home.
             According to U.S. Census data, the domesticated cat is the most numerous pet, numbering about 60 million. In fact, nearly 30% of households in America lay claim to at least one cat. Careful estimates place free-ranging feral cats at about 40 million. The combined total of 100 million cats nationwide is astonishing. Each of those animals must eat. Feral cats eat predominantly birds, rodents, and small mammals. It is estimated that cats kill over 300 million birds per year in the United States alone. Domesticated cats, even when fed regularly by their owners, retain their motivation to hunt. My own parents own seven cats. They allow them to roam freely about in their rural community. I cannot think about a time visiting them in their home in New Mexico when I have not seen a pile of feathers or a half eaten bird laying somewhere on the property.
             Many people argue that it is a cat's natural instinct to hunt and kill prey. They say that cats are just a part of the natural food chain. A cat killing a bird is just like a rabbit eating a carrot. It is true that cats are natural born killers, but their presence here in America is not natural. Many people think that if you feed a
             ...

More Essays:

APA     MLA     Chicago
Kick Cats. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 14:35, March 28, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/73943.html