I read with concern your recent article on the out-of-control cat problem in Lake County. The trap, neuter and release (TNR) program is a worthy attempt to address this; however, as your article states it has met with limited success, because the resources of the program have not been able to keep up with the ever-expanding cat population.
What your article does not take into consideration is what I consider even a bigger problem and that is the toll all these cats take on the wildlife of Lake County. It is not only the T-N-R and feral cats but also the pet cats that are left to roam free by their irresponsible owners to prey on wildlife.
No one knows how many homeless cats there are in the U.S., but estimates range from 60 to 100 million. In addition, there are more than 77 million pet cats in the United States. A recent poll showed that only 35 percent are kept exclusively indoors, leaving the majority of owned cats plus the T-N-R and feral cats free to kill birds and other wildlife. Exact numbers are unknown, but scientists estimate that nationwide, cats kill hundreds of millions of birds and more than a billion small creatures such as rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, and lizards each year. This is, indeed, a problem that must not be ignored. In an ideal world, cat owners would take responsibility for their pets and keep them indoors and there would be responsible would-be cat owners waiting to adopt the T-N-R cats. It is at least something to strive for.
Darlene Hecomovich
Cobb
