Syracuse.com - Author coming to Cornell: Cats are 'cuddly killers' and need to be kept inside

[HuntingNY-News]

People have learned to be responsible with their dogs. Why not their cats?

Peter Marra says it's time that cats in this country started getting treated like dogs.

"They should not be allowed to roam freely outside. If they are outside, they should either be put on a leash or let out in an enclosed patio," he said. "Do we allow packs of chihuahuas to run free on the countryside? What about allowing a pitbull to run about?

"No, people have learned to be responsible with their dogs. Why not their cats?"

 

Marra, a bird conservationist with the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center in Washington, D.C., is co-author of a new, controversial book, "Cat Wars: The Devastating Consequences of a Cuddly Killer." The book, he said, puts all the research and studies together to show the complete story about how outdoor pet and free-ranging feral cats pose a threat to bio-diversity, the environment and to public health.

Marra will be holding a seminar about this topic and a book signing event at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, in Ithaca.

The event will be streamed live on the allaboutbirds.org website. For more, call 1-800-843-2483.

Marra was interviewed this week by NYupcom. The following are excerpts from that interview.

I understand this book is controversial. You say there's been a lot of research on this. Why don't people just accept what you're saying as fact?

People have attacked me online with comments. I've received death threats. You have people that keep pushing to allow cats to roam freely outside, that it's a good thing. It's not. It's a propagation of misinformation. It's just another case, like those who don't believe climate change is real, of a denial of science. I've decided to not hold any punches in this book and tell the whole story.

You say that outdoor cats are a threat to bio-diversity. How?

Free-ranging cats are killing birds and other animals by the billions, bringing as many as 63 species of birds, small mammals and reptiles to extinction globally, according to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

How are cats roaming around outside a public health hazard?

Cats carry several diseases - but I'll highlight two. Our cats are not as innocent as many think. The diseases they're transmitting to other animals and to us are significant.

First, there's Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite that breeds inside of cats that's transmitted through the animal's feces. Rats, mice, small birds that come in contact with it get toxoplasmosis and end up exhibiting changes of behavior - in short become attracted to cats, becoming easier prey. Some humans also exhibit symptoms if they become infected with this parasite. There have been scientific studies linking toxoplasmosis to less fearful, curious behavior, in addtion to bipolar disorders, schizophrenia, suicide. Pregnant women are instructed to stay clear of cat litter boxes because Toxoplasma gondii causes miscarriages.

Second, you have rabies. At one point, dogs were the number one pet contracting rabies. Not any more. People have their dogs under control. You have these feral cat colonies out there interacting with raccoons and skunks and other animals that carry rabies. That's not good.

Peter MarraSpecial to NYup.com 

How did all these pet cats get here? Where are they from originally?

All the domesticated cats in this country came here starting about 600 years ago with the colonists. They were all originally from the Middle East or Asia. The so-called feral cats are not naturally wild. They're not part of the environment. They're an invasive species. I refer to them as "unowned" cats. There are estimates of 80 to 90 million pet cats in this country; 60 to 100 million unowned cats. That's a lot of cats.

There are folks who are against euthanizing feral cats, preferring instead to raise money to have them sterilized and released back into the wild. Thoughts on that?

It doesn't work. They're still out there preying on other wildlife, spreading disease. They're not a natural part of the ecosystem. On top of that they're getting killed by cars, coyotes, disease. That's inhumane.

Are you proposing euthanizing all the feral cats out there?

No, let's be clear. I'm not arguing for the eradication of cats. I'm asking for responsible, sensible ownership. For those feral cats, I proposing looking at the areas where they're having an impact on important and sensitive wildlife areas, or areas that there is, or could be a problem with disease transmission. You can't allow those cats to exist. Those cats need to be removed, captured. Then, they should be adopted out, or put in a sanctuary. If that's impossible, then euthanized.

What would you proposed making cat owners be more responsible with their pets?

You have licensing and leash laws in this country for dogs. Do the same with cats.

Have you ever owned a cat? Did you let it run around outside?

Yes, a while back I owned a cat, Tookus, which is Yiddish for butt. It lived its whole life indoors and died a long time ago.

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