Some
environmentalists claim that the domestication of
cats is harmful to the environment or ecosystems,
and that excessive cat populations result in the
over hunting of many small animals and birds in
both urban and rural areas, possibly disrupting
the food chain and limiting local species'
populations. This is clearly true in environments
where cats did not exist, and were imported, such
as Australia and New Zealand, where feral cats now
kill native bird species and damage natural flora.
Throughout the centuries, as humans took advantage
of the domestic cat's hunting skills, few had
regard for their habitat and care, and far fewer
thought to practice good animal husbandry. This
created many pockets of excessive populations and
local imbalances. However, with intervention and
management, most especially spay and neuter
programs, the disruptions and chaos in both the
feline's life cycle and its prey can easily be
avoided, and the positive effects these small and
vital predators have in the appropriate
environments can be observed and appreciated. |
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