Cats are one of the top problems for bird biodiversity in the tropics and bird populations worldwide. The most sustainable way might be to eat them, but no one in my community seems to care for that solution. Spay and neuter - ing could work, but we need to vastly increase the number of vets and the education level in the rural populations. What are some possible solutions?
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I guess you mean feral cats and not domesticated ones?– THelperCommented Sep 30, 2014 at 15:46
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The distinction is a bit looser where I live, rural farms in the Colombian Andes.– AlexCommented Sep 30, 2014 at 17:24
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1 Answer
Culling helps, may sound harsh but if an apex predator such as the cat begins to predominate or explode in numbers you will have reduction in populations of species that this predator preys on so reduction in the population of the apex predator will see an improvement in the species being affected.
A less unsavoury approach is to carry out non-lethal thinning of the population by trapping them and taking them to a shelter. That way if they can't find homes then the shelter will be forced to put them down.
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How would you do it? I have a .22 rifle but they are so cute. The veterinarian charges around 15 dollars to put a cat down. Bury or compost the body?– AlexCommented Aug 27, 2014 at 21:43
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2Well, trap them and take them to a shelter, that way the possibility of finding a home is introduced and in worse cases the shelter may need to put them down (you won't have to), that way you won't be faced with doing the dirty-work.– Blue_HatCommented Aug 27, 2014 at 21:48
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1A rural relative used to trap them and take them for a swim. While still in the cage. It was too dangerous to get let 10kg of angry feral cat out. Just saying.– andy256Commented Aug 27, 2014 at 23:21