Not Fun!! Please Read and Share
For those who know me or have followed me through the years, you know that I am big on education, especially as it pertains to learning how to co-habitate with wildlife. Sometimes the education that I give may seem harsh but needs to be said, as in the case of today’s post.
My job is not easy, and while I am able to save a lot of animals, there are times when I can’t and it grieves me every time one dies. It’s especially, difficult when I know the death or injury could have been prevented. Please let me explain.
Every year one-third of the bunnies and birds that I receive are the direct result of the domestic cat. One that is a well fed by their owners but allowed to roam outside. The difference between a pet cat (or a feral cat that is being fed by someone), is that when they get a hold of a wild animal, they DO NOT kill and eat for survival. Instead they kill or more often than not, they capture, torture, bash it around (causing internal injures) and let the animal lay and die a slow death. They kill for the entertainment.
On the other hand, fox, coyote, hawks, owls or feral cats that have no other food source, when they catch and kill an animal they eat what they catch, they don’t play with it and let it die a slow death. They kill for survival. BIG DIFFERENCE!
When a cat is allowed to roam free, not only are they harming wildlife for entertainment but when a cat is allowed to roam free it is opening the door for it to pick up disease and parasites that can kill it. As well as the chance for it to get hit by a car, poisoned, stoned, shot and the list could go on and on.
PLEASE HEAR MY PLEA!!
Please protect your cat and wildlife. If you’re a cat owner and feel your cat needs to be outside, there are solutions that will allow your cat to enjoy the outdoors while keeping them and other animals protected. One solution is to make an enclosure for your pet. A 6 x 12 foot dog run works great and all you have to do is put a top on it. Place climbing items in and you will have a happy kitty. Today there are outdoor cat enclosures that you can buy or make as an alternative solution. Your neighbors with flower and vegetable gardens will also thank you!
I love all animals and believe in doing the right thing for all of them. In the last two days I have watched a sweet baby bunny and a beautiful dove die because of an outdoor cat. Please help me by keeping your cat indoors or in an outside enclosure. Many thanks for listening and please share to spread the word.
~ Fran Kitchen
Copyright 2016 – 2017 Fran Kitchen | Operation Orphan Wildlife Rehabilitation, Inc.
