On Fri, 9 Apr 2004 14:14:35 -0700, Karen wrote
(in article ):


"Peter D. Tillman" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"Bill Reich" wrote:


Well, cats are already pretty effective predators. Baxter has them
all die off because they're "too dependent on humanity". Given how
readily cats go feral, I'm skeptical. (And note that they tolerate a
wide range of conditions, from jungle to desert to subarctic forest.)

Cats also have a wide range of genetic variance: they would probably
have a large capacity for speciation if given the chance. And they
are naturally _predators_ upon rodents -- if the rodent population
swelled, any surviving cats would feast.

Sincerely Yours,
Jordan

Unfortunately for feral cats, the bobcat isn't anywhere CLOSE to
extinct and considers his domestic cousin a good meal. In areas where
humans live, urban or rural, feral cats thrive because the other
predators have been discouraged. Feral dogs kill them but feral dog
packs often get the attention of the authorities and get discouraged
too.


The bobcats have become exceptionally bold around Tucson -- rarely does
a week go by when I don't see one in our suburb. Last year, one grabbed
our cat off the windowsill. Fortunately, I was there and kicked the
bobcat until it turned loose. $1600 in vet bills, and Precious is almost
as good as new. She doesn't go outside anymore. In fact, I see about as
many bobcats as domestic cats in our neighborhood, now.

Could be worse. When my parents lived in Kenya, they had friends whose
dog slept at the foot of their bed. Until the night when a leopard came
through the (unscreened) bedroom window, grabbed the dog, jumped back
out. While the couple were in bed, watching in horror.

Cheers -- Pete Tillman

Why would *anyone* continue to let their cats outside in that environment!!
Not to start a flame or anything, but with big cats around, its just too
dangerous. Have you seen those pics in abpa? Yikes.

Tucson is tough country for pets, bears, mountain lions, coyotes and I
guess bobcats. I have a friend who lives there and says there is no
feral cat population because of the coyotes. As much as the cats enjoy
running around here if I lived there I wouldn't let them out. He has a
Norwegian Elkhound and it was attacked by coyotes. 98 or 99 I think
someone was killed by a bear.

I think the idea that cats are dependent on man for their future survival
is silly. There are many times as many feral cats world wide as there
are living with people. The Maine Coon is said to be adapted to Maine
from cats brought over and gone feral they survived and flourished.