House cats are non-native predators. They are INDISCRIMINATE killers of almost anything of which they are bigger. They are one of the few animals that kill just for the pleasure of killing. I believe it was Readers' Digest which ran an article a number of years ago about some folks who followed a housecat in the Chicago area on which they put a radio collar. Within a month's time the cat had killed almost 700 birds plus mice and other small creatures.

I personally witnessed my grandmother's adopted cat leap at least two feet into the air and snatch down a Valley Quail on the wing. This after being told that her cat wouldn't harm a thing.

I live in the country and we have two beatiful ponds, one about 7 acres the other about 10 acres, nearby. When we first moved here the ponds teemed with ducks and other waterfowl of all kinds. We'd also get the migratory birds in their season. There were river otters that would occasionally come in to feed on the fish I planted (which I wasn't too thrilled about) but they would only stay a few days and then move on.

Then we got a new neighbor who established a hobby ranch for horses and she happened to have seven or eight cats. This was in the spring and the baby ducks began to disappear. Then all the ducks disappeared. Any migratory birds that stop by are here only a short while. No more otters. The impact that these cats have had on this area is incredible. Said neighbor became highly indignant when told of the depredation her cats caused. She hasn't spoken to me personally now for over fifteen years, still pissed that I would blame her precious cats of such crimes.

If you have cats, keep them at home. Keeping them well fed is NOT the answers as they DO kill for the pleasure of it. I can see keeping a mouser or two on a farm. That makes sense but for the sake of all small wildlife control your cats and keep them at home.