Connecticut western news., 1912-05-02
THE PROBLEM OF THE CAT.
A Great Destroyer of Useful Birds
 Preventive Measures Suggested.

TTeVentIVe measures suggested.
 Herbert K. Job,> state ornithologist writes concerning cats:
 On wild tract of land in Connecticut used as game preserve, remote from any town or village, during the first year and a half of it's recent operation the keeper in charge killed forty rowing cats, and during the next year two dozen more. Many of these were evidently homeless, having relapsed into the con- dition of wild animals. Others were house cats, accustomed to roam, mostly by night. miles from their homes. All were preying on birds and wild game. This is no exceptional case, but typical of what goes on everywhere.
 People often wonder why our song and insectivorous birds which are often protected by law do not increase. The real wonder is that they have not long si' ce been exterminated, with an army of hunting felines, especially in the vii clnlty of towns, roaming everywhere ill the breeding season, searching for nests and young birds. If the nest is on the ground or anywhere that a cat can climb, the case is almost hopeless. Even if out of reach, the young when Iearn- ing to fly are almost sure to futter down and get caught. If one will look around near home, he will often find empty nests which have been robbed of eggs or young.
 The cat is born hunter, and nearly all of them hunt for wild game. even though their owners do not suspect it. 1t is very moderate estimate to assume that each cat, on the average, stays one bird week, say fifty each year. Think of the countless thousands of useful birds thus killed Tn the United States every year
 A common barbarity is the practice of abandoning cats by people changing their residence. leaving them to suffer and-to prey upon society.
 With us the cat has no standing in law, and is not recognized as property. No one can obtain redress if his cats are poisoned or shot. Yet even this permis- siop to kill does not abate the nuisance. Alike from the standpoint of kindness to animals, of the owner of the cat, and of the lover of birds, is 1t not high time that this matter should be regulated by law-how many and what sort of cats one may keep, how they must be treat ed and restrained? Any one who is sufficiently responsible to be permitted by society to keep a cat ought to have public spirit enough to pay small Ii. cense fee for the privilege This, could be attended to by the same officials ill charge of dog licenses. A fund would thus be provided for the maintenance of the work and for the protection and at tracing of wild birds, to help save our foliage, fruit. gardens and crops. fl
 Hitherto this matter has been laughed out of court, but the problem has now ceased to be joke. The many power ful organizations of sportsmen are be- ginning to realize that quail, grouse and woodcock cannot be expected tu raise many young among this growin. host of maraudiug telines. If they a..d hu- mane people generally will actively t; ke up this matter. we can soon get wise legislation, capable of enforcement.
 Meanwhile birds are now beginning to nest, and will be under way with family cares nearly all summer, but particularly ill June. It is surely duty to clety of everyone owning cats to dispose of all but one, or at most two, and to keep petted pussy under restraint.