No, these are not photos of the same bird. All three of these Carolina Wrens were admitted to the Center in a single afternoon from different people for the same reason… all of them were caught by cats. These wrens are only a small fraction of the animals we admit every year that are caught by cats—all manner of birds, opossums, rabbits, squirrels, lizards, snakes, and even bats are injured by people’s cats every year. Domestic and feral cats are NOT a natural fixture of North America’s landscape nor do they replace the role of native predators. Cats are wonderful pets (most of the staff at the Center have indoor cats themselves!) but they are pets, not wildlife. It is cruel to let them out without supervision — we are sure everyone has seen dead pet cats on the side of the road in their lifetimes. And that is just one of the many dangers outdoor cats face. The impact free-roaming cats have on wildlife is astronomical. Cats have been the cause of extinction for at least 63 species and are indirectly killing dolphins and whales because of parasites cats carry are washing into the ocean and infecting them. It is possible to love cats and love wildlife at the same time — but we are not going to find a good solution until both side work together to reduce the number of cats that are left to free roam or are abandoned outdoors. We know it is complicated and emotional subject, but it is difficult to remain neutral when day in and day out we see the impact of what cats do on our natural resources. One of these wrens died but the other two are still receiving treatment. Please, please keep your cats inside — for the cat’s sake, and for nature’s sake as well.Â
