Comments on The Birdchaser: Boycott Cape May?

If you think the cats are a problem, don't go to C...

2008-06-11T13:04:00.000-04:00

If you think the cats are a problem, don't go to Cape May. I looked up their history online; it is a resort beach town. I’m sure we are not their only source of revenue. We may like going there but if the town doesn't see the cats as a problem and according to the anonymous poster actually from Cape May they have done their research and still don’t see a problem;
"The 3 endangered birds do

Diseases and parasites which feral cats are known ...

2008-03-08T22:04:00.000-05:00

Diseases and parasites which feral cats are known to transmit to people.

1)Rabies virus- fatal in humans
2)Psittacosis –bacteria- parrot fever – fever, pneumonia- fatal in humans
3) Campylobacter- bacteria -diarrhea- fatal
4) Ringworm fungus- round, scaly eczema-like skin disease
5) Conjunctivitus (sporotrichosis)- swollen eyes , lymph nodes
6) Streptococcus

I live in a rural area of southern California. Re...

2007-11-08T00:16:00.000-05:00

I live in a rural area of southern California. Remarkably, even with all the housing divisions, horse facilities, and just old dumpy neigborhoods, there is a wonderful native diversity still existing. As each new neighborhood gets built the dogs, cats and cement, lights etc. continue to spill out into a beautiful diversified area. Dogs and cats are man's friends and thus, should be next to him

Bravo for you Rob, I really hope that this picks u...

2007-11-01T09:10:00.000-04:00

Bravo for you Rob, I really hope that this picks up steam and that Cape May City Council reverses their ill-thought through decision on TNR's. I've also posted on the subject, hopefully it will make a difference. Unfortunately the threat of reduced tourism revenues won't work in so many other places that have TNR programs.

Perhaps as we continue to try an educate on the problems with

I write this with a heavy sigh. I just got back y...

2007-10-30T23:46:00.000-04:00

I write this with a heavy sigh. I just got back yesterday from Cape May. I saw quite a few roaming cats.
This is my very biggest pet peeve....free range cats. I am with you on all of your opinions. TNR doesn't help the birds getting killed by cats who are just doing what they are born to do: hunt. TNR doesn't save a single cat from getting ripped to pieces under tires.
"The

Thanks for the report, Linda. The truth is, most ...

2007-10-30T09:18:00.000-04:00

Thanks for the report, Linda. The truth is, most local land use and other environmental decisions are made by people paid to be at meetings and if we want to influence their actions, we have to go to meetings and otherwise become part of the process. Most birders are pretty poor at getting involved to that degree. While I can understand seeing birding as a diversion--a way to relax or escape

I was there at the hearing and spoke against TNR. ...

2007-10-30T00:33:00.000-04:00

I was there at the hearing and spoke against TNR. Prior to the meeting the council had been considering cat licensing. But a comment was made by a Councilmember that this would penalize responsible cat owners. We don't think responsible dog owners are penalized, so go figure. The Mayor made a comment about "microchipping the ear". Suffice it to say, a lot of education is needed about a lot

I had an anonymous poster (remember, I'm not going...

2007-10-24T16:57:00.000-04:00

I had an anonymous poster (remember, I'm not going to post anonymous comments) upset that I put up a photo of a dead cat. The poster argued for TNR and ended by stating "you have lost a fan today".

My response:
1) Anyone who argues that cats should be allowed to roam needs to take a good hard look at what that really means--dead cats. Not cats humanely put down, but cats ground up

I can't believe you would post a photo like that o...

2007-10-24T14:12:00.000-04:00

I can't believe you would post a photo like that of a dead cat. Disgusting.
And do your research, the best way to REDUCE the number of free roaming feral cats is to TNR. You can't eliminate the feral cat population, you can only control and reduce the numbers by TNR.
You have a lost a fan today.

A boycott is a good idea... we left some comments ...

2007-10-23T21:21:00.000-04:00

A boycott is a good idea... we left some comments on the Cape May site but I doubt they will care much. The boycott is the best idea. When you remove the money, people start to listen.

I really hope the Fish & Wildlife Service files a lawsuit here, even just to make a point. Feral cat enablers are violating the law and this law needs to be enforced.

Here's the bottom line: cats outside kill birds. ...

2007-10-20T20:06:00.000-04:00

Here's the bottom line: cats outside kill birds. Its not enough to just "reduce the threat" by reducing numbers. Any cats outside=birds killed.

So cats cannot be allowed to roam. I can appreciate all the efforts that go into TNR. But they still don't get cats out of harms way and don't protect birds. So they are incomplete. If we don't want to euthanize the cats, and I can

I'm a cat owner. I'm also a novice birder. My ca...

2007-10-20T19:40:00.000-04:00

I'm a cat owner. I'm also a novice birder. My cats live indoors -- proven to be a healthier option, by far, than letting them roam. I've managed to talk friends and family into keeping their cats inside, though some still think that it's cruel to do so. They're wrong -- for the reasons you noted here: disease, cars, cruel people, other predators, hunger and more.

The bird issue

To Birdchaser, I can appreciate your wanting to k...

2007-10-20T12:20:00.000-04:00

To Birdchaser,

I can appreciate your wanting to know a name from my anonymous comment but since you allowed a previous anonymous comment (not mine) I just assumed you allowed them. No big deal.
Yet after your comments -I wonder why you want my e-mail address ? Isn't this an open forum? Guess not.
I don't want harassing e-mails if my e-mail address is posted. And your comment

The online Cape May paper says that the feral cats...

2007-10-20T00:01:00.000-04:00

The online Cape May paper says that the feral cats have been reduced from 400 to 100 over the years, through a privately funded trap, neuter, and release program, in which they also vaccinate and check for other diseases. The article goes on to say that *ALL* friendly cats and kittens are adopted or fostered out -- they are not put back into the colonies.

Cape May's TNR program gives

I just got a long and detailed anonymous comment d...

2007-10-19T19:53:00.000-04:00

I just got a long and detailed anonymous comment defending the Cape May city council decision. Since I think there is more at stake here, I'm going to enforce my No Anonymous Comments policy. I'd be happy to address the issues brought up in this recent comment, but I'm not going to debate an

I am an animal lover- all animals and I live in Ca...

2007-10-19T17:29:00.000-04:00

I am an animal lover- all animals and I live in Cape May.
In the Cape May TNR program cats are released to the "colony" where they were trappped. This colony can be as small as several cats and is monitored/managed by a caregiver. The designated caregivers care about these cats and, yes, do try- if a cat is particualrly friendly to find a home. Homes are sometimes found- even for adult cats

Sorry, but this just isn't true in the least. TNR...

2007-10-18T20:27:00.000-04:00

Sorry, but this just isn't true in the least. TNR programs do not help cats, but leave them exposed to the elements, cars, predators, diseases, and other factors that make the life of a feral cat short and brutish. Nobody is helping a cat by letting it live like that. That isn't really saving a cat--just prolonging the day until it inevitably gets maimed or killed. Take a good hard look at

I read the article. What they are doing is trappin...

2007-10-18T18:48:00.000-04:00

I read the article. What they are doing is trapping, neutering and releasing. This has been proven to be the most efficient and humane way to reduce the feral cat numbers.

Love the birds but do not forsake the cats.

In my opinion the people who were "for" the feral ...

2007-10-18T16:24:00.000-04:00

In my opinion the people who were "for" the feral cats are not true cat-lovers. I'm not a birder (I found this site from Birdchick's post... and I visit her site mostly for the disapproval... of bunnies, that is).

Anyway, even though I'm not a birder, I still don't want to see birds harmed.

I've always been a cat person, and I'd never think of letting my cats roam outside.

I also sent a comment. I've visited Cape May in t...

2007-10-17T14:18:00.000-04:00

I also sent a comment. I've visited Cape May in the past, but until they revoke this decision, I'm going to go elsewhere.

What bothers me is that a lot of birders live in Cape May--many have retired there. Where were they when that meeting was held?

Say this about the cat people--they show up.

So has the eastern coyote, and I guess that's about the closest thing

Can't believe cat lovers have that much power. The...

2007-10-17T10:58:00.000-04:00

Can't believe cat lovers have that much power. The decision the city council made is ridiculous. Here's the message I sent:

Cape May is visited by large numbers of bird lovers each year. How many come to see your feral cats? I'm betting somewhere in the vicinity of zero. Cats kill large numbers of birds. Allowing feral cat colonies to proliferate in an area of such importance to

Rob - agree with you 100%. How could the Cape May ...

2007-10-17T08:07:00.000-04:00

Rob - agree with you 100%. How could the Cape May council think allowing a non-native predator to roam the "Holy Shrine of East Coast birding" is anything less than a disaster in the making.

I'm not attacking Cape May. It is the Cape May ci...

2007-10-16T20:19:00.000-04:00

I'm not attacking Cape May. It is the Cape May city council that has decided that birds and birding is not as important to Cape May as its 100 feral cats. If anyone wants to be offended, be offended by that. I'm just the messenger.

How dare you attack the Holy Shrine of East Coast ...

2007-10-16T20:15:00.000-04:00

How dare you attack the Holy Shrine of East Coast birding! The Temple of Dunne! Don't mess with the 61st Annual Cape May Autumn Weekend.