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Cat cull on Donegal island

Friday, 27 November 2009

An island's population of wild cats has been culled in a bid to save the endangered corncrake.

The controversial decision to euthanise a colony of feral cats on Tory Island off the Donegal coast was taken by Birdwatch Ireland, after it emerged that the number of corncrakes on the island had dropped dramatically.

Just nine calling males were recorded on the island last year compared to a high of 34. As part of the same programme, the domestic cat population on Tory has been neutered in recent weeks.

Cats have been known to kill corncrake chicks, which are hatched in nests made in meadows, and are unable to fly for five weeks.

"For the protection of people and other animals that frequent the island, the feral cats were caught and euthanised humanely," said Sandy Alcorn, a corncrake field worker with Birdwatch Ireland.

"We took photographs of all the pet cats and provided them with collars before we started to catch the feral cats in humane traps and euthanise them," she said.

A vet has since made two trips to the island to neuter the domestic cat population.

"As things now stand, the domestic cat population has been neutered and hopefully there won't be too many kittens next year," Ms Alcord added.

Source Irish Independent

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What an article. No opposing perspective was provided. It just presents self-justification by the cat killer. The author and editor should learn what "euthanize" means. You euthanize an animal that is suffering and won't get better. Killing a healthy cat isn't euthanizing it. A scared, feral cat traumatized by capture couldn't "humanely" be killed. But this is all so typical. Visit some bird web sites, and see the glee with which they discuss killing cats.

Posted by Andy | 07.01.10, 00:42 GMT

Honestly I took a feral cat a few years ago, and she's lovely. She was skinny, dirty and in desperate need of food when I found her, it was not the kind of pet people would expect to have of course. It was hard work in the beginning, that's true, but if you love animals it's really worth it. And she never hissed or spitted or else, apart the first time we went to the vet. This is my own story and I am really glad I got her. Of course I wouldn't force anyone to do the same but I'm sure there's people out there who would be willing to.

Posted by NicoleBelfast | 27.11.09, 16:16 GMT

Nicole, think about what you are saying. Cats for adoption??!! The first line of the article states thay they are "wild cats". Would you want to keep a wild animal in your house? Is that humane?

Posted by Weebam | 27.11.09, 14:01 GMT

Put a pile of WILD cats up for adoption! There are far too many domestic cats waiting for home snever mind mental feral ones! I unknowingly adopted a feral cat almost 8 years ago from an animal shelter, who told me she was a boy and forgot to mention 'he' was feral! It took a lot of time and hard work to tame her - fair enough it was worth it in the end but I doubt there are enought people out there willing to take on a hissing spitting bitey cat, when they could go to an animal shelter and get a docile playful kitten!

Posted by Pauline | 27.11.09, 13:50 GMT

They were feral,.... you can't domesticate a feral cat or expect someone to take it in for adoption. Any vet could tell you that. So yes, it was the only humane option.

Posted by OldSod | 27.11.09, 11:25 GMT