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Feeding local wildlife
(lemmy.world)
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this post was submitted on 13 Dec 2025
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"Out~~si~~door cats" shouldn't be a thing, imo.
Edit: didn't realize I totally messed up the word, "outdoor".
Can places still keep them for pest control? What's wrong with an outdoor cat?
EDIT: It's so weird getting downvoted for a genuine question. See y'all in the next thread about why isn't Lemmy more popular.
They kill a lot of wildlife, which in many settings is not desirable.
Here's the often cited study from 2013 that estimates outdoor cats kill billions of birds and mammals annually in the US alone:
https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms2380
Even if they don't kill, say, a bird, a cat's mouth and teeth are loaded with bacteria. It generally doesn't harm humans that much, but birds and small mammals stand a good chance of dying from infection if they're bitten or scratched up by a cat.
A cat's bite can absolutely hurt humans. That bacteria can be lethal.
I think I've read that they can really hurt the local wildlife as they're excellent hunters. Also they poop in sandboxes and you can get really sick from it.
And cats hunt for fun, not just food.
Hunt for practice.
On a farm you pretty much need a cat or you'll be overrun by mice.
What you call a pest, the ecosystem calls native wildlife. The "pest control" is what's wrong.
It's cruel to the cat. There is no shortage of outdoor hazards that can injure them or make them sick. It's also very bad for biodiversity. Domestic cats alone are responsible for the endangerment and extinction of hundreds of species. There are other, better, more targeted ways to deal with pests. Do not keep your pets outside.
Your question suffered in part because another person was in the comments arguing that cats aren't a problem. Sometimes, someone who is just asking questions appears alongside someone who is "Just Asking Questions" and being a total asshole about it.
100%, this would have happened on Reddit, too.
In Australia? Definitely.
In the US? IDK probably?Somewhere like Istanbul? Its controversial but probably not.
Edit: Technically speaking 'outsidoor' cats don't exist?
LOL I didn't even notice my typo. I wrote outside cat, then thought I fixed it to outdoor.