Bird Lovers Squawk in Protest over TNR Program in Arizona
As both a cat lover and avid birder, it’s difficult for me to reconcile the not-so-peaceful coexistence of birds and cats. In Gilbert, Arizona, at the Riparian Preserve Water Ranch, bird lovers are demanding that a feral colony — whose numbers have exploded as the economy has imploded — be terminated. Don Bloom, caretaker to the colony’s 40 or more cats, feels differently, as described by azcentral.com:
Donald Bloom climbs a little hill in the Riparian Preserve Water Ranch, dragging a cart of food on squeaky wheels.
“Sawyer!” he calls out. “Freckles! Ginseng!” As he parks the cart beneath a mesquite tree in the embankment and takes out the food, a dozen cats of all hues and temperaments scamper toward him from the undergrowth.
They could well be his pets, but they are mostly abandoned domestic cats dumped by their owners in the Gilbert preserve.
“People have been releasing animals in the preserve – it’s a major problem,” Bloom said. “The cats are pretty friendly, but the feral cats take a longer time to be domesticated.”
The animals are as much the victims of the economy as their onetime human masters. Foreclosures and job losses are prompting many people to abandon the cats in the preserve, especially with shelters filled to the brim.
They’re also dumping other domesticated creatures, including geese, ducks, roosters, tortoises, rabbits, doves, even goldfish.
It’s a tough situation. Desert Rivers Audubon claims the cats kill an average of two birds per day (this seems extraordinarily high to me) and are destroying the habitat. Bird lovers want the cats removed.
But removal means almost certain death. The Arizona Humane Society refuses to take the cats. An alternative is to trap and remove them to the county (Maricopa County Animal Care and Control) which will euthanize them or “arrange adoption according to the temperament of the cat.” In a shelter with limited resources, adoption is extremely unlikely.
Meanwhile, Bloom is convinced that his population stabilizing program, recommended by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, is the best way to help both the cats and birds.
The daily feeding keeps the territorial cats in one area of the 110-acre preserve, and helps keep them domesticated. Only newborn kittens are feral.
“Cats will stay in and not expend energy if they have food coming to them,” he said.
Funds are low for the group and volunteers are scarce. But Bloom plods on.
“I’m trying to undo the injustice to these animals,” he said. “I’m trying to give them a second chance at life because domesticated animals belong with humans.”
Mr Bloom, thank you for your dedication. We hope bird and cat lovers can reach accord soon.
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Situations like this are really sad. We’re glad those kitties have Mr. Bloom to feed them, and we hope something can be worked out.
Hi Skeezy, We had a Love Bird here with the Bosc and they both got along very well. They were pals, meowing and chirping towards each other. Never once did the cat attempt to hurt or harm the bird, they were pals. The bird passed away after 25 years with me, about 3 years with Bosco. Cats do not attack birds. A cat would have to be pretty hungry to harm a bird. Bosco.
Oh I hope they can help the kitties and they don’t hafta eat birdies!
What a sad story! These poor kitties are confused and scared…. How can people just “dump” animals? I don’t know that I will ever understand that. At least there is a good human stopping by to feed the poor babies…. Surely there is a rescue/shelter somewhere that would take them in!
i’ve only met one cat who hunts when he’s not hungry, we think it’s a case of bloodlust. he hunts when he’s hungry, and when he’s not. a feral cat wouldn’t expend the energy it takes to catch a bird, they’d use it on a mouse or something. if they have easy food, they’re gonna be happy with that
Sounds like this needs to be brought to the attention of Alley Cat Allies, if it isn’t already. TNR works!
Besides, it would be better to police the area for people dumping all their pets rather than focus on the cat “problem”. Since other animals are being dumped as well, this also has a direct effect on the preserve.
You’d think most wild birds could move around and within a 110+ acre area away from 40 well-fed mostly domesticated cats if they felt threatened.
I agree with Trailer Kitties, this isn’t a cat problem but a people problem.