NR and CATS

[NorthernRaider]

Another aspect of
"I think some are missing the point here, if we get rid of all the cats we will soon be over run by mice and RATS, which would you prefer??"

is this
Domestic cats are NOT native to the UK and even now the damage they cause to native wildlife is alarming, numerous and very well documented by wildlife organisations. IF cats are allowed free reign after TSHTF they ARE going to severely deplete the various species of wildlife that we survivors could eat.

Before I move on can I also point out that today in 2014 with the cat population in the UK estimated to be in the many millions the RAT and MOUSE populations are at all time record highs, so the moggies and not depleting the vermin in useful numbers but they are still decimating mammals, fish and birds WE could be eating.

Prior to the import of cats the numbers of vermin were kept in check by foxes, wolves, wild cats, weasels, stoats, ferrets, polecats, owls, hawks and other raptors. And many canine species were bred by rural folk such as Yorkshire Terriers and Jack Russells etc to kill rats and mice as their job. Where as a moggie MAY kill a rodent if it feels like it or it is hungry a terrier will sit by rat nests in barns and sheds for hours waiting to kill the vermin.

John is correct we screwed up our environment threefold
(1) Importing domestic cats
(2) wiping out most of the higher predators that killed rats and mice
(3) Our appalling public hygiene and waste control which encourages mega populations of rodents.
( there is a landfill near here that used to dump ALL sorts of waste into an old quarry, at night the gound looked alive as thousands of rats foraged for discarded food which sustained a massive population, but after they stopped putting food waste ito the hole and redirected it to anaerobic digestors the rats just about disappeared)

Cats are in the same class as the vermin itself as far as I am concerned after TSHTF, each to their own though if others want to keep em that's definitely their choice.