Killing Cats and Killing Birds: Philosophical Issues Pertaining to Feral Cats

Tantillo, James A.

doi:10.1016/b0-72-160423-4/50077-9

Cited by 8 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 31 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…It's not surprising that our interest in the humane treatment of companion animals extends beyond the 94.2 million cats with whom 47.1 million Americans share their homes (23) to the millions of community cats with whom we share our neighborhoods. After all, “our moral obligations are clearer to close relations than to those who are further away from us… the wild feral cat is not just another feral animal but the close relative of the animal asleep on people's sofas” (24).…”

Section: The Cultural Shift Toward Zoocentric Virtue Ethicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Road to TNR: Examining Trap-Neuter-Return Through the Lens of Our Evolving Ethics

Wolf

Schaffner

2019

Front. Vet. Sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In the 2008 article “A Review of Feral Cat Control,” Robertson explored the trend developing in the management of so-called “feral” cats away from lethal methods toward the non-lethal method of trap-neuter-return (TNR). The review explored various issues raised by the presence of these unowned, free-roaming cats in our neighborhoods (e.g., zoonotic disease and wildlife predation), stakeholder interests, and management options—all based on then-available information. Missing from the review, however, was an exploration of the shifting ethics underlying TNR's increasing popularity. In this essay, we explore the ethical aspects of community cat management in the U.S. as reflected in the momentum of the “no-kill movement” generally and TNR in particular. We argue that these powerful cultural currents reflect two interrelated ethical theories: (1) a zoocentric ethic that recognizes the intrinsic value of non-human animals beyond any instrumental value to humans, and (2) a virtue ethic that recognizes the legitimacy of “emotional” considerations (e.g., compassion) that rightly accompany decisions about how best to manage community cats.

show abstract

Section: The Cultural Shift Toward Zoocentric Virtue Ethicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Road to TNR: Examining Trap-Neuter-Return Through the Lens of Our Evolving Ethics

Wolf

Schaffner

2019

Front. Vet. Sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…It is argued that because cats are a domestic species or non-native (introduced) species they should be removed from the environment or prevented from hunting wildlife by confinement indoors or in enclosures. This attitude takes the stance that non-native species are harmful and of lesser value than native species which ‘must be protected’ and is a normative judgment (Tantillo 2006). However, in reality farm animals are usually non-native (eg, sheep) and are protected from coyotes, mountain lions and foxes, usually by elimination of the predators, which are native species.…”

Section: Predation Of Wildlife Extinction Of Native Species Disruptmentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of feral cat control

Robertson

2008

Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery

137

129

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Animal overpopulation including feral cats is an important global problem. There are many stakeholders involved in the feral cat debate over 'what to do about the problem', including those who consider them a nuisance, the public at risk from zoonotic disease, people who are concerned about the welfare of feral cats, those concerned with wildlife impacts, and the cats themselves. How best to control this population is controversial and has ranged from culling, relocation, and more recently 'trap neuter return' (TNR) methods. Data support the success of TNR in reducing cat populations, but to have a large impact it will have to be adopted on a far greater scale than it is currently practised. Non-surgical contraception is a realistic future goal. Because the feral cat problem was created by humans, concerted educational efforts on responsible pet ownership and the intrinsic value of animals is an integral part of a solution.

show abstract

“…; Doherty et al. ); applying assumptions about specific case studies to the world at large (Tantillo ; Schaffner ); low numbers of species that are threatened or endangered by free‐ranging cats on mainlands (Doherty et al. ); potential disconnects between lethal population management and conservation best practices and outcomes (Littin et al.…”

Section: Conservation Reasons For Skepticismmentioning

confidence: 99%

A moral panic over cats

Lynn

Santiago‐Ávila

Lindenmayer

et al. 2019

Conservation Biology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Some conservationists believe that free‐ranging cats pose an enormous risk to biodiversity and public health and therefore should be eliminated from the landscape by any means necessary. They further claim that those who question the science or ethics behind their arguments are science deniers (merchants of doubt) seeking to mislead the public. As much as we share a commitment to conservation of biodiversity and wild nature, we believe these ideas are wrong and fuel an unwarranted moral panic over cats. Those who question the ecological or epidemiological status of cats are not science deniers, and it is a false analogy to compare them with corporate and right‐wing special interests that perpetrate disinformation campaigns over issues, such as smoking and climate change. There are good conservation and public‐health reasons and evidence to be skeptical that free‐ranging cats constitute a disaster for biodiversity and human health in all circumstances. Further, there are significant and largely unaddressed ethical and policy issues (e.g., the ethics and efficacy of lethal management) relative to how people ought to value and coexist with cats and native wildlife. Society is better served by a collaborative approach to produce better scientific and ethical knowledge about free‐ranging cats.

show abstract

Killing Cats and Killing Birds: Philosophical Issues Pertaining to Feral Cats

Cited by 8 publications

References 31 publications

The Road to TNR: Examining Trap-Neuter-Return Through the Lens of Our Evolving Ethics

The Road to TNR: Examining Trap-Neuter-Return Through the Lens of Our Evolving Ethics

A review of feral cat control

A moral panic over cats

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About