RRAS
is committed to educating the public on domestic cat control to
protect cats
and prevent cat predation on birds and other wildlife.
- We
advocate for humane and responsible ownership of cats.
- We
recognize that the housecat is a domesticated species dependent on
people to take care of it. Feral cats are more likely to suffer
greatly and live much shorter lives than owned cats.
-
We
support educational programs and materials that provide scientific
information on the adverse effects of cats living outdoors and
advocate for pet owners to keep cats indoors, in outdoor
enclosures, or on a leash when outside.
Jude talks about her window catio, her decision-making process in creating it, and why she wants her cat to enjoy the outdoors this way in this video.
It is
estimated that 2.4 billion birds per year are killed by domestic
cats in the U.S.
Why
trap-neuter-release (TNR) doesn’t work.
Diseases
The
three most common protozoal diseases in cats and humans are
cryptosporidiosis, giardiasis, and toxoplasmosis.
-
Cryptosporidiosis, a highly contagious disease, can cause
diarrhea, vomiting, fever, abdominal cramps, and dehydration in
both cats and
people.
-
Giardiasis
is an often waterborne intestinal parasite that has oocysts (eggs)
that are difficult to kill and filter.
-
Toxoplasmosis
is a disease for which the cat is an obligate host in conjunction
with rodents. Infected rodents become attracted to cat urine,
which makes them easy prey. Cat feces can contain millions of
toxoplasma. Although cats show no symptoms, the disease can infect
humans, causing miscarriage and other effects not yet fully
understood.
Outdoor
cats suffer a much higher incidence of injury, parasites, and
disease than cats kept indoors. Although some diseases — such as
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus and Feline Leukemia Virus — are
specific to cats, others can afflict a wide variety of species,
including people.
In
the U.S., cats are more likely than dogs to be rabid. There is no
known, effective treatment for rabies once symptoms of the disease
appear. There are effective vaccines that provide immunity to
rabies only when administered soon after exposure. They may also be
used for protection before exposure for people such as
veterinarians and animal handlers. “TNR” programs do not
effectively prevent or control rabies in feral cat populations as
originally posited.
Outdoor
cats can get into fights; be exposed to deadly viruses, hit by
cars, and attacked by wild animals; and become poisoned.
We
advocate for controlling cats in the same way in which we control
dogs by advocating for changes to local animal ordinances.
Rodent
Control
What
You Can Do:
Below, a cat relaxes in its hammock in a Eureka catio.
.
- Teach
your cat to walk on a leash and take it on leashed walks as you
would a dog.

- Identify
your cat. Use a collar and tag or microchip your cat in case it
gets lost.
-
Don’t
feed unknown cats without making a commitment to finding them a
permanent home. Feeding stray cats will only establish their
presence and lead to rapid growth in their numbers. Instead, take
them to a local animal shelter where they have the chance to be
adopted.
-
Don’t
allow food to be accessible to wildlife (except birds) or roaming
cats.
-
Spay
or neuter your cat as early as eight weeks of age.
-
Never
abandon cats. This is illegal and cruel behavior. Instead, take the
cat to an animal shelter where it has a chance of being adopted.
-
Support
laws that prevent cats from roaming.
-
If you
are unwilling to keep your cat indoors, do not attract birds to
your yard by putting out bird feeders, bird houses, or bird baths.
-
If
you can’t keep your cat inside, don’t let it go outside without
wearing a bib that will help prevent it from catching prey.
https://www.amazon.com/CatBib-WildBird-Saver-Teal-Small/dp/B00KPFF3LQ
Informative
books:
Helpful
links
Catios and such –