Feral cats in the evening light can make intriguing photographic subjects (see my previous 15 or so posts). As a cat lover, their beauty attracts me. As a bird photographer, however, I am aware of the dangers feral cat populations present to birds, as well as their potential for disease transmission.
While many organizations around the country, including San Diego's Feral Cat Coalition, advocate trapping, neutering, and releasing feral cats (TNR), it must be said that most bird organizations do not see TNR as an adequate solution.
Here is a video by the American Bird Conservancy critical of feral cats and TNR.
And here is a recent article in Audubon Magazine which is very critical of TNR.
I doubt that feral cat colonies will disappear any time soon. They've been around for centuries. (Mark Twain wrote about feral cats in Hawaii in 1866!).
The homeless cats and the birds they prey on are both innocent victims here.
Regardless of one's viewpoint, everyone can agree that the practice of dumping unwanted and un-neutered cats into these colonies must stop.
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