Only a desperate cat would take on a rat. They're big and mean. Sure, the cat can kill the rat, but the chance of significant injury would be high. And in the wild a significant injury is often a death sentence.
The title really misleads -- cats can be great at urban mouse control. But for urban rat control you need something bigger.
> cats must be hungry, have no less-risky food sources available and have the element of surprise on their side.
I am excited that researchers can reach these conclusions in 2018. This is certainly an excellent way to use grant money.
I've had neighbors who will occasionally leave out bowls of water or food. I've known people who took on responsibility for several cat colonies and had a "nightly feeding route" for them. But around here, once a colony is established, they do not seem to have trouble finding discarded food, or chasing bugs in the lawn.
"Feral and free-ranging cats are the leading human-caused threat to birds in the United States, killing an estimated 1.3 to 4 billion birds annually." (Google)
>Cats typically prefer smaller meals of defenseless prey when available
I'm sure the authors are dog people, because their solution is remove cats rather than bigger cats. Dog people always seem to have an irrational hatred for cats.
Only a desperate cat would take on a rat. They're big and mean. Sure, the cat can kill the rat, but the chance of significant injury would be high. And in the wild a significant injury is often a death sentence.
The title really misleads -- cats can be great at urban mouse control. But for urban rat control you need something bigger.
The prevalence of humane people giving them cat chow destroys the food hunger incentive to hunt.
> cats must be hungry, have no less-risky food sources available and have the element of surprise on their side.
I am excited that researchers can reach these conclusions in 2018. This is certainly an excellent way to use grant money.
I've had neighbors who will occasionally leave out bowls of water or food. I've known people who took on responsibility for several cat colonies and had a "nightly feeding route" for them. But around here, once a colony is established, they do not seem to have trouble finding discarded food, or chasing bugs in the lawn.
Now killing birds on the other hand...
"Feral and free-ranging cats are the leading human-caused threat to birds in the United States, killing an estimated 1.3 to 4 billion birds annually." (Google)
>Cats typically prefer smaller meals of defenseless prey when available
I'm sure the authors are dog people, because their solution is remove cats rather than bigger cats. Dog people always seem to have an irrational hatred for cats.
Cats are not so much into submission.