Cats, Not Cars, Cause…Climate Change?
- Posted on July 14, 2011 at 6:11am by
Tiffany Gabbay
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Well, you can save your money and forget about buying that Prius. Because apparently cats, not cars, cause “climate change.” That’s the latest according to some research studies.
The problem is reportedly due to a cat “epidemic” in the U.S., where the entire feline population has tripled in the last four decades to some 600 million furry critters. The studies report that “global warming” prompts cats to breed like, well, rabbits, and once there’s an “overpopulation,” our furry feline friends start killing off eco-saving birds en masse.
Sounds like a lose, lose. Right?
MotherJones reports:
Domestic cats, officially considered an invasive species, kill at least a hundred million birds in the US every year—dwarfing the number killed by wind turbines. (See “Apocalypse Meow,” below.) They’re also responsible for at least 33 avian extinctions worldwide. A recent Smithsonian Institution study found that cats caused 79 percent of deaths of juvenile catbirds in the suburbs of Washington, DC. Bad news, since birds are key to protecting ecosystems from the stresses of climate change—a 2010 study found that they save plants from marauding insects that proliferate as the world warms.
MJ even provides a video on this eyebrow raising theory:
But wait, the theory is about to get a little more whacky.
An earlier report from LiveScience says prominent pet adoption groups also believe the spike in the cat population is due to global warming:
Droves of cats and kittens are swarming into animal shelters nationwide, and global warming is to blame, according to one pet adoption group.
Several shelters operated by a national adoption organization called Pets Across America reported a 30 percent increase in intakes of cats and kittens from 2005 to 2006, and other shelters across the nation have reported similar spikes of stray, owned and feral cats.
The cause of this feline flood is an extended cat breeding season thanks to the world’s warming temperatures, according to the group, which is one of the country’s oldest and largest animal welfare organizations.
So, cats cause global warming, but global warming causes more cats.
Either way, cats aren’t taking the news lying down. See one cat-activist fight “the lies” about the felines’ role in climate change — even though ironically, global warming is what supposedly helped them come into existence in the first place:
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Comments (122)
drago
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 8:53amSo, now its “cat” made global warming? When will it end?
Report Post »upstateny
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 8:47amWow, now it‘s cat’s. People should be angry that the greenies think you are this stupid.
Report Post »Mizurax
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 9:43amThis is insanity. How does such a large portion of the population buy into this crap? It’s only going to get worse too. Our next president will continue to push this agenda. Obama would, obviously, if somehow he wins again. And the ridiculous Republican party will unfortunately nominate Romney, who also believes in global warming. I hope I’m wrong, but I won’t be. Romney is the nominee the media wants, including Fox News. So he‘ll get the vote because he’ll get the coverage. The world get’s dumber ever day…
Report Post »mikem1969
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 9:53amOMG, what next an ant fart is causing global warming. The increase in cats and animals of all kinds in shelters is because of the economy and people who can‘t take care of their pets anymore because they can’t afford to. It has nothing to do with global warming. Most mammals breed during the spring and summer months and give birth suring those same months because MOTHER NATURE designed them that way to aid survival. Cats killing birds is natural, thats what they do, but they also kill disease ridden mice and rats. These freaking climate scam morons need to go jump in a live volcano, after all, all the hot air they keep putting must be hurting something.
Report Post »DieBambi
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 9:58amIf I had a bigger truck, with huge swamp tires, I could more effectively drive around for hours at a time, running them down to SAVE THE PLANET!
Report Post »RightWrite
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 11:06amCats cause Toxoplasmosis infestation, and the epidemic is not reported by the media. Cats are the most dangerous pets on the planet, and if you don’t mind parasites in your brain, then keep them around.
Report Post »randerson503
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 12:32pmI hope you are wrong. Romney comes across as the proverbial “used car salesman” to me. I like some of the things he says, I just don’t believe he would follow through. I like Herman Cain. I know him as an honest man (sometimes brutally so), he does not believe in anthropomorphic global warming (or felinopomorhic), and he is very economically literate, unlike the illerate ass we have in the white house now.
Report Post »KPEdwards
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 4:44pmSo, what exactly is so stupid about the logic:
cats kill birds
birds kill bugs
bugs kill plants
plants reduce CO2
therefore a higher number of cats result in a higher number of bird deaths resulting in more bugs resulting in less plants resulting in higher CO2 levels.
What is being shown is that the number of cats can have a positive feedback loop, where if you increase the number of cats it could propagate to higher CO2 levels. The high levels would lead to higher global temperatures which could results in longer mating seasons (which I’m not really convinced is the case – so if I wanted to really look into this I’d probably look for studies relating global temperatures and cat mating habits – *if* there is a correlation), which would result in larger number of cats.
It’s pretty basic control systems stuff. An increase in cat population results in an increase in cat population. So, which part of that is “stupid”
Report Post »sbeejustsaying
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 5:29pmDoen’t “Mother Jones” have a connection with Van Jones?
Report Post »Melvin Spittle
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 6:08pmThe trouble with Tribbles!
Report Post »avenger
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 7:22pmthank God,now I can drive my Lambo and not feel guilty !
Report Post »UrsaMajor
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 10:12pmlots of cats cause global warming which, in turn, causes lots of cats.
Talk about a CATch-22!
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 10:25pmCow burps and cat F A R T S…..WE are DOOMED!!!!
Report Post »Joe_Camel
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 11:03pm@KPEdwards
The problem is the fallacious assumption that CO2 is harmful to the environment.
Report Post »rodamaa
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 5:48amAnother great CATastrophe brought to by the great minds on the Left. I can’t believe this is serious.
Report Post »chazman
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 7:56amYes, YES!! KILL THOSE CATS! KILL THEM!! KILL THEM ALL, NOW!!! Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!!! Huh? Where’s the LEOPARD OF THE SNOW when we need her?
Report Post »KPEdwards
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 10:44am@JOE_CAMEL
“The problem is the fallacious assumption that CO2 is harmful to the environment.”
First, there is no question that CO2 can be harmful to the environment. It is a fact that CO2 is a GHG. I’m sorry, but it absorbs radiation at certain wavelengths and radiates it in all directions afterwards. The fact that it does this is one of the reasons the Earth is able to keep the climates it currently has instead of a barren tundra. If you can explain how CO2 is not a GHG, I would *love* to hear it.
No, what I believe you are trying to say is to question the Earth’s response to an increase in CO2 levels. In which, you are supposing that there is a natural control system that when CO2 levels increase there are natural processes that bring it back to it’s set point, and that the increases from these various sources (decreased plant life, increase CO2 emissions, etc) isn’t sufficient enough to overload this control system. Am I correct in this summary?
Report Post »chazman
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 10:20pm… put your cat’s in meh belly!
Report Post »simplygilly
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 8:28amBumper sticker: Eat a cat… save the planet.
Report Post »CatholiConservative
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 8:52amCan’t it be drown a cat- I don‘t imagine they’d taste all that good- plus I’m allergic
Report Post »Red herring
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 1:07amActually someone with experience in this area told me that cats taste like rabbits. That might not be so bad.
Report Post »GeorgeWashingtonslept here
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 8:24amBring in more Chinese immigrants so they can open up restaurants. Boom, end of cat problem.
Report Post »Ailene Wright
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 8:20amPeople who feed stray and feral cats are causing the population to explode. Well fed cats breed and produce litter after litter. People think they are doing a good deed feeding the strays but they are creating a huge problem and causing even more misery for the animals.
Report Post »butler180
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 8:52amWrong, on my part. I feed strays BUT I live trap them FIV/leukemia test them & if OK have them spayed/neutered and release. There are many programs run by towns/cities to TSR. The cats are beneficial to cities/towns as they keep the rodent population to a minimum, which in turn is a health benefit to it’s citizens. I could go on but you get the point.
Report Post »People who do not spay/neuter their pets are the real problem. The unwanted kittens/puppies are left to fend for themselves. So they breed and cause a financial burden on Animal rescue organizations.
The organizations mentions above should put their money where their mouths are and finance TSR programs.
firstHat
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 8:58amExcuse me, but:
1) most people these days who feed strays are part of the trap neuter and return programs. Those cats don’t breed and the colony will eventually die out.
2) Those areas where colonies have been cleaned out suddenly (usually around strip malls and apartment complexes) generally see a surge in rodent invasion for many years.
Tell me, which would you rather have, a rat in your house or a cat in the woods behind it?
Oh and BTW, there have been many many studies showing that cats do NOT damage bird population, but rather replace natural predators who are no longer prevalent and thus help keep flocks healthy.
I have one big question for most greenies…. since when are the human species “unnatural.“ Seems to me our brains and our works are a ”natural” outcome of what and who we are….
Report Post »Ailene Wright
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 9:17amThe ones who participate in programs such as yours are the exception and not the rule. I have had to deal with this problem due to a death of a person who fed cats,neutered some but ended up with a population of around 75 cats. Who continues to feed them when the person dies? Nobody. Animal control has to come in and round up the ones that they can which will end up euthanized. The rest are left to fend for themselves and will probably suffer from starvation and disease. Was it kind to feed and breed? I think not. What was meant to be kind turned out to be rather cruel in the end.
Report Post »SacredHonor1776
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 9:39am…and note if I remember my history correctly rodents were one of the biggest destroyers of native bird populations and plant when they surge, as they eat both seeds and bird eggs. Probably what wiped out Easter Island civilization.
Report Post »SacredHonor1776
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 9:41amIt sounds line you had a crazy cat person on your hands it represents a form of dementia. I‘d hardly think it’s the rule. I’ve encountered a few of those types.
Report Post »Taquoshi
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 12:43pmI’m convinced there is something seriously wrong with the water these researchers are drinking.
We’ve taken in two strays, neutered them and they are now house cats.
There is a local organization here that gathers up kittens, puts them in foster care and then adopts them out. Local vets donate medical care.
There are also organizations that trap adult ferals, spay or neuter them and relocate them to areas where rodents are a problem. Volunteers will stop by sometime during the week to insure the cat is okay and leave some food for the animal.
People who care about cats often will trap a local feral, have it spaded and release it at their own expense. Personally, we can’t afford that but we do make small donations to TSR organization when we can. The increase in feral felines is likely due to the economic state and people abandoning their pets.
Report Post »Jaimo
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 3:53pmWrong, Alley Cat Allies is an organization that is trying to fight the automatic killing of feral cat colonies around the country. If you trap, neuter, release (TNR) these cats they continue to live out their lives in peace, without making more little kitties. People like me feed these little guys and they are not the problem.
The problem is the moron who gets a cat and thinks that it would be cool to let it have 4 or 5 litters and never get the cat fixed. When the litters are ready to go, those same morons, dump off said litters to their local Humane Society where there is already an abudance of kitties that didn‘t have the advantages of said moron’s kitties.
Maybe cats should be licensed, or at least they should be required to have their kitties fixed unless they are show cats or breeders.
I’ll be picking up a nice little 2 year old kitty this weekend that came from a hoarder who when all his kitties are taken away, he continues to get more and let them have litters. It’s a cycle with this idiot.
Report Post »Kawohlus
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 8:08amThese people need to be locked up in a padded cell, also they didn’t say anything about thier wind farms kill on birds. Why is that??
Report Post »My cat’s voting Republican now. Power to the cats
Bushie
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 8:08amIf we get rid of all the Dems, Libs, and Progressives, we can save America. They need to be trapped and neutered. Please do feed them.
Report Post »Av8tor056
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 8:40amNeuter The libs, dems, and progressives?
Report Post »UlyssesP
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 1:31pmI know you jest, but Hitler actually sterilized his “enemies” and social undesirables.
Report Post »Just thought you might want to keep that in mind.
StargazerInSavannah
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 7:59pmI assume you are absolutely serious although I’m not certain they should actually be fed. Am however most comfortable with the idea of neutering progressive.
Report Post »chazman
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 8:11amI neutered my cat, now it’s a LIBERAL! Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!! Huh? I love cats! Especially with mashed potatoes and a nice side salad! Two cats on the Barbie, please!
Report Post »streetrodder
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 7:52amI wonder who’s tax money went to fund this BS study. I bet Al Gore’s finger prints are all over this.
Report Post »danenut6
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 7:51amSorry, I live in the country and I have a cat to kill vermin. And he does. NOW: yes he gets the occasional cardinal but for the most part mice, rats, rabbits ( HE LOVES Rabbits) and Squirrels. All of witch are vermin. He is not hunting “for sport” he ears them. It is not a pretty site but he eats them. He is fed on a daily basis and does not need to eat wild animals but it is in his NATURE to do so. He is a fantastic cat and I know that because of his life style there is a far greater chance that SOMETHING will one day get him.
I know that the Coyote’s that come down and take my turkeys, ducks and chickens are also impacting the environment. . .just in a different way. OH! and Chip does not “hunt” baby chicks, ducks or turkeys. . .just not in his nature. . . Maybe through evolution the BIRDS will learn what cats are and stay the hell away from them :)
Report Post »treshall
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 7:29amNo offense to cats or cat lovers intended! :-)
Report Post »treshall
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 7:28amHow perfectly apropos of liberals, a bunch of ‘*******’, as sneaky and conniving as some breeds and always at the ready with the claws out.
Report Post »BobEd
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 8:28amWhy would they edit the word “*****” out of article about cats??
Report Post »normbal
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 7:23amDomestic cats ARE an invasive species. Cats DO kill native wildlife, especially songbirds. Why is this so hard to understand? When I lived in Hawaii I had an ongoing relationship with wildlife and animal control where I’d trap a cat and an agent would come out, take the cat in to euthanize it and they’d leave an empty trap. About 2 to 3 times a week. The north shore seabird nesting grounds are “lousy” with feral cats and the nesting grounds are (were) bereft of seabirds. I see a similar thing here in the states. Outdoor cats are pests, they carry diseases and decimate native populations of birds which keep down harmful insect populations. I could give a crap about the alleged global warming issue. It’s bad enough that people are so stupid that they let their cats go outside to wander around. But that’s okay. I still trap them. It’s the responsible, adult thing to do. It’s a pain to drop them off at the ASPCA – Fish and Game won’t come out and do their job – but it’s necessary. But don’t get me wrong. I love cats, I do, really. I just can’t ever eat a whole one. Flame away you psychotic “cat lovers.”
Report Post »DJR
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 7:36am@NORMBAL, are you for real? How sick are you? You’re love for cats really shows.
Report Post »Jim
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 8:29amHA ha ha ha!! AROooo! woof woof! AROooo!!
Report Post »Jim
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 8:32amHA HA HA!!! AROooo! Woof Woof! AROooo!
Report Post »jcizarter
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 7:15amI received a letter from “Mother Jones” magazine. I used their card, after I tore my name and address off of the card, stuffed it into the envelope and used their postage to mail it back to them. I suggest this to all of the people who get this offer to order their useless rag, take the opportunity to at least use their postage against them.
Report Post »70S_KIDS_FIGHTING_SOCIALISM
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 7:09amI don’t believe in global warming but my dog ensures me that cats are extremely bad for the environment.
Report Post »JGraham III
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 10:41amAh the wisdom of dogs! Mine too faithfully watches to see that my outdoor kitties behave themselves. He has told me repeatedly that when kitties are bad they need dicipline. Together they keep the mousie and gopher population at bay. (and the Master entertained…)
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 7:05am“Cats” is a term being used as a euphamism , right ?
Report Post »commonsenseguy
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 6:57amokay, if you believe this , you deserve every thing you get. did anyone see who posted this “”“ MOTHER JONES ””" van jones web site ,what a bunch of crap,but since cats are the cause of global warming,then maybe we can use them for fuel or food, these nutjobs will say and do anything to scare people, this is just another in a long line of left wing bulls t they have served up,can’t wait to see what is next, heck,they might say that our cloths are the cause of the worlds warming problem and will force us all to go naked to save the planet
Report Post »Islesfordian
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 6:48amJust for a point in accuracy. This article nowhere says that cats affect global warming, but rather than they are the one affected by it. The most you can gather from this study, if you accept their conclusions, is that cats’ depopulation of birds exacerbates the problems that come with global warming.
I really couldn‘t give a rat’s a**. But my cat could, after he chewed off its head.
Report Post »Mop
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 6:37amKnow what really causes Climate Change? They’re called, “Seasons.”
Report Post »CatB
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 6:49amDon’t forget that big orange this in the sky … it has “cycles” …
Report Post »clingingtogodandguns
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 6:33amGive me a f#### break.Send your cats to al gores house.Birds are much cuter and aren’t a holes like cats.Better yet just get a puppy. I got your climate change right here.Your all idiots to believe this boondoggle.But,if you send me your money i can fix the problem.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 6:33amSo now can we have some domestic oil? .. pretty please!! How about the lightbulb ban???
TEA!
Report Post »dizzyinthedark
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 6:32amOkay, so the cats are depopulating the bird species because pet owners feel their feline friends MUST live outdoors–I say LEASH LAW FOR ALL CATS!!! If this doesn’t work then let the Chinese, that have moved into our country to take over, a ‘whack’ (pun intended) at them!
Report Post »Jaimo
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 3:59pmMaybe the birds should just get smarter and more alert. My cat goes out in the evening when I come home from work and is in around 9:00 p.m. I don’t allow my cat to wander around all day, although some people do, I don’t.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 6:31amLOL … well now isn’t that just the latest thing to attack!!! Funny how they fail to state that cats also KILL VERMIN .. like rats and mice that can take over a city very quickly and spread disease. Much easier to catch something on the ground than in the air I would think .. have they noticed a decrease in RATS in say NEW YORK CITY …???
Perhaps the problem is the current DEPRESSION and people having a hard time paying for keeping their kitties and having them spayed.
Report Post »One Man One Voice
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 6:31amThis is another example in a never ending list of stories that never cease to amaze me in their utter lunacy. We‘re being inundated by the sheer volume of people who’s views and opinions are given credence by the predominantly liberal media. The mentally ill are running amok.
Report Post »RIGHTHOOK
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 6:29amAbsurd is as Absurd does! May we move on and simply ignore these nutjobs? Not a day goes by w/o another team of high priced boneheads launching theories that have no relevance.
Report Post »They need to get rid of the hairballs caught up in their brains.
CatB
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 6:41amWonder if they got a gov’t grant for this? .. well I just would bet they did!!!
TEA!
Report Post »awall1231
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 6:21amsomebodys been smokin something. maybe we should just start eating cats. I got a great campaign slogan. “ CAT the other white meat”
Report Post »CatB
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 6:32amHey .. I don’t appreciate that !!!
LOL …
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