Feral cats? Here’s a program that put them to work for farmers
Okay, I'm more than a little skeptical about any long-term value of this program, but here's a California rescue group that's found a way to put feral cats to work for local farmers and ranchers.
Apparently the group captures feral cats, spays and neuters them, then releases them in locations where farmers, ranchers, and others who own large tracts of land are troubled by gophers and other rodent infestations. It's an interesting story and an interesting idea. Locations where the cats are released include warehouses and orchards, as well as ranches and farms. The released feral cats are referred to in the article as "working cats," which sort of makes me smile -- given the spoiled, "non-working" nature of our old pet cat Tigra!
My son happens to be visiting right now, and he and my wife got into a discussion of this. Son, whose girlfriend is a small animal veterinarian, seems more cynical about this story than I and his mother are. His reaction was, "Ah, well. In the end, the cats will probably die or run off. They won't be fed or cared for in any way by the farmers or ranchers, but the rescue people will at least feel good about what they've done."
Well I mean, after all, these are FERAL cats we're talking about, not pets. If they never become part of this program, their lives certainly would have been worse than in this program. If a good cat wants to work and needs a job, put 'em on the payroll, I say. (Ah, well. Yes, that last sentence really is my idea of a lame joke.)
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