PetLifePro.com
Feral cat, a term you have probably heard a lot, is the type of feline that lives outdoors and keeps a distance from humans.
Though feral cats might seem inoffensive, did you know they are killing machines that devastate wildlife, and that some conservationists consider them to be one of the worst invasive species on Earth?
According to a 2016 report by the US Fish and Wildlife Service feral cats kill more wildlife than any other natural or man-made factor, and rabbits made more than 70 percent of their prey.
Other studies have found that cats have caused dozens of extinctions, most of which are birds.
The idea that in urban regions feral cats prefer rodents is totally inaccurate as they kill for fun, leaving behind dead animals that attract even more rats.
There are also some health risks to humans associated with feral cats, among them: intestinal parasites, rabies, flea-borne typhus, and toxoplasmosis, a disease that causes fatigue, headaches, body aches, and fever. Outdoor cats also carry a dangerous parasite that has been linked to schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s, memory loss, and learning problems.
Experts estimate that up to 160 million of them roam in the United States, so the next time you see or try to approach a feral cat consider all the risks involved.
