cats

We bought a house that, courtesy of the previous owner, has a very "bird friendly" yard. We also have an outdoor cat that someone dumped in my front yard when she was a kitten. We nursed her back to health and had her spayed. She has lived at my in-laws farm for a few years. We discussed bringing her to our new house and decided that, because she is an extremely effective serial killer, she will stay on the farm. It's possible to love cats while also recognizing that they can be an invasive species in some circumstances. Their nearly unparalleled hunting skills are an asset to them and a serious threat to the creatures around them.

A neighbor of mine started feed a couple stray cats. The population has exploded. Unlike OP's area, there's not really any support for TNR programs in my area. It's horrible for the cats, the neighbor that fed them moved. So, the cats are malnourished, infested with fleas and mites, get attacked by dogs in the backyards. It's horrible for the homeowners too since these cats are marking their territory which is stinking up the sides of the homes, outdoor furniture and they are tearing up gardens. When I first moved here, there were tons of hummingbirds. Haven't seen one in awhile and I miss them.

I'd never put much thought into it, but a few years back I was doom scrolling and came across a research paper that talked about the just pure damage feral cats cause. Between 1-3 BILLION birds killed globally, that's insanse!!

And I like cats but letting them run wild just isn't the way. I feel that way about any feral animal, or invasive species. Clear them out.

Probably not. The problem with catching feral cats is that it creates a territorial vaccum, causing feral cats from neighboring areas to just move in to the now-empty territory. Those cats were neutered, meaning they couldnt reproduce and contribute to the population, but now there's a good chance that non-neutered cats will move in and create even more cats and just make the problem bigger.