Open Season

Hear that shriek? That's the sound of cat lovers across the country reacting to news from Wisconsin that a local hunter "wants stray cats classified as an 'unprotected species' that could be shot by anyone with a small-game license."

The story is a bit unclear on facts, such as whether the hunter is talking about feral cats -- undomesticated, wild animals -- or stray household pets. And it's long on reaction -- mostly horrified -- from folks like the Humane Society.

I can understand the guy's point about controlling the feral cat population. My street, for example, has two feral cat colonies totalling about 20 cats. Those colonies are aided by misguided folks who feed the "poor animals." That only serves to keep the cat population higher than the natural food supply -- rats, birds, squirels, etc. -- can support.

On the other hand, a depletion of cats can mean an overabundance of rats, which can mean increased disease. There's also the yahoo factor, dipsticks with a hankerin' to kill something being given a license to start shooting.

But all this discussion will be drowned out by the wails from cat lovers. This guy's life is about to become hell.