To the Editor:

Writer Michael Seinberg seems to think his cats’ slaughter of wildlife is amusing, but to paraphrase Henry David Thoreau, the squirrel that your cat kills in jest dies in earnest (“The great white hunters—of the backyard,” The Altamont Enterprise, Dec. 1, 2016).

Cats are the leading cause of human-related bird deaths, and have contributed to the extinction of dozens of species. Every year, outdoor cats (who are not native and do not fit into the ecosystem) maim and kill billions of birds and other small and infant animals who aren’t equipped to deal this invasive predator.

Cats are even more lethal than wild animals like coyotes and foxes because they are “subsidized predators.” Unlike wild animals who are hunting for survival, cats can far surpass a habitat’s “carrying capacity” because they are getting food at home.

The cats themselves are also at risk. Outdoor cats routinely incur ghastly injuries and infections, contract deadly contagious diseases, are poisoned and shot by cruel people, and are attacked by wildlife and loose dogs, and more. The average lifespan of an outdoor cat is just two to five years, compared to 12 to15 years for a cat who lives indoors.

The best way to help protect wildlife and cats is by requiring all cat guardians to have their feline companions spayed and neutered, licensed, microchipped, and kept indoors.

Teresa Chagrin

Norfolk, Virginia

Editor’s note: Teresa Chagrin is an animal care and control specialist with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).