NEW YORK (AP) — Multitudes of feral cats roam New York City's concrete jungle, and some now have a practical purpose: They're helping curb the city's rat population.
A group of volunteers trained by the NYC Feral Cat Initiative traps wild cat colonies that have become a nuisance or been threatened by construction, then spays or neuters and vaccinates them. The goal is to return them to their home territory, but some end up in areas rife with rats.
Feline rat patrols keep watch over city delis and bodegas, car dealerships and the grounds of a Greenwich Village church. Four cats roam the loading dock at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, where food deliveries and garbage have drawn rodents for years.
"We used to hire exterminators, but nature has a better solution," said Rebecca Marshall, the sustainability manager at the 1.8-million-square-foot center. "And cats don't cost anything."
About 6,000 volunteers have completed workshops where they've learned proper ways to trap cats.
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7 comments:
Ferrets are actually better,but I'm not sure how well they would work out in a city environment.
Cats do cost something, but are better and cheaper than commercial exterminators.
Mine cost $2500.00.
1:19, are you confusing the word "cat" with the other word that starts with "P"?
No, the ex wife cost a bit under a million to go away. Cat doesn't get jealous.
Sounds like a Simpsons episode.
Bombs Away!! Why do you think there are so many cats on the shore??They were used to keep move away from homes and barn,but those city rats are some scary stuff.Those cats will get eaten alive there.
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