Cats kill millions of birds, frogs and lizards every year. But hardly anyone dares to take on the cats (and their owners). That could now change.
Between April and August, cats are not allowed to go out unaccompanied in the German state of Baden-Württemberg.
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It is a subject that is surprisingly sensitive in Bern. Politicians immediately regret that they even answered the phone. They write lengthy emails afterwards so as not to be misunderstood. They want to retract quotes and they say things like: “I cannot express myself critically, every second voter I voted for is affected.”
The reason for the panic has a name: Felis catus, the domestic cat.
For many people, these animals are beloved pets and loyal companions. But they are also underestimated predators.
The Swiss Climate Protection Association is now daring to address this sensitive issue. The association, which once successfully launched the Glacier Initiative, is planning a new initiative. One of the issues being debated is a moratorium on cats and dogs. The idea is that their population in Switzerland should not grow in the next ten years. Importing and breeding the animals should be banned. A cat ban, so to speak.
Is this even possible? That is what some cat owners might be asking themselves. But the discussion is certainly justified. Cats are spreading worldwide. According to estimates, there are now two million animals living in Switzerland. And the whisker guerrilla is causing a lot of damage.
On the one hand, the production of their feed leads to climate-damaging emissions. On the other hand, cats’ strong hunting instincts put some animals in danger. According to estimates, domestic cats in Switzerland kill 30 million birds and half a million reptiles and amphibians every year. They are carrying out a small massacre.
Beat Akeret is particularly familiar with the victims of cats. He runs an association for the protection of amphibians and reptiles and was fascinated by the animals even as a young boy. He says: “Many cat owners only see their cat, which occasionally brings home a bird. They do not see the huge number of birds, frogs or dragonflies that are killed.” Lizards in particular, many of which are endangered, have suffered from the large number of cats in Switzerland.
Akeret would welcome it if something were done in Switzerland to combat the cat explosion. He thinks it would make sense if they were no longer allowed outside unaccompanied. “In my opinion, cats should be kept indoors. That way they cannot cause any damage.”
Politician calls for cat fee
House arrest for cats? That sounds harsh, but it is not illusory. In the German town of Walldorf, cats are not allowed outside unaccompanied between April and August. This is to protect the young of the crested lark, a bird threatened with extinction. Cat owners who do not comply face fines of between 500 and 50,000 euros.
In Switzerland, too, there are repeated hesitant attempts to contain the spread of cats. In Aargau, for example, a Green parliamentarian recently called for compulsory registration of catssimilar to what already exists for dogs. The paid registration is intended to reduce “ill-considered purchases” of domestic cats.
And in the city of Bern, FDP politician Thomas Hofstetter proposed the introduction of a cat fee for outdoor cats. He says: “A fee would be the most effective. On the one hand, this would increase the hurdles for owning a cat, and on the other hand, the profits made – according to the polluter pays principle – could be used to protect biodiversity.”
The nature conservation organization Pro Natura is also circulating various ideas on how cats’ hunting success could be limited: “You could put rustling collars on them, keep them indoors for a few weeks during the main breeding season, but that would be difficult to implement, or consistently neuter outdoor cats to limit their hunting instinct,” says managing director Urs Leugger-Eggimann. It is important to him to stress that cats do not pose the greatest threat to biodiversity. “Climate change, the expansion of settlement areas and the intensive use of agriculture are much more problematic.”
Who will take on the cat owners?
It’s a paradox: politicians and conservationists say that cats pose a threat to certain wild animals. They know that their rapid spread brings problems. There are suggestions for solutions. Nevertheless, politicians generally do nothing. After all, who wants to be seen as a cat enemy?
The city of Bern is a prime example of this. In its guide to biodiversity, the city advises citizens quite clearly: “Do not keep domestic cats.” In its response to politician Hofstetter’s proposal, the Bern city government also writes that a leash requirement and a ban on free-running would be effective measures. Nevertheless, it does not want to make any binding specifications. It is “difficult to imagine” that the measures would be “socially accepted.” After all, cats are “companions of humans.”
Bernese politician Hofstetter laughs and says: “It’s fascinating, nobody wants to burn their fingers on this topic. Cats are simply too popular.”
The Swiss Climate Protection Association is not deterred by this. On Saturday in Bern, it discussed various initiative projects that its members and supporters had previously submitted. A number of proposals were received. In addition to the cat moratorium, there were also the creation of a sustainability department in the administration, the establishment of an international climate organization based in Switzerland and the extension of the CO2 fee to all fuels.
Managing director Oliver Daepp says: “We want to use this opportunity to find out what concerns people in climate policy.” The board will assess and consolidate the ideas in the coming weeks. An initiative project is to be completed by the end of the year.
Daepp does not want to rule out the idea of a cat moratorium. But he also says: “It is not one of our central ideas.” A pet moratorium would have more of an effect on biodiversity than on the climate. “For us, however, it is crucial that the new initiative massively reduces greenhouse gas emissions.”
So it might be surprising if climate activists called for a ban on cats. But it would also be courageous.
