Your cat kills more fish than you do. And that’s just inside the house. In a study that I suspect is being suppressed by the feline blogosphere, Australian scientists concluded that house cats pose a greater threat to fish stocks than people.
Really: According to the study, the “global cat food industry” consumed an estimated 2.48 million metric tonnes (about 2.2 million tons) of sardines, herrings, and anchovies, with American cats accounting for 1.1 million tonnes. As the pet food industry goes white-tablecloth, the study’s author says, cats are eating more fish that’s “suitable for direct human consumption,” instead of just scraps and trimmings. And she adds that the environmental criticisms of fish farming, which usually relies on wild fish for feed, should be aimed at cat food producers, too.
I knew cats were evil. I now have the evidence.
Agent Orange, I beg to differ.
The thing is, cats don’t give a shit if they’re eating the filet or the dorsal fin. They probably don’t care if it’s wild-caught salmon or carp, either. Why don’t we just say that cat OWNERS are the menace within?
And the cat food makers, too. If they didn’t sell the “premium” stuff, nobody would be decimating fish populations for their cats.
No reason to throw cats under the bus (now don’t go all literal and take it wrong), cats are blameless here, they’re no more culpable than horses are in this matter.
My cat refuses to eat anything less than sushi-grade tuna.