_ 56 ~ North Shore News — Sunday, February 13. 2000 Cats outside are a risk to song YOUR cat ... prey or predator? The transition of your warm and affectionate pet cat, curled and purring on your lap, into the skilled outdoor hunter, with a mouth full of wildlife, is a clear display of two common — domestic — cat instincts. While friendly and warthwhile company among humans, the same cats, when reieased into our backyard ecosystems cause havoc as gem skilled and instinctive preda- toss. Pet cats kill, on a realistic level, hundreds of millions of wild birds in North America each year. In 1999 more than 10% of the 3,000 animals treated at the Wildlife Rescue Association of B.Cls care centre at Burnaby Lake were witnessed cat attacks. The figure easily doubles when typical cat attack symptoms, such as missing tail PETs ———— feathers and corresponding puncture wounds are included. Sadly, only a fraction of a percent of cat-iniured wildlife are brought to rehab centres. Millions of birds are eaten, abandoned or fef upon the doorsteps of our communities. Millions of the abandoned birds die every year due to fatal infections caused by cat bites, the bacteria in feline saliva and infections from cat scratches, Cats feast on a wide range of birds both young and old, those in and out of nests, those asleep perching in a tree and those eating at ill advised and exposed ground feeders. Cats hunt regardless of cir- cumstance. Well-fed, even over-fed, house cats still revert to their predatory instinct once outside and often kill without need or want of consuming their prey. It is important to remem- ber that though cats have nat- ural hunting instincts their Be Kind... fo your Sweel and your Take your Sweet to the Green Spot _ Vegetarian Café! Live Tove Songs and dinner 5- 40 on 1 Valentines Day 1 fresh fish entrée every evening All desserts hand made with love and a0 cholesteroi! Live music every Saturday & Sunday Night! 2 Marine Drive, W. Van 218 for Reservations urban concentration is any- thing but normal. No ecasys- tem could ever support ¢ very dense population of a a predator (the cat) which occur in our city blocks and suburban backyards. Once in’ the outdoor ecosystem cats themselves are at much greater risk. Their 2-3 year outdoor life span (com- pared to 15 vears for indoor cats) indicates a much higher vulnerability to disease and peril. Not only are they Ekely to pick up fleas, ticks, worms and other parasites but shey are exposed to the dangers of feline Icukemia, feline AIDS, distemper and other epi- demics. Many free ranging cats are killed by road eccidents and others still face the dangers of the top of the suburban food chain, the coyote. The best way to keep your cat healthy and away from both wildlife and the larger dangers of the outside world is Let us send your old eyeglasses 1 the developing world. OPERATION Qh EYESIGHT UNIVERSAL 1-800-585-8265 Charitable Registiaticn 2146 8955 RRO to keep it a house cat. At the very least all cats should be kept indoors from sundown to the morning, a time when most birds are defenceless and coyotes roan, Other factors ta consider NEWS photo Pau! McGrata are that while neutered cats are less likely to hunt, a cat which has been declawed is still an efficient songbird hunter, and that collar bells have limited success in preventing the death of millions of small creatures of Human’s name: Kanika Briant, 24% years old. Pet’s name and age: Jesse. a 3-year-ald terrier cross. Favourite activities: Kanika and Jesse love to cuddle together and go for hikes in the forest. Favourite treat: Jesse would do just about anything for her favourite treat: grapes! Pet tale: Kanika’s mom, Joelle, says there’s only five months separating the two and they've been together since Kanika's birth. “Jesse has since graduated from ani- mated toy to one-of-a-kind companion, and she passed the “teething” stage unscathed and with fiying coluurs!” if you would like to appear with your pet in Pet Pause, please write to Terry Peters c/o the North Shore News, 1139 Lonsdale Ave., North Vancouver. B.C., V7M 2H4. Or send e-mail to . birds and themselves song. The Wildlife Rescue Association of B.C. treats any injured or orphaned wildlife. If you notice wildlife in distress or wish to become a member of WRA, please call 526 7275. Enjoy our 1/4 Honey-Garlic Chicken It's the perfect combination of honey, herbs and the zest of garlic carefully basted on our rotisserie chicken and grilled to perfection. Served with Chalet fries and garlic toast. Talk about a sweet idea —- and with this coupon... | TWO CAN DINE FO Order two 1/4 Honey-Garlic Chicken dinners and pay only $9.99! R*Q)99 | Valid at any Swiss Chalet until March 15/2000. Not valid with any other promoticn or offer. i Life should taste as good as CHALET. ROTISSERIE & GRILL nm Si Meee ER i \ i i i i onal