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"While feral cats living in rural Australia are certainly lethal to wildlife, cats with human families who are allowed to roam around urban areas still have hunting instincts, no matter how well fed they are. Most cat guardians are in denial about the number of animals their cats kill. One study found that they see only about 23 per cent of their cats' victims," We are also reminded that, "If allowed outdoors, all cats will terrorize, maim, and kill native birds and other small wild animals, who are struggling to survive other challenges (such as development in their habitats) and aren't equipped to deal with non-native predators. These animals die from puncture wounds and from being crushed by cats' jaws." FERAL CATS IN THE UNITED STATES 15 reasons science says feral cats are a disaster," by NOLA writer Joan Meiners (July 2018) is one of the most informative and well -illustrated responses that have appeared on feral cats. "Scientists estimate that between 60 and 160 million feral cats roam the United States... Feral, free -roaming cats have been documented by dozens of studies to be indiscriminate killers of wildlife and the cause of at least 63 species extinctions, according to a 2016 analysis of invasive species impacts. "But while the evidence of their hunting prowess is overwhelming, there is little proof that cats are effective at controlling urban rats, which studies have shown are not their primary prey." she writes. Other concerns are that "Feral cats attack the prh, -,,-e zcw, =mers of mosquitoes and other insect pests; Cats are the top carriers of rabies among domestic animals in the U.S.; Cats spread toxoplasmosis." A DAY IN THE (SHORT) LIFE OF A FERAL/STRAY CAT Most feral and stray cats live a lonely life, hiding under greasy vehicles or buildings during the day to try to avoid being chased and torn apart by dogs, hit by cars --and often are accidentally and intentionally poisoned by angry or fearful residents or the rodenticide in the bodies of devoured mice and rats.