One of today’s hot cat topic is how to deal with feral cats in the USA. Broadly speaking there are two camps: the shooters and the TNRers.
Although I detest arch-troller Woody, he consistently states that anyone, anywhere in the USA has the legal right to shoot feral cats (link opens a new window/tab and shows his comment). Feral cat shooters have the protection of the law, he claims. He says there is no need for a petition, such as Ben’s to legalise it. I am referring to shooting feral cats for no specific reason other than to kill them.
He writes this:
it’s STILL legal to shoot all feral cats in all of the USA.
Is that correct? Warning to Woody: You are barred from this conversation. I need to pin this down. We need to know exactly what the law is on this.
Wisconsin – an example
I refer to a good source: North Shore Animal League America. A visitor asks: Is it legal to kill feral cats in Wisconsin¹?
The county animal control officer who has 20 years’ experience said “that it is legal to kill feral cats in Wisconsin…”. Is she correct?
Elinor Molbegott, an Animal League expert quotes the law:
Section 951.02 of the Wisconsin Statutes states that “No person may treat any animal, whether belonging to the person or another, in a cruel manner.”
Cruel means: “causing unnecessary and excessive pain or suffering or unjustifiable injury or death.” (section 951.01).
Elinor says: “it is clear that section 951.02 prohibits causing unjustifiable death to an animal, even by owners.”
My comment: Shooting a feral cat dead will cause pain and suffering. Even if the shot is perfect the cat will suffer for a moment or much longer if the shot is imperfect.
A judge would almost certainly agree with me because it has been determined that the only humane way to kill a cat is by lethal injection administered by a trained practitioner (a vet).
The issue is about causing suffering and pain. If death is instantaneous, it could be argued by a shooter that the cat suffers no pain. However, there has to be a moment, a second at least, when a cat has been hit by a bullet when she feels enormous pain or pure shock. I believe that could be proved scientifically. Accordingly, in respect of Wisconsin I conclude that it is not legal to shoot a feral cat dead.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources have confirmed in a telephone conversation that is is illegal to shoot feral cats in that state. The same goes for PA.
Ohio – another example
Licking County Humane Society Board and staff said in a statement that: “The Ohio Revised Code makes the killing of domestic animals like cats explicitly against the law.”
They made the statement in response to an earlier statement by Bill Hayes, a Republican candidate for Licking County County Commissioner, who was participating in a forum. He suggested that in order to control feral cats people should be allowed to hunt them. He quite quickly retracted his statement after he was heavily criticised. He realised that it was illegal to do as he suggested.
And the point is this: you cannot tell the difference between a feral cat and a domestic cat. Therefore, a prohibition on shooting domestic cats is also a prohibition on shooting feral cats. And if you shot what you thought was a feral cat but which in fact was a domestic cat, the owner could sue you for compensation and you would be committing an act of criminal damage, a crime.
In fact, one pest controller, who appears to know what he’s talking about, says that it is illegal to shoot feral cats in Ohio. I think that he is working backwards like me. If you shoot stray cats, you might you shoot a domestic cat. The whole idea of shooting at cats is simply impractical and that, by the way, applies across the whole of the USA.
General — USA wide
First, I will propose that the laws of other states are similar in their wording to Wisconsin and PA laws with similar interpretations. On that basis shooting feral cats is considered cruel and illegal.
On the Avvo.com website (high visitor numbers – large site) a visitor asks, “Is it legal to kill stray or your cats?” This is the page. It appears to be non-state specific.
Responses from lawyers:
- Alan Brinkmeier (Chicago Lawsuit / Dispute Attorney) – No
- John M. Kaman (San Francisco Criminal Defense Attorney) – No, it’s not legal to kill stray cats. That’s what animal control personnel do as a last resort….
- Laura Mcfarland-Taylor (Bolingbrook Trademark Application Attorney) – No, it is not legal to kill stray cats. If you killed your own cat you could well be charged with animal cruelty.
Conclusion
It is not legal to shoot feral cats anywhere in the USA. That is certain, whatever shooters say. The law on animal cruelty in the USA is on a per state basis. Each state has their own law which is similar nationwide. Feral cats are not legal described as “pests” or “nuisance animals” or non-native species in American law and regulations.
There are discussions on making it legal to shoot feral cats in some states.
The fact that people discuss legalising the shooting of feral cats proves that it is illegal.
See also an article about the legality of killing feral cats in Texas:
And also see some more on the legality of killing feral cats in Wisconsin:
Note:
- Killing feral cats is not quite the same as shooting feral cats in Wisconsin but similar because if an individual kills a cat they are likely to employ a method that is not humane.
All of your points are valid ones, Michael. Of course, logic and humanity are wasted on something like Woody. It will never admit that humans are the greatest engine of extinction on the planet, and it will also never admit that wild birds are some of the most disease-ridden creatures on the face of the planet. Even so, no reasonable person would advocate killing all birds or killing cats. Only a sicko would promote that idea, and Woody certainly qualifies as one mentally ill troll.
As usual, you miss one of the most vital points in this discussion. Cats like all predators kill their prey instinctively as an act of survival. Humans like you who shoot animals do not do it for survival but in part and sometimes fully for the pleasure of it. You argue that you are justified in causing pain to a cat by shooting it because cats cause pain to their prey is ridiculous. Also, you have been reading too many biased and poor research studies into the predation of the domestic cat on prey in the USA. Nearly all estimates on the numbers of wild animals killed by feral, stray and domestic cat in the USA are inaccurate because they are based upon guesses which are in turn based upon extrapolations from small studies in small areas. It has been conclusively found that this does not produce accuracy. In addition quite often the scientists who turn out the studies are biased and sometimes they are ornithologists. I suggest that you become more critical about scientific research studies on the subject which are not scientific at all. I also suggest that you become more logical in your thinking and less cruel in your behaviour. Finally, I suggest that you turn your attention to the devastating impact that human activity has upon all wildlife on the planet. Humans kill far more wild animals than all the domestic stray and feral cats combined. They do this primarily by destroying the habitat in which wild animals live or they trade wildlife as commercial assets. Think about that for a bit and look at yourself in the mirror while you do it.
Cats kill an unbelievable amount of birds and mammals every year, and cause those animals great pain and suffering. If anyone has seen a cat play with its victim they know exactly what I’m talking about.
Why are we so concerned about a cats pain but not the slow death of their victims? What about the millions of dollars spent every year on habitat and reintroduction efforts for other animals? That cats kill by the millions.
It may be illegal, that’s why a game warden told me to always stick to the SSS method. Shoot, Shovel and Shut up. BANG, BANG
I like cats, just not free range ones. It is mind boggling to me that they are protected. Then again look who we voted in for president.
Feral cats are not domesticated animals. When a cat is born in the wild it is a wild animal. When that wild animal steps on my property I am within my rights to harvest it. I am also allowed to shoot a pet if its causes a problem on my property. Actually I am allowed to do so anywhere if I am threatened by the animal. Now if I see a pet cat I would not shoot it. I would try to find a different solution. Feral cats on the are a different story.
Tell me: Are you shooting feral cats? Just give me a yes or no answer please.
So you agree, on that fact alone, that you can’t kill feral cats anywhere in the USA.
Why are you so sloppy in your arguments?
I own property and have done for many years. I just have a completely different viewpoint and a much more refined viewpoint than yours. Your argument is so crude and basic.