Needs a Title

Humans introducing cat species to islands in which they are invasive have caused an extremely dire ripple effect. An increase in the population of free-roaming cats on islands where they are not native, with the addition of a decrease in fauna populations, has caused free-roaming cats to prey upon seabirds, therefore causing some species to come close to endangerment. Cats are often regarded as domesticated pets from a western American perspective, but for many countries, especially impoverished islands, they pose a great threat due to a lack of housing. One must be able to perceive cats beyond their furry companions to understand the psychology and instincts that cause ecological terror. Ecological terrorism is perceived to only be applicable to humans who possess the capability to comprehend and commit unlawful acts of environmental harm. Through a strictly legal definition, cats are unable to commit such crimes; however, when speaking of the environment conceptually, any living organism holds the ability to destroy ecosystems when in cooperation with other sources. 

 To fully understand the dangers of free-roaming cat populations and the loss of vital structures to the ecosystem, one must first understand the basic definitions of the argument. The categorization of free roaming cats is not limited to what we typically understand as “stray” and instead may include domestic house cats (Felis silvestris catus) that have access to the outdoors unattended. Cats previously considered to be wild cats were tamed to be kept as pets or companions nearly 9,000 years ago. Islands particularly affected by European expansion in the 14th–15th centuries saw an increase and introduction of non-native species, such as predatory cats. According to the Oregon Secretary of State, predatory animals are defined as species that may be destructive to their environment through “loss of or harm inflicted on land, livestock, or agricultural or forest crops.” It is pertinent to note that there is a difference between “non-native” and “invasive,” as conflating the two could lead to dangerous consequences. “Non-native” species tend to be human-introduced and do not originate from particular biomes and ecosystems. “Invasive” species are non-native species that are particularly harmful to the local ecosystem and environment.

In fact, house cats as we commonly perceive are not considered to be native to any place on Earth. They are the domesticated species originating from one of two strains as the North African or the Southwest Asian wildcat. Thus they were not born or originated from anywhere. Domestic cats are considered “cousins” of the “big cat” such as the tiger, lion, jaguar, leopard, and snow leopard. We tend to understand domestication as the taming of a species as a whole, but through meticulous genetic breeding, “house” cats became an entirely new species of their own. Cats are a naturalized species in almost all parts of the world. Naturalized meaning they are able to spread and grow despite not originating from that area. In many regions of the world they have been invasive for so long they have become naturalized and effectively can be considered native. Non-native does not necessarily mean invasive and vice versa, however, the domesticated cat exhibits behaviors and impacts onto their environment that constitutes them as invasive.

It is significant to note and dissect what we understand as a part of nature and the environment, seeing as the entire notion that cats are a danger to the environment relies on the established comprehension of what the environment is. Evidently, “nature” tends to include fauna and flora populations, insects, birds, biomes, etc. Humans tend to not be included in what the general idea of “nature” is and thus implies that human behaviors are not a part of nature and the environment.

References