Sir, - Reading Ella McSweeney’s article (“This killer pet has driven 73 species to extinction, and roams free in Ireland”, Environment, June 7th), one could be forgiven for thinking the greatest threat to Ireland’s wildlife is not habitat loss, pollution or invasive species, but my cat, who at the time of writing is fast asleep on the sofa.
Humans have systematically destroyed habitats, polluted rivers and seas, and driven countless species to decline. If we are looking for an invasive species with a proven record of destruction, we might start by looking in the mirror before pointing the finger at cats.
Of course, responsible ownership matters. Cats should be neutered. If owners fail to neuter their pets, that is an owner problem, not a cat problem.
Wildlife conservation deserves serious debate, not convenient scapegoats. Blaming the domestic cat may make for an eye-catching headline, but it will do little to address the far larger challenges facing Ireland’s biodiversity. - Yours, etc,
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NUALA WALSH,
Dublin 7.
Cats perform an important service
Sir, - Your columnist Ella McSweeney suggests cats should be licensed and controlled in the same way as dogs. However, cats are one of nature’s ways of dealing with vermin. Beware unintended consequences – do we really want to be overrun by rats and mice? – Yours, etc,
ARTHUR BRADY,
Rathfarnham,
Dublin 14.
