Letter: Keep cats indoors to protect song birds

I am writing in the hope that our city's cat owners will read and understand how important it is to keep your cats in your home.

Songbirds are beginning their southern migration and passing through our city depending on a safe haven for food and rest to accomplish their 100-plus mile journey. The largest danger they face is feral and house cats who ambush and kill these beautiful birds at our feeders. Cats are the top predator of song birds, killing 1.3 to 4 billion birds a year, according to the Jan. 29, 2013 Science News magazine.

Our city has slaughtered geese and has plans to slaughter more who do no harm other than to inconvenience a few people whose shoes get dirty. The city also is set to sanction the use of shotguns within the city for sport killing of other harmless animals deemed nuisances and yet these prolific killers roam our gardens stalking songbirds.

While I understand that many people enjoy the companionship of their house cats, I only ask that they keep them in their homes so I and other individuals who value the varied songs of wild birds can continue to enjoy them. Perhaps the city might entertain an open season on the culling of cats.

Noralee Sherwood

Cedar Rapids