A respected Polish scientific institute has classified domestic cats as an “invasive alien species”, citing the damage they cause to birds and other wildlife. Naturally, this decision was met with a reaction from many cat lovers.
When Wojciech Solarz, a biologist at the state-run Polish Academy of Sciences, added the common scientific name of the house cat, “Felis catus,” to a national database of alien species run by the US, he was not prepared for public outcry. Solarz told AP on Tuesday that 1,786 other species are already listed in its database with no objections. He said the turmoil over invasive alien species 1,787 may have stemmed from some media reports that gave the false impression that his institute had called for euthanasia for feral and other cats.
Solarz explained the growing scientific consensus that domestic cats have a detrimental effect on biodiversity, given the number of birds and mammals they hunt and kill. The criteria for including the cat among the alien invasive species are “100% met by the cat,” he said.
On a television show broadcast by independent broadcaster TVN, the biologist was confronted by a veterinarian who disputed his opinion of the dangers cats pose to wildlife. Dorota Suminska, author of a book called ‘Happy Cat’, highlighted other causes of biodiversity decline, including a polluted environment and urban building facades that can kill birds in flight.
“Ask if humans are on the non-invasive alien species list,” Suminska said, arguing that cats are being unfairly blamed too much.
Earlier this month, the Polish Academy institute published an article on its website that refers to the “controversy” and seeks to clarify its position.
The Institute notes that Felis catus was probably domesticated around 10,000 years ago in the cradle of the great civilizations of the ancient Middle East, and that this species is strictly alien to Europe from a scientific point of view. The institute also highlighted that it recommends cat owners limit the amount of time their pets spend outside during the bird’s breeding season.
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