M. Donahue wrote:
>Furthermore, cats can carry the toxoplasma parasite, which is a very real
>human health hazard, for pregnant women and people that have compromised
>immune systems.

Well, yes, cats can carry it, and under some (usually easily avoided)
circumstances can transmit it to humans (maybe--there's some controversy).
But a much bigger source of infection is from meat. Anyone at risk from
toxoplasmosis shouldn't handle raw meats (or at least should be extra
careful about it), and shouldn't eat rare meats.

> Personally, I think cat owners should be held more
>accountable for their cats killing wildlife and should be made to restrict
>their cats to their property. (I know, not an easy proposition.)

Being a cat owner, I fully agree with this. The cat leash law efforts seem
to be about the same place that dog leash law efforts were 35 years or so
ago. Back then, there was a tremendous fuss at the thought that maybe it
wasn't Fido's god-given right to wander at large all day digging up the
neighbors gardens, soiling sidewalks, harrassing kids, biting mailmen,
causing traffic accidents, etc. Low and behold, it finally turned out not
only that dogs don't curl up and die if you keep them under control, but
they live longer, and at least with responsible owners, can be happier
because they're with their people more. I think cat leash laws will
eventually appear as people get used to the idea and change their mind-set,
but it does take time (and lots of pushing!)


Allyn Weaks
allyn at cornetto.chem.washington.edu aka allyn at u.washington.edu
Pacific Northwest Native Wildlife Gardening:
http://chemwww.chem.washington.edu/natives/