266 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA [No. 55 



and in waste places, generally where there is cover and protection, 

 but not in wide open places, for here coyotes and bobcats range 

 and take especial delight in killing these smaller competitors in 

 their own field of depredation. 



General habits. Tame cats are generally kept on the theory that 

 they kill mice and rats, and some of them dp to some extent. More 

 often, however, they prefer birds and find it easier to catch young 

 birds just out of the nest than mice or rats. In the woods and 

 fields they prey upon many young game birds, such as quail, grouse, 

 and partridge ; upon young squirrels and rabbits ; and, where abun- 

 dant, they become a serious menace to the increase of small game. 

 Their depredations are mainly at night or under cover, where they 

 are rarely seen, but there seems little doubt that the half -wild do- 

 mestic cat is one of the most abundant and destructive of the preda- 

 tory animals in the State. In future years as larger predatory 

 species are destroyed the problem of controlling these introduced 

 felines will certainly become more acute, as it has in other older 

 States. 



The menace of pet cats as disease carriers, especially among chil- 

 dren, is becoming better understood than formerly, and this has ban- 

 ished these night prowlers from the family circle in many homes. 



Control methods. The spread of house cats into the woods and 

 open country is in large part due to a careless and unfeeling system 

 of leaving pets to shift for themselves when houses or camps are 

 abandoned, or of carrying supernumerary cats or kittens to some 

 lonely place in the woods and abandoning them instead of humanely 

 ending their careers and giving them decent burial. To the credit 

 of the cats they are not too far removed from the wild state to main- 

 tain a successful existence in any mild climate where birds and 

 small game abound, and as they multiply rapidly the woods are 

 soon well stocked with them up to the limit of available food sup- 

 ply. In Pennsylvania where their destruction of useful birds and 

 small game has been appreciated at its actual significance the De- 

 partment of Conservation has requested hunters to kill all cats found 

 in the woods and report the number killed with their reports of 

 game. As a result 6,000 to 7,000 cats have been reported destroyed 

 in a year, which in part accounts for the relative abundance of small 



ame in that State. The intelligent cooperation of the people of a 

 tate is all that is necessary to control this and many other local 

 problems. 



It is well to see that pet cats are well fed and cared for and 

 as far as possible restrained from wandering at night or hunting 

 birds. A superabundance of kittens should be guarded against, and 

 preferably only emasculated male cats should be kept. When it is 

 necessary to kill a tame cat, drop it into a tight can or box (a metal 

 trash can with tight cover is the best) ; pour in an ounce of ether, 

 carbon bisulphide, or gasoline ; and keep the cover on tight for hali 

 an hour. The cat inhales the gas and becomes fully anesthetized, 

 goes to sleep in about 1 minute, and by being kept in the gas for a 

 long time never wakes up. With carbon bisulphide or gasoline gas 

 it will usually not revive after the first 10 or 15 minutes. A blow on 

 the head while the animal is totally unconscious will save time in 



