The common house cat. Fluffy companion, or excellent game?
The state of Wisconsin is considering a measure that would legalize cat hunting. The measure would remove protected species status from the common domestic cat, and basically permit anyone with a small game license in that state to hunt and kill any free roaming cat.
Residents in 72 counties were asked whether free-roaming cats — including any domestic cat that isn’t under the owner’s direct control or any cat without a collar — should be listed as an unprotected species. If listed as so, the cats could be hunted.
The proposal was one of several dozen included in a spring vote on hunting and fishing issues held by the Wisconsin Conservation Congress. The results, only advisory, get forwarded to the state Natural Resources Board.
Now, what valid reason would there be for hunting cats? Do the hunters intend to eat their kills? Doubtful… cat meat would be quite tough and stringy I’d imagine. Stuff the carcass and keep it as a trophy? Yeah, nothing confirms a hunter’s sheer skill and prowess like having Fluffy mounted in the game room.
Opponents have their site as well. Apparently the election which had this measure on the ballot happened yesterday, but the results are unclear.
UPDATE: GOOD CHRIST! THE MEASURE PASSED! Fortunately for the cats, it appears the measure was moot anyway, as the agency that this ballot measure addressed claims to have no authority over domestic cats, and doesn’t seem to want to touch the measure. So domestic cats appears safe in Wisconsin, for now anyway.