The cries outside our window last night indicated that the next generation of feral cats is in progress. We seem to have more than our fair share of stray cats in Columbia, perhaps a reflection of the large population of college students, prone to free-spirited pet maintenance and short-term living arrangements.
Archaeological evidence suggests that humans and cats have lived in close proximity for at least 10,000 years; initially, wild felines likely took advantage of the food sources that human habitation provided. The Egyptians are thought to have been the first civilization to domesticate the cat (approximately 8000 years ago) and, ever since, these creatures have become favored pets across the globe; their attractive appearance, low maintenance requirements and rodent-killing abilities have all played a role in this respect.
Unfortunately, as often occurs in human society, we can be lax about the responsibilities of pet ownership; failure to neuter these animals and a willingness to "set them free" when we tire of caring for them have led to sizable populations of stray cats. Once independent of human provisions, these feral felines turn to natural food sources; while their taste for birds, lizards, rodents and other small mammals may have little impact in cities and farm country, feral cats can pose a significant threat to some ecosystems, especially when released into island communities. Of course, these felines, though well equipped to survive in the wild, often fall prey to fox, coyotes, owls, hawks and human vehicles, cutting their life span to an average of 2-3 years (well below the 15-20 years of their pampered, domestic cousins).
