Predator Cats and the Cities They Stalk

Far away, in the expansive wilderness of Africa, Europe, Asia, and several wild lands throughout the world, prowls the cat. It is big and strong, stealthily sitting under the shade of largely overgrown trees in the grasslands or forests. There, camouflaged by the colors of the season, lions, leopards, tigers, and many other species of large cats contentedly stalk their prey. Some hang lazily from the tree branches, while others meander, crouching toward the herds and individual animals daring to cross their path.

These cats are the animals lured, captured, studied, and slaughtered for human purposes. They are trapped, displayed, trained, and killed for man's delight. Beautiful, strong, capable creatures are redefined by the greed that would change their lives forever, as they become victims of man's ever expanding world, a world that too often infringes on their territory, and changes their way of life indefinitely, sometimes threatening their very existence with extinction.

Cats are predators by nature. Sure, they can be captured and trained to do tricks, oppressing their natural instincts and inclinations, but no amount of training will ever redefine the ultimate purpose of their creation. They were born to roam, hunt, procreate, and live in the wilderness, not for man's purposes, but to maintain a balance in the cycle of life.

The predatory instinct of cats has been challenged for centuries, dating as far back in time as the development of civilization. It is a sad tale really, of man against beast, predator against predator, and the wilderness against the metropolis. Cats and other wild animals soon retreated amidst the development of cities, complete with railroads carving up their landscape. They would watch from afar, as man would take a strong stand against them, only to be confounded by the backlash of what would follow from his short-sightedness.

Deer and other animals multiplied, as their natural predators, large cats, dwindled because they were labeled dangerous by man. Vegetation became sparse and even nonexistent, while deer, raccoon, and too many species of animals starved to death from the lack of natural balance in their eco-system, a balance made partly possible by the cats that preyed upon them.

As the years passed, and the cats decreased in number, man began to realize the error of his ways. Laws were passed preserving the wilderness to prevent extinction of several species of animals. In time, man began to think differently about cats, openly working to preserve their lives and live peacefully among them. The cats for their part adapted to the presence of humans, and left them alone, but not always.

The natural habitat had been changed causing a necessary adaptation for the animals that occupied it. These same creatures commonly found themselves in the middle of man's affairs, threatened by vehicles, poisoned by indigestible foods, and killed for a variety of reasons. The effect on the cats should have been expected, as they stalked their prey, sometimes devouring the very people who encroached upon their lands. Wild animals follow their instincts, and when they are hungry, they go for the kill to preserve their lives.

It probably wasn't the cat's intention to compete with man for primary food sources. Nor did they plan to live in cities that overtook their natural habitats. These big cats did what they had to do, adapting to changes thrust upon them by people seeking to control the environment they claimed as their own. Man blindly took a stand against nature without enough knowledge to realize what he was doing, or the consequences it would have on future generations.

Learn more about this author, M. J. Joachim.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about How big cat habitats are altered by people?
We want to hear your view. Write now!