Although many people love cats, there are a few disgruntled human beings who dislike furry felines. So if these obviously demented people got their wish, what would the world look like without cats?
Cats are useful for capturing and killing rodents. A 1979 study in New Zealand found that when cats were nearly eradicated from a small island, the local rat population quickly quadrupled. On that same island in New Zealand, as rat numbers increased in the absence of cats, the population of seabirds whose eggs rats preyed upon declined.
So cats are not only furry companions, but also vital in protecting other species from the predatory raids of rodents. The next time you see your cat, give it a treat as a reward. Your cat will thank you even if it never catches a mouse in its life.
To learn more about the importance of cats in the world, click here.