Re: [UC] Stray Cats

[Benseraglio2]

In a message dated 4/2/2004 4:01:56 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: To keep this UC-related, there are some more points to ponder when considering feral/stray-cats-as-low-cost-pest-control. I come from Center City, where the feral cat problem is not nearly as extensive as I have seen in UCity (in 6 whole years in CC I saw only two stray cats). I have noticed while walking through certain parts of UC that there is a TERRIBLE stench of cat urine. This is not a problem I have ever encountered in CC (though, granted, parts of CC do have other interesting smells). Cat urine, especially in unspayed/unneutered cats, is extremely odiferous and nearly impossible to eradicate once it's around. Male cats also "spray" to mark their territory, and that smells awful, too. So, a surfeit of feral cats = surfeit of stinky cat pee all over the place. In your garden, on your house, under your car... you name it. Huh. Funny. I've lived in UC now for almost 19 years and I always thought that *that* particular stench was from the fertilizer the enthusiastic neighborhood gardeners put out to make their plants grow. Personally I have a fairly sensitive nose, and pride myself on the fact that I can distinguish beaver from muskrat scat at about 30-yard range. On the other hand, I was at a lecture today by a guy from the Monell Chemical Senses Center and he was saying that women have sharper noses than men, so there may be something in what you say. (He couldn't cite any studies off the top of his head, but noted that his wife believes this firmly -- also, women's noses get more sensitive when they get pregnant. Don't mean to insinuate that you're pregnant or anything. I mean, that's between you and your doctor. Unless you get one of these kits from the drugstore. Just sayin.)     Ross Bender http://rossbender.org