In 1997, the American Bird Conservancy (ABC), a well financed special interest group, fired the first shot in the war against felines with their "Cats Indoors!" campaign. After a slow start, the effort generated substantial results in 2003. The primary purpose of their lobbying campaign is the elimination of all outdoorcats- strays, ferals and pets. Indeed, they specifically recommend that homeless and lost cats should be captured and sent to local shelters, knowing full well that most will be killed.

As of today, the American Bird Conservancy's Cats Indoors! campaign has successfully influenced federal, state and local governments with misinformation and extrapolated data about the "devastating effects" free-roaming felines have on "millions" of birds and "billions" of small mammals.

A key component of the Cats Indoors! campaign is the assertion that the trap-neuter-return (TNR) practice is ineffective and inhumane. This charge can be scientifically refuted with observable evidence in every state that maintains cat colonies. Properly implemented, TNR is the only proven non-lethal solution to feline overpopulation and is endorsed by the American Veterinary Medical Association. Nevertheless, the war is on and the killing has begun.

A key battle was lost on the federal level when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service joined forces with ABC, endorsing the Cats Indoors! program and urging affiliated government agencies to follow suit. . .