We commend Payson Friends of Ferals for seeking humane means of
coping with the area's feral cat problem, but we hope they will
consider that while trapping, sterilizing and releasing feral
cats will prevent future generations of cats from suffering, it
does nothing to prevent the miserable fates cats currently
living on the streets all too often endure ("Humans are at root
of feral cat problem" -- Sept. 30 Roundup). Unless they are
located in a temperate climate in an area isolated from roads,
people and other animals, and are provided with food, water and
veterinary care, feral cats struggle to survive -- they don't
die of old age. Many suffer terribly from contagious diseases
like rhinotrachitis, feline AIDS, and rabies. Others sustain
puncture wounds, broken bones, brain damage, or lose eyes or
limbs after being attacked by other animals, abused by cruel
people or hit by cars. Given these gruesome fates, and until the
cat overpopulation is stemmed through spaying and neutering,
euthanasia is often the mos