Start with caterpillars | The Salt Lake Tribune

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In "Cats and birds" (Forum, Feb. 3), Leo Whiting advises us to outlaw and euthanize feral cats because they kill birds.

There would be no feral cats if owners would spay and neuter their cats and the feral cats they feed. Feral cats are simply trying to survive; all cats kill birds.

Since 1967 and the decline in bird population, the human population has increased to the point of threatening the ability of our planet to sustain all life. We human beings think we own this Earth.

We destroy the habitats of millions of animals. We kill for sport, greed and out of just plain cruelty.

Educator Bradley Miller said, "Teaching a child not to step on a caterpillar is as important to the child as it is to the caterpillar." Humans must internalize and teach our children this attitude toward non-human life.

We would be less likely to kill each other if we revered life itself.

Claudia Marques

Salt Lake City