Paws off these cats: Bill seeks to stop gov't 'slaughter' of kittens

[Mrs. Overall]

Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon called the government's research experiments on felines "horrific."

A bipartisan group of lawmakers will introduce legislation Thursday to prevent the U.S. Department of Agriculture from continuing deadly experiments on kittens.

"The USDA's decision to slaughter kittens after they are used in research is an archaic practice and horrific treatment, and we need to end it," Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, the Senate bill's lead sponsor, said in a statement to NBC News. The agency has been breeding kittens in Beltsville, Maryland, and infecting them with a parasite that can cause toxoplasmosis, a food-borne illness. Scientists harvest the parasites from their stool for two to three weeks, and then euthanize and incinerate the cats.

The agency has said animal rights advocates' claim they've been experimenting on 100 cats annually is overblown, but a USDA administrator told Congress last year that "2,988 cats have been used in these research efforts that began in 1982."

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/paws-these-cats-bill-seeks-stop-gov-t-slaughter-kittens-n980321?cid=sm_npd_nn_fb_ma

[procon]

1. This needs to stop.

It's completely illogical waste time and money breeding cats just get their poop. Assuming these unethical breeders are akin to puppy mills, those poor cats are living a horrible life. Why do they need to kill the kittens when there are kind people and groups that foster cats looking for a home, who would take them. If the USDA needs cat poop there are any number of reputable breeders, cat owners, shelters and rescue groups that would gladly donate as much cat poop as they want...free!

[Ms. Toad]

2. Did you miss the, "infecting them with a parasite that can cause toxoplasmosis" part?

They don't just need poop - they need poop from infected cats.

[procon]

3. That should not be problem as many cats can carry it.

Seriously, this isn't rocket science. Test the cats from the various sources I mentioned, select for toxoplasmosis, and collect their poop. Cheap and easy. Everyone is happy. Free poop is delivered and no kitties are killed. Win, win for all.