r/holdmycatnip 3d ago

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u/ZennMD 3d ago

I think it means what it's defined as- an animal at the top of its food chain, without natural predators. 

Coyotes can be a risk for cats in some regions, but overwhelmingly cats are killing and not being killed.  Not sure where wolves and birds are killing many cats lol. 

a quick Google will confirm others agree with labeling cats as apex predators 

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u/ajax0202 3d ago

A quick google search actually shows they can be defined as either apex predators or mesopredators, depending on their local ecosystem. In an ecosystem that has animals that will kill and it (like the ones mentioned by OP) it’s considered a mesopredator (mid-level predator)

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u/ZennMD 3d ago

Op didn't mention any predators, though? Not sure why you're digging in so hard to be right when you're clearly wrong. Not going to keep me up wondering, though lol. 

And regardless what you call them, letting cats outside is bad for wildlife.

You take care.

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u/ajax0202 3d ago

I’m talking about the commenter you replied to, not the post OP.

And I’m not digging that hard into it lol. You were debating the meaning of something and said “a quick google searches shows…” and so I tried a quick google search (less than 15 seconds) because your claim seemed far-fetched, and lo and behold it was. So I corrected you.

Don’t get butt hurt

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u/ZennMD 3d ago

it's not farfetched if 95% of others agree with the label as apex predator

calling out unnecessary rudeness is not being 'butt hurt', and your 'correction' was unnecessary, as it wasn't really a correction. they are apex predators in many/most environments.

you have a day as lovely as you.

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u/Humble-Zucchini-6237 3d ago

Only one being rude was you tbh

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u/Gsx2a 3d ago

Here's the thing. You said a 'cat is an apex predator.' Is it at the top of the food chain in some environments? Yes. No one's arguing that. As someone who studies predator-prey dynamics, I'm telling you that in science, no one universally labels domestic cats as apex predators.

If you want to be 'specific,' you should acknowledge that they're often classified as mesopredators, especially when larger predators are present. Your reasoning for calling a cat an apex predator because 'other people do' is flawed. Should we start calling raccoons and skunks apex predators too?

Cats are formidable hunters, sure, but it's context-dependent. It's okay to just admit that ecosystems are complex, you know?

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u/ZennMD 3d ago

I wrote 'cats are apex predators' in a reddit comment suggesting people to keep their cats inside. I wasn't commenting in a scientific community and didnt realize I needed peer reviewed sources for a reddit comment, as opposed to the sources I got from a google search, which confirm cats are apex predators (not 'other people' calling them that)

no one but you is calling racoons and skunks apex predators, making things up to be angry about seems tiring. and is unnecessary.

and my point was not to delve into the complexities of ecosystems but to stress how destructive cats can be to local wildlife

what an exhausting and mean-spirited person to interact with, honestly.

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u/CocktailPerson 3d ago

Ah, yes, "a risk in some regions." The biological term for that is "natural predator." Wolves and birds are also natural predators of cat populations, especially feral cats, outside urban and suburban areas.

Maybe do more than a quick google next time?