Chicago has released more than 1,000 feral cats onto the streets — hoping to end its long-running ranking as the rat capital of the US.

— News covered by Quincy Quarry News with commentary added.

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Chicago releases one thousand feral cats to end reputation as the Rat Capital of United States

How bad is the rat problem in Chicago?

So bad that locals officials are seeing that a thousand feral cats will be put out on the streets to help fight Chicago’s rat problem.

At first, blush, one might think this plan more than a bit loopy.  That and the plan has been fodder for late night television.

In reality, however, the actually ancient use of cats to take out rats has been implemented by municipalities elsewhere as well as has proven itself to be a very effective as well as low-cost rodent control option. 

For example, in downstate Illinois, a regional public utility district that maintains levees to protect area residents from flooding by the Mississippi River has long found feral cats very effective at controlling burrow rodent populations that damage its levees as well as is a very environmentally sound option.

Similarly, Larry the Cat has long protected Number 10 Downing Street, the official home of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom even if the current prime minister is one of the biggest rats of all.

Even so, complaints have come Chicago’s way: bird fanciers are complaining that the cats are also dining on birds.

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Regardless, as for long-plagued by rats Quincy, however, one can only assume that the two-legged rats that plague Quincy’s City Hall do not care to do harm to their four-legged kin.

That or take away any revenue from any connected pest management companies retained by the City of Quincy.

After all, God forbid killing the goose that lays campaign fund contribution gold.

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