Cats are really needed out in the country to get those small critters from eating your crops and doing other destructive things.
Nope... plenty of other native critters that can do the job, based on where you are... Black footed ferret for one (you know ferrets were once considered a hunting animal, like a hound or a hawk? peasants were not allowed to own them). Anyway... let's say: huge grain farm right, big silos? What, you keep a heard of cats to keep out critters? Ok, how about, I keep a lot of grain and flower around. I bake and brew. I also have mice. Since I don't want to poison them, and trapping would currently be ineffective (another group would likely move in) I keep my stuff in critter proof containers (glass and metal). Also, thoe critters we consider pests ALSO serve an important part on the ecosystem. We could for example, get rid of all the flies in the world. Pretty much everyone hates flies. But there would go a HUGE part of the natural system for breaking down waste. Flies and maggots serve a function. so do little critters. The problem is balance. We change the environment drastically to meet out needs, and rarely think to work with it to achieve our goals. We create massive imbalances, and then keep fucking things up more trying to make it work.
I mean, I get your point, and I know people think along those lines (though really, most cats are just pets period, and serve no practical purpose) but I think, considering the side of how destructive cats are (killing wild life, such as birds etc) maybe people should think it out more. At least keep them indoors. I mean hey, I love dogs and people use them for a lot of practical purposes (hunting, herding, protection etc)... but considering how people treat dogs? Even good people often neglect or somewhat abuse their dogs. I mean, aside from natural causes most dogs are probably run over by cars... well, if as many babies were wondering around the streets without supervision, running into traffic, people would be mortified. Here is another Innocent life, one that can't make human adult judgements in a world built by and for humans. We bring creatures into our lives and then take no responsibility for their well being or actions.... it's sad.