Domestic cats and their toll of small animals.

[Red Fred]

While reading the usual vegan messages on Facebook, the idea was mooted that farm animals should receive the same love as pet cats.
I was reminded of a study that I saw last week which suggested that pet cats in the UK kill around 270 million creatures pa. I was astonished to discover after looking at the vegans' own figures, that this TEN TIMES the combined total of pigs, sheep and cattle killed for food. It is a figure I will store away for future use in moral debates .

Pet cats kill up to 270 million animals a year in UK alone: ‘Mini super predators’

Scientists say cat access to areas with sensitive wildlife should be restricted

uk.news.yahoo.com

 

[Danllan]

While I admire the beauty of cats, I won't tolerate them around here, the damage to small mammals - including weasels - and birds is appalling.

 

[jondear]

While I admire the beauty of cats, I won't tolerate them around here, the damage to small mammals - including weasels - and birds is appalling.

Ours have already raided a swallows nest and killed young Housemartins
God knows how many mice a day they each kill!

 

[Danllan]

...God knows how many mice a day they each kill!

Nowhere near as many as the weasels they've killed would have!

 

[redsloe]

Ours have already raided a swallows nest and killed young Housemartins
God knows how many mice a day they each kill!

One of ours will catch about 2 fresh out the hatch rabbits a week.

 

[Wood field]

We’ve two semi feral cats, mice and rabbits are their forte’s
And they solved a rat problem around the wife’s chicken huts

 

[SwanFarm]

How to people feel about it being mandatory for cats that go out having to wear a bell? Too far or a good idea?

 

[farmerm]

I love to point out the irony of cat ownership to the vegans that post on farming threads on social media....

 

[Red Fred]

I love to point out the irony of cat ownership to the vegans that post on farming threads on social media....

Their self justification gets more and more convoluted as they go on.

 

[Exfarmer]

How to people feel about it being mandatory for cats that go out having to wear a bell? Too far or a good idea?

Studies have shown wearing a bell makes virtually no difference to a cats killing prowess

 

[ollie989898]

I've always felt there is basically zero moral argument for keeping pets compared to farm animals. At least livestock are kept for a purpose. Cats and dogs are an introduced species, live in a peculiar environment and are fed the meat of other animals, and often kill other species into the bargain. Both also create faecal matter that is a human health hazard. If you remove the companionship angle there is zero reason for keeping them.

 

[Wood field]

I've always felt there is basically zero moral argument for keeping pets compared to farm animals. At least livestock are kept for a purpose. Cats and dogs are an introduced species, live in a peculiar environment and are fed the meat of other animals, and often kill other species into the bargain. Both also create faecal matter that is a human health hazard. If you remove the companionship angle there is zero reason for keeping them.

What if they are “dual purpose “
Our cats are here for pest control, or would you rather we lash poison around
Our dogs are both companions and working sheepdogs
I don’t begrudge anyone having a pet , as long as they are responsible enough to clean up after them

 

[Will 1594]

How to people feel about it being mandatory for cats that go out having to wear a bell? Too far or a good idea?

makes no odds
lead stops them
one cat is good won’t touch birds
but rats moles and rabbits most days

 

[farmerm]

Their self justification gets more and more convoluted as they go on.

and then the vegans say... well I am content feeding my cat a meat based diet because it would eat meat in the wild... ffs your scabby tabby does not exist in the wild in some parallel universe where you do not exist, it only exists because cat breeders produced it to supply people like you with a domestic cat, without you there is no cat. You want to save the planet, you would be better off not owning a cat and occasionally just eat a bit of steak yourself...

 

[farmerm]

What if they are “dual purpose “
Our cats are here for pest control, or would you rather we lash poison around
Our dogs are both companions and working sheepdogs
I don’t begrudge anyone having a pet , as long as they are responsible enough to clean up after them

As both a dog and cat owner I can not and do not begrudge ownership but I do begrudge hypocrisy when it comes in the form of an attack on farming

 

[CopperBeech]

Cats are generally an irresponsible pet owned by irresponsible people who want to own a pet but not have a ‘tie’. Can you imagine if I treated my dogs as my neighbours do their cats ? There would be outrage.

Ahhhhh but it’s a cat. That’s what they do. And if I shoot the cat? Then it’s their pet once again all of a sudden!

 

[CopperBeech]

I've always felt there is basically zero moral argument for keeping pets compared to farm animals. At least livestock are kept for a purpose. Cats and dogs are an introduced species, live in a peculiar environment and are fed the meat of other animals, and often kill other species into the bargain. Both also create faecal matter that is a human health hazard. If you remove the companionship angle there is zero reason for keeping them.

Really ? There is zero reason for keeping dogs ..... outside of companionship ?

 

[Exfarmer]

I have no complaint about pet owners who keep their pets in their property as they should be!
Whether crapping in gardens , fields or chasing sheep then it is grossly irresponsible

 

[Doing it for the kids]

Really ? There is zero reason for keeping dogs ..... outside of companionship ?

Mine bark at Pikies when they drive in the yard, Harras the bin man and postie for biscuits and woo the planning / RPA officer.

Essential here!

 

[ollie989898]

Really ? There is zero reason for keeping dogs ..... outside of companionship ?

Of course, but the majority of dog owners do not rely on theme for security, work or keeping away predators!