Domestic cats and their toll of small animals.

[hendrebc]

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!

I hate cats for exactly this reason. If anyone had the idea of pet cats now they wouldn't be allowed to have them and there would be laws banning them.
How is it a good idea to release millions of little predators out of peoples houses every day to roam around and do whatever they want. The damage they do to wildlife must be massive. Lots of people feed the birds in their garden to feed their neighbours cat.
And they crap in people's garden every village Facebook page is full of posts about dog sh!t what about the cats that sh!t all over the place?
I quite like the idea of starting a petition to ban cat ownership unless they are locked indoors all day only allowed out on leads like dogs under close supervision.

 

[melted welly]

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

They don’t get it do they, i was chatting to one on twitter who ran a cat sanctuary ie got paid by other folk to stay at home and stroke cats. In the end she just kept repeating the phrase “obligate carnivores” I think she have overloaded her mind and broken it trying to justify her position to herself.

 

[76masseyman]

Is it in Australia where cats are only allowed out on a lead due to the amount of small mammals they kill ?

 

[Wilksy]

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

Depends on the weight of the bell, stick a great big brass bugger round their neck and that steady’s them up

 

[Spencer]

Is it in Australia where cats are only allowed out on a lead due to the amount of small mammals they kill ?

Sounds sensible.

 

[kiwi pom]

Is it in Australia where cats are only allowed out on a lead due to the amount of small mammals they kill ?

There was some talk here recently about trying to do something to control roaming cats, but I'm not sure exactly what.
It was bought up some years ago and the chap saying it got hammered for it. I think the "experts" have had a change in view since then and recognised the damage they do.

 

[farmerm]

There was some talk here recently about trying to do something to control roaming cats, but I'm not sure exactly what.
It was bought up some years ago and the chap saying it got hammered for it. I think the "experts" have had a change in view since then and recognised the damage they do.

When I worked in NZ one of the farm dogs had a real disliking for cats.... I always saw the same cat on the property twice, and with each cat the first time I saw it it was living, the second time it wasn't!!

 

[kiwi pom]

I think someone's cats may be shi**ing in the wrong garden? https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/12...g-as-two-dozen-cats-disappear-from-small-town

 

[jondear]

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

I watched a weasel catch a mouse the other day . wrestling with it in a puddle he won !

 

[Danllan]

I watched a weasel catch a mouse the other day . wrestling with it in a puddle he won !

I'd be astonished if he hadn't; the whole genus are named after them, 'mouse spear' in English.

I'm bloody glad they aren't the size of badgers, or bigger - I've lived in the African bush with lion around, but I'd be a damned sight more scared of giant weasels than I would lion!

 

[hendrebc]

I'd be astonished if he hadn't; the whole genus are named after them, 'mouse spear' in English.

I'm bloody glad they aren't the size of badgers, or bigger - I've lived in the African bush with lion around, but I'd be a damned sight more scared of giant weasels than I would lion!

Otters? They are worse than badgers and foxes for taking lambs once they start.

 

[Danllan]

Otters? They are worse than badgers and foxes for taking lambs once they start.

No experience of that, only get them here occasionally and I like them.

 

[hendrebc]

No experience of that, only get them here occasionally and I like them.

Only a problem if you lamb next to a river. They do look just like big weasels though

 

[Danllan]

Only a problem if you lamb next to a river. They do look just like big weasels though

Yes, that's true, but I think they are beautiful creatures; it never fails to make me smile if hear them whistling - or is it squeaking? - in the evenings.

 

[Farmer Roy]

I live on the edge of town.

I have a cat trap & sub - sonic .22 ammunition

cats are a HUGE environmental disaster in Australia

 

[hendrebc]

Yes, that's true, but I think they are beautiful creatures; it never fails to make me smile if hear them whistling - or is it squeaking? - in the evenings.

Yes I used to see the odd one (probably the same one) when I helped on a farm next to the Dee. Can't say I ever heard one though but I wouldn't know what to listen for.
To being the thread back on topic I think we need to train otters to eat cats

 

[Farmer Roy]

Impact of feral cats in Australia

pestsmart.org.au

 

[Danllan]

Yes I used to see the odd one (probably the same one) when I helped on a farm next to the Dee. Can't say I ever heard one though but I wouldn't know what to listen for.
To being the thread back on topic I think we need to train otters to eat cats

We need otters that eat badgers!

 

[Farmer Roy]

 

[Bald Rick]

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.

Domestic pets are known to lower blood pressure in their owners (at least, when behaving) and provide solice & companionship in times of stress.

And of course, the dog is mightier than the cat