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Why does Tesco Coonagh Cross need a pest elimination company to remove feral cats?

  • 03-12-2013 10:05pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 249 ✭✭


    Tesco Coonagh Cross is using a pest elimination company to deal with feral cats around their store. This is despite an offer by Limerick Feral Cats, a voluntary organisation, to trap, neuter and relocate these cats.

    Tesco is claiming that the cats, which are not entering the store, are a health and safety issue and have used these grounds in defence of their decision. They have also claimed that two cats were trapped recently and one was released into a nearby estate and the other sent to a farm :rolleyes:

    Anyway there's a lively old debate onoing between Limerick Feral Cats and Tesco Ireland on Facebook here.

    As for me I'm no longer buying my cat food or anything else from a retailer that considers cats as pests but is still happy enough to make profits selling food for them.


«1

Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,429 ✭✭✭testicle


    Feral cats are pests.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,189 ✭✭✭boomerang


    Maybe to some, but that's not enough reason for a business to pay a pest control company to kill them, when a voluntary group is offering to trap, remove, neuter and relocate them humanely. Limerick Feral Cats had farm homes ready and waiting for these cats.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 592 ✭✭✭wotswattage


    boomerang wrote: »
    Maybe to some, but that's not enough reason for a business to pay a pest control company to kill them, when a voluntary group is offering to trap, remove, neuter and relocate them humanely. Limerick Feral Cats had farm homes ready and waiting for these cats.

    Offering via facebook...

    I'll reserve judgement until I've seen both sides of the story.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,189 ✭✭✭boomerang


    Offering in person to the store manager and deputy manager last Friday.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 592 ✭✭✭wotswattage


    Maybe I'm just a cynic but these things usually have more to the story than just the initial angry mob facebook campaign..

    This thread is a good example of what I'm talking about: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=83600313
    Someone went on a crusade on social media with a completely one sided (and erroneous) version of events, and instead of checking the facts people became hysterical.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 592 ✭✭✭wotswattage


    I'm not saying the Limerick Feral Cats group are twisting the truth. I'm just saying that I don't know the truth and am going to reserve judgement until I do. I'm no lover of Tesco either believe me!!!

    These types of 'lets all boycott xyz and we'll feel better' campaigns often seem to me like pure self indulgence on behalf of the people who like to feel good about themselves by ranting on facebook! Liking and sharing a post isn't going to solve the problem. Getting off your backside and going down there and doing something about it might.

    Also just from reading a little more in the fb group, they found homes for some of the cats after a similar incident in another store, then:
    returned the remainder to the store
    leaving a
    stable population of cats doing a useful job

    Now that's hardly an acceptable solution for Tesco is it??

    EDIT: That was a reply to a seemingly deleted post


  • Site Banned Posts: 99 ✭✭untouchable


    im not a cat person but surelly killing them isnt an answer.................................. they arent actually rodents

    can you not get things like high freq. things that keep cats away??


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 526 ✭✭✭betonit



    can you not get things like high freq. things that keep cats away??

    shotgun

    (sorry couldnt resist)


  • Site Banned Posts: 99 ✭✭untouchable


    betonit wrote: »
    shotgun

    (sorry couldnt resist)

    :D

    Gunfade.gif


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,015 ✭✭✭✭Mc Love


    Before people start to criticise Tesco, the OH and I witnessed a very generous act of kindness from tesco (employee of tesco) helping an elderly lady with their shopping. They walked with her to her door (she lives across from the crescent).


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,366 ✭✭✭ninty9er


    Tesco, as the occupier, is responsible for the health and safety of people on site. If these cats have been deemed to be a health and safety issue, Tesco will have to employ professionals to rectify the issue, engaging a group of cat lovers doesn't quite cut it if a liability issue were to arise.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,860 ✭✭✭Hooked


    I've never 'got' cats...

    I'm a pet (dog) owner, and a regular poster in the 'Animal and Pet Issues' forum but just don't understand why cats have such freedom...

    I have to have a dog licence, scoop the poop or face a fine, be in control of my pet (extra restrictions on Restricted Breeds) and can only walk beaches at certain times and visit certain campsites...

    But cats... Cats can be left roam, pïss, shít, trespass and do as they please... The shelters, etc are overflowing with unwanted litters. My dog is driven bananas daily by cats on the wall or up on the shed... They're a nuisance. And don't get me started on walking a dog with a very high 'prey drive' when a cat darts out in front of you...

    And now back to the OP... And the feral cat problem being 'taken care of' by Tesco...

    If a young kid or even adult was scratched or hurt by one of these pests, or picked up something nasty from its faeces - Tesco would be railroaded for not dealing with the issue.

    Good on Tesco! Might help to curtail them multiplying...

    Every litter helps! ;P

    Rant over!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,435 ✭✭✭wandatowell


    If I was Tesco management I wouldn't want the Limerick Feral Cats group around my business, they'd be an manky as the cats imo


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,361 ✭✭✭Itsdacraic


    I'd imagine no sane business owner would allow volunteer group onto their premises to remove a pest. You'd be leaving yourself open to a whole world of trouble if there was an accident.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,189 ✭✭✭boomerang


    Hooked wrote: »

    I've never 'got' cats...

    And now back to the OP... And the feral cat problem being 'taken care of' by Tesco...

    Good on Tesco! Might help to curtail them multiplying...

    So you think they might as well go ahead and kill the cats, rather than let a professional and willing voluntary group do the trapping for them, and relocate the neutered, flea and worm treated cats to farms where they are wanted?

    I've never 'got' pet owners whose compassion only extends to their own animals.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 91 ✭✭Carol_1985


    Hooked wrote: »
    I've never 'got' cats...

    I'm a pet (dog) owner, and a regular poster in the 'Animal and Pet Issues' forum but just don't understand why cats have such freedom...

    I have to have a dog licence, scoop the poop or face a fine, be in control of my pet (extra restrictions on Restricted Breeds) and can only walk beaches at certain times and visit certain campsites...

    But cats... Cats can be left roam, pïss, shít, trespass and do as they please... The shelters, etc are overflowing with unwanted litters. My dog is driven bananas daily by cats on the wall or up on the shed... They're a nuisance. And don't get me started on walking a dog with a very high 'prey drive' when a cat darts out in front of you...

    And now back to the OP... And the feral cat problem being 'taken care of' by Tesco...

    If a young kid or even adult was scratched or hurt by one of these pests, or picked up something nasty from its faeces - Tesco would be railroaded for not dealing with the issue.

    Good on Tesco! Might help to curtail them multiplying...

    Every litter helps! ;P

    Rant over!

    The whole point of feral cats is they don't have an owner! Who do you want to get a licence for them? To be honest the fact that your dog has a high prey drive is your problem not the cats! You chose the dog knowing this!

    I can assure you a feral cat would be very unlikely to scratch you. They actively hide from people, they would run from you.

    The cat group are offering to neuter cats which will curtail them from multiplying just like you want. At least this way the poor cat doesn't lose it's life! Just because you don't like cats doesn't mean they are pests and should lose their lives.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 249 ✭✭fleabag


    ninty9er wrote: »
    Tesco, as the occupier, is responsible for the health and safety of people on site. If these cats have been deemed to be a health and safety issue, Tesco will have to employ professionals to rectify the issue, engaging a group of cat lovers doesn't quite cut it if a liability issue were to arise.

    As other posters have said, these feral cats won't be going anywhere near shoppers.
    But of course using the 'health and safety' argument backed up of course by the 'liability' issue and you have a sure-fire winning argument. This is the excuse used by everyone who doesn't want to deal decently with a problem. "Oh it was a health and safety issue" A convenient argument to close down any thoughtful, viable alternative responses.
    Why are issues like insurance liability allowed to override compassion and decency?? It is this attitude that is responsible for a lot of the lunacy and misery in everyday life - we can't or won't do the decent thing because insurance companies tell us how we must behave - in case God forbid - we aren't insured. Sure kill a few cats, at least we won't be liable then ...


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,029 ✭✭✭um7y1h83ge06nx


    I agree with you in many ways fleabag but when you have some people in society more than happy to try and gain financially as much as possible from any lability issue I can see why individuals and companies would want to reduce their exposure.


  • Site Banned Posts: 99 ✭✭untouchable


    the whole phrase "liable" is a load of codswallop. as is the whole "Tesco, as the occupier, is responsible for the health and safety of people on site".

    the fact is there are legal documents that are readily available to be signed that take away tescos resposibility in the event of any accidents in removing of the cats.

    the fact is its quicker and easier for tesco to just wipe them out rather than wait for someone to come in and remove the cats one at a time

    now while im not tescos biggest fan i dont think this is a tesco ltd. issue. this is a coonagh store issue. this is a decision by their store management and thats it.

    i dont liev out there so i wont be using their store anyway but if people dont like it they can use dunnes jetland instead. write a couple of letters to their management etc but unfortuantaly bar bringing light to this incident they are likely to not give to s##ts. it sucks because surely it would be more hygienic not to have dead cats on the site but then again why let common sense get in the way.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,648 ✭✭✭vkid


    there's a Limerick feral cats group on facebook?

    thats the funniest thing i've read in ages!

    Can't see any issue with what tesco are doing tbh


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,361 ✭✭✭Itsdacraic


    the whole phrase "liable" is a load of codswallop. as is the whole "Tesco, as the occupier, is responsible for the health and safety of people on site".

    the fact is there are legal documents that are readily available to be signed that take away tescos resposibility in the event of any accidents in removing of the cats.

    the fact is its quicker and easier for tesco to just wipe them out rather than wait for someone to come in and remove the cats one at a time

    now while im not tescos biggest fan i dont think this is a tesco ltd. issue. this is a coonagh store issue. this is a decision by their store management and thats it.

    i dont liev out there so i wont be using their store anyway but if people dont like it they can use dunnes jetland instead. write a couple of letters to their management etc but unfortuantaly bar bringing light to this incident they are likely to not give to s##ts. it sucks because surely it would be more hygienic not to have dead cats on the site but then again why let common sense get in the way.

    Do the Cat Busters have Public Liability Insurance?


  • Site Banned Posts: 99 ✭✭untouchable


    Itsdacraic wrote: »
    Do the Cat Busters have Public Liability Insurance?

    no idea and i very much doubt it. all im saying is that its not as complicated as its been made out to be.


    what most likely happened is the management at the store(no need to be saying the name as its not the brand. its this one store) decided that this was the best way to get rid of the cats. i doubt he thought to himself it was inhuman or that he would upset anyone by these actions. when he was contacted by this group he probably just got defensive about it.

    im sure he meant no harm what so ever(in terms of upsetting potential customers) but it got out of hand. surely a simple resolution could be found.

    as i said its nothing to do with liability. its just a quickly used excuse that is used as a "go to".

    by the way im sure there are no lethal pest controllers out there also who are legit


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 60 ✭✭Miss Congeniality


    Hi Guys

    Like others I was appalled by this - so I sent an email protesting this to tesco and received the following reply:
    " Dear Miss Congeniality

    Thank you for your email.

    Please let me explain.
    As you can understand for health & safety and food safety reasons we cannot have animals loose on our premises. In this particular instance, two cats have been removed from our store in Coonagh, one a local domestic cat was released off site in the area and the second was removed and taken to a farm in County Tipperary.
    Thank you for your time.

    Kind regards

    Name of Customer service Agent "
    I'm not sure if this is true or not, but maybe it's been sorted??? :confused:

    I'd love if someone from Limerick Feral Cats would comment and advise!!!

    I'm not sure whether to believe it or not - it reminds me when you were younger and your parents would tell you "that fluffy has gone to live on a farm" when in fact she had gone to kitty heaven :(


  • Moderators, Computer Games Moderators Posts: 15,239 Mod ✭✭✭✭FutureGuy


    If I was Tesco management I wouldn't want the Limerick Feral Cats group around my business, they'd be an manky as the cats imo

    That's a fcuking ridiculous and offensive post if I ever saw one. And if you knew some of the people who actually volunteer, you'd understand why.

    Judging someone's appearance based on their volunteer work? From what I can see from your posts, you sit at home, play games, listen to metal and like cars.

    Does that mean you are stinking, greasy, spotty, leather/denim jacket-wearing, overweight, dirty nerd who has zero social skills?

    Of course it doesn't. Would you feel offended that your offer to help was refused because you are known to play games and listen to metal, and someone judges what you look like based on what you choose to do with their time?

    Yes, I volunteer to rescue animals. Yes I find your comment offensive. And funnily enough, if you did happen to see a few of the people that do volunteer, you'd rapidly change your tune. Not that it matters a damn, I know one girl is a model and another is stunning and is the gf of a famous rugby player.

    Of course, that's not important. What's important is that they are getting off their holes to do something good for the city.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,065 ✭✭✭Fighting Irish


    boomerang wrote: »
    Maybe to some, but that's not enough reason for a business to pay a pest control company to kill them, when a voluntary group is offering to trap, remove, neuter and relocate them humanely. Limerick Feral Cats had farm homes ready and waiting for these cats.

    why don't they just go down there aand take a few of the cats if they're that worried about them


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,435 ✭✭✭wandatowell


    FutureGuy wrote: »
    That's a fcuking ridiculous and offensive post if I ever saw one. And if you knew some of the people who actually volunteer, you'd understand why.

    Judging someone's appearance based on their volunteer work? From what I can see from your posts, you sit at home, play games, listen to metal and like cars.

    Does that mean you are stinking, greasy, spotty, leather/denim jacket-wearing, overweight, dirty nerd who has zero social skills?

    Of course it doesn't. Would you feel offended that your offer to help was refused because you are known to play games and listen to metal, and someone judges what you look like based on what you choose to do with their time?

    Yes, I volunteer to rescue animals. Yes I find your comment offensive. And funnily enough, if you did happen to see a few of the people that do volunteer, you'd rapidly change your tune. Not that it matters a damn, I know one girl is a model and another is stunning and is the gf of a famous rugby player.

    Of course, that's not important. What's important is that they are getting off their holes to do something good for the city.


    Jesus man it as just a joke, you'd wanna relax.

    Grab yourself some chamomile tea why don't you.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 592 ✭✭✭wotswattage


    why don't they just go down there aand take a few of the cats if they're that worried about them

    Much better idea. Fix the problem instead of making a song and dance and liking each others comments on fb!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,189 ✭✭✭boomerang


    Much better idea. Fix the problem instead of making a song and dance and liking each others comments on fb!

    Fixing the problem since 2011 - over 1,000 cats neutered and about 10% of those relocated to farm homes.


  • Moderators, Computer Games Moderators Posts: 15,239 Mod ✭✭✭✭FutureGuy


    Jesus man it as just a joke, you'd wanna relax.

    Grab yourself some chamomile tea why don't you.

    Hilarious!!!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,560 ✭✭✭✭Kess73


    Mod Post: This thread stays civil or gets closed. Further baiting or trolling will see more cards handed out.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 81 ✭✭sophie4187


    I am astonished at the lack of compassion shown towards cats in this country. Cats are not rodents - people get them and let them roam outside without neutering them and then complain about the vast amounts of ferals?! And then have a go at an organization like Limerick Feral Cats who are actually taking their own time and money to fix problems that have been created by other people?!

    I don't understand the logic. Cats are in no way a threat to the health and safety of the public. Pretty sure cats are cleaner and more independent than many people.

    If you don't like cats, dont get one but they deserve a chance like any other animal. But ah sure this is the country where it's funny to kill cats on Halloween and show them being blown to bits on TV.........


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,435 ✭✭✭wandatowell


    FutureGuy wrote: »
    Hilarious!!!


    I really am truly sorry that you were offended by my comment.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,965 ✭✭✭SarahBeep!


    sophie4187 wrote: »
    I don't understand the logic. Cats are in no way a threat to the health and safety of the public. Pretty sure cats are cleaner and more independent than many people.

    You are my new favourite person because of this comment!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2 MikasaJaeger


    Feral cats are not pests nor are they a health and safety risk. As someone who has been around feral cats I can attest to this. The ignorance of some people here sadly doesn't shock me anymore. Ferals exhist because of people throwing away unneutered pets or not bothering to fix the pets they have. It's not their fault (the cats) and they are just trying to survive on the few resourses out there. Tesco at Coonagh is doing what they think is easiest and hassle free. They don't care about the welfare of innocent animals.

    As for those who think it's funny to joke about killing innocent creatures or who "don't get" cats. Think for a moment please. Have some compassion for these helpless animals. Cats like all animals are acting on instinct they are pure innocence and only act to protect themselves and survive.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 343 ✭✭feartuath


    Feral Cats should be captured and destroyed in my opinion,think of all the song birds the kill every year hundreds!
    I had two cats on the farm this year and I saw one of them on the rafters of the hay shed killing the swallows in the nest and the were well fed cats
    He had to go.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2 MikasaJaeger


    Feral cats are not pests nor are they a health and safety risk. As someone who has been around feral cats I can attest to this. The ignorance of some people here sadly doesn't shock me anymore. Ferals exhist because of people throwing away unneutered pets or not bothering to fix the pets they have. It's not their fault (the cats) and they are just trying to survive on the few resourses out there. Tesco at Coonagh is doing what they think is easiest and hassle free. They don't care about the welfare of innocent animals.

    As for those who think it's funny to joke about killing innocent creatures or who "don't get" cats. Think for a moment please. Have some compassion for these helpless animals. Cats like all animals are acting on instinct they are pure innocence and only act to protect themselves and survive.


  • Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 30,972 Mod ✭✭✭✭Insect Overlord


    sophie4187 wrote: »
    But ah sure this is the country where it's funny to kill cats on Halloween and show them being blown to bits on TV.........

    Are people still complaining about that scene in Love/Hate? Jesus tap-dancing Christ...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,085 ✭✭✭meoklmrk91


    The whole "I don't like cats, so who cares if people kill them, are cruel to them etc." stinks in my opinion. To say that they should be killed because they are a health and safety risk is a cop out, they are no more of a health and safety risk than a stray dog and I can guarantee you that if Tesco were killing stray dogs then people would loose their marbles. You don't have to like cats, that's fine, I don't care, but why anyone would wish them harm I will never understand.

    Limerick Feral Cats do fantastic work in the county. along with Limerick Animal Welfare, LSPCA etc. and all in the face of adversity and attitudes like the ones that are plain to see in this thread. It is incredibly disappointing to see. Animals are not disposable, these cats were some ones pet, or the descendants of someone's pet, this someone did not do the responsible thing and neuter their pet. So why should the cats suffer? What harm are they really doing? Feral cats will not go near anyone or scratch them, they are feral for feck's sake! They are terrified of humans. From the attitudes here it is plain to see that our wonderful rescues, who are in my opinion, the greatest asset we have in this county, will be very busy and under pressure for a long time to come.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,366 ✭✭✭ninty9er


    fleabag wrote: »
    As other posters have said, these feral cats won't be going anywhere near shoppers.
    But of course using the 'health and safety' argument backed up of course by the 'liability' issue and you have a sure-fire winning argument. This is the excuse used by everyone who doesn't want to deal decently with a problem. "Oh it was a health and safety issue" A convenient argument to close down any thoughtful, viable alternative responses.
    Why are issues like insurance liability allowed to override compassion and decency?? It is this attitude that is responsible for a lot of the lunacy and misery in everyday life - we can't or won't do the decent thing because insurance companies tell us how we must behave - in case God forbid - we aren't insured. Sure kill a few cats, at least we won't be liable then ...
    Much as this may displease you:
    1. Unless you are the internet personification of these cats you can't make any claims about how they might act.
    2. Humans are more important than cats, particularly ones who give your business money.
    3. A liability issue doesn't have to occur to make the RISK of one possible, this is why companies are obliged to audit risk, to PREVENT liability issues.

    I don't imagine any of that matters to you, but if I were Tesco, it's what would matter to me.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 81 ✭✭sophie4187


    Are people still complaining about that scene in Love/Hate? Jesus tap-dancing Christ...

    My point exactly! Ah sure it's just TV! Hah!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 81 ✭✭sophie4187


    feartuath wrote: »
    Feral Cats should be captured and destroyed in my opinion,think of all the song birds the kill every year hundreds!
    I had two cats on the farm this year and I saw one of them on the rafters of the hay shed killing the swallows in the nest and the were well fed cats
    He had to go.

    Feral cats aren't the only culprit here. I've seen dogs, fox, etc kill songbirds and what? They should all be destroyed?

    It is called nature. Birds aren't at the top of the food chain for a reason. Cats are doing what is in their nature to find food.

    And what do people feed "farm cats" for? To keep them around to kill mice. I suggest next time there should be a discussion with these farm cats that they can have all the mice they want but song birds are off limits! See how far that goes.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,029 ✭✭✭um7y1h83ge06nx


    I do sympathise with the views here by the Limerick feral cats group but I'm a little skeptical about what they are saying about feral cats is true too. As always the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle.

    Out of interest I did a quick google of white papers on feral cats and it seems there may be a disease risk alright. this is from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

    Now of course ultimately it is the fault of irresponsible cat owners for creating this feral cat problem so it is a bit tough on the feral cats.

    http://ianrpubs.unl.edu/live/ec1781/build/ec1781.pdf

    Loznu9W.png?1


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 81 ✭✭sophie4187


    There's a disease risk in everything if you leave your house. I'm no more at risk to catching something from a feral cat then I am walking around the crescent.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,635 ✭✭✭Pumpkinseeds


    I do sympathise with the views here by the Limerick feral cats group but I'm a little skeptical about what they are saying about feral cats is true too. As always the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle.

    Out of interest I did a quick google of white papers on feral cats and it seems there may be a disease risk alright. this is from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

    Now of course ultimately it is the fault of irresponsible cat owners for creating this feral cat problem so it is a bit tough on the feral cats.

    http://ianrpubs.unl.edu/live/ec1781/build/ec1781.pdf

    Loznu9W.png?1
    Since when has Ireland had plague and Rabies? That article is ridiculous tbh. Cat scratch fever can be caught from any cat, I've been scratched many many times in the past 30 years and never had a problem, which is the case with most cat owners. As for toxoplamosis, it's a risk that is more commonly contracted from handling raw meat than from cats. You'd have to be rummaging around in cat poop to risk catching it from cats.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,560 ✭✭✭✭Kess73


    Since when has Ireland had plague and Rabies? That article is ridiculous tbh. Cat scratch fever can be caught from any cat, I've been scratched many many times in the past 30 years and never had a problem, which is the case with most cat owners. As for toxoplamosis, it's a risk that is more commonly contracted from handling raw meat than from cats. You'd have to be rummaging around in cat poop to risk catching it from cats.




    Correct. One has a much greater chance of getting it from uncooked meat. Lamb and pork in particular. Raw chicken and turkey are also common carrier of toxoplamosis in most European countries. Cooking normally removes it, but the handling of the meat or the dumping of raw meat can lead to the spread of toxoplamosis as animals eating the dumped meat.


    Also the percentages given in the Nebraskan study may be correct (and I would suggest that they are) for the sample group that they tested, but other American studies in the past have brought back percentages ranging from just above 0% to the high 90's. Location, diet etc are crucial to results and there is certainly no way that there is one neat figure that could be used worldwide in terms of the % of feral cats that has toxoplamosis.


    Is a topic that has come up in the Nature & Birdwatching forum in the past, and I think it is one that is far from clear cut.


  • Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 30,972 Mod ✭✭✭✭Insect Overlord


    sophie4187 wrote: »
    My point exactly! Ah sure it's just TV! Hah!

    That's not what I meant. It's not "just TV". The viewer should be sensible enough to figure out that when a bad character does a bad thing on TV, it's part of character-development. It is not the writers/director/producers telling people to go out and copy that character.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 81 ✭✭sophie4187


    That's not what I meant. It's not "just TV". The viewer should be sensible enough to figure out that when a bad character does a bad thing on TV, it's part of character-development. It is not the writers/director/producers telling people to go out and copy that character.

    You are correct, however, there are kids that haven't been taught this by their parents. These are the kids that grow up to be adults and think it's okay to kill animals for fun.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 51,363 ✭✭✭✭bazz26


    Kids shouldn't be watching Love/Hate anyway as it is an adult themed program.

    Also there seems to have been more uproar from the simulation of an animal's death in one episode on that program than the more graphic simulations of numerous people being killed over 4 years.

    Just think the whole Love/Hate cat controversy got blown out of all sense of proportion and actually highlighting it did more harm that good.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 81 ✭✭sophie4187


    bazz26 wrote: »
    Kids shouldn't be watching Love/Hate anyway as it is an adult themed program.

    Also there seems to have been more uproar from the simulation of an animal's death in one episode on that program than the more graphic simulations of numerous people being killed over 4 years.

    Just think the whole Love/Hate cat controversy got blown out of all sense of proportion and actually highlighting it did more harm that good.

    Kids shouldn't be watching but they do. And these are the kids that reenact what they see and don't see any consequences for it.

    But this thread isn't about that. It is about the unfair treatment of feral cats in Ireland and I was using that as an example of the lack of compassion for cats.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 602 ✭✭✭hotbabe1992


    I wont be buying from tesco after hearing about this,i can do without,their selection of food is crap anyway and the whole horsemeat scandal?enough,ive heard they fix prices in ireland to be higher than what they get in the uk..there a miserable rip off..

    on the issue of feral cats - they are wild live off rats and are needed in the community,i make a point of feeding a feral cat that has wandered into our garden recently,our tom does a great job of killing rats and thats a job that has to be thanked..

    Tesco wont know what they are missing when they kill these cats,they are needed to clean up the rat populations,remember rats can bite humans and have been known to,not only that they carry around on average over 40 different diseases including hepititus..


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