Cat is a Killer

Falcon L

boomerang wrote: »

You're very wrong. Our little organisation in the Mid-West has neutered 1000s of feral cats, and get a very favourable discount from all the vets we use. (They have costs to cover and can't do it for free!)

As for vets and vet nurses doing TNR overseas, most of the time all the charities can afford to provide is free accommodation. In some cases they might part-sponsor some of the flight cost. And the work is gruelling.

Fine for the mid west. Here in the South-East, it's just words, and very few of them at that.

What's really needed is funding from Government. The feral cat population seems to be out of control, and our wild bird and small rodent population is suffering badly. The amount of dead Pigmy Shrew I have to deal with is heartbreaking.

boomerang

There is a great TNR group in Waterford. And another great TNR group in Cork doing good work in East Waterford. In fact, TNR groups have sprung up all around the country. Reasons to be positive!

Ragnar Lothbrok

Apparently, cats were introduced to Ireland sometime after 500AD, possibly as late as 900AD.

Obviously I am not denying that they are responsible for killing wildlife, but if cats were the voracious killers some posters on here seem to be suggesting they are, we'd have barely any birds left at all.

None of the anti-cat posters seem to be too upset about the rats, mice and other vermin our cats get rid of, I notice.

pilly

Ragnar Lothbrok wrote: »

Apparently, cats were introduced to Ireland sometime after 500AD, possibly as late as 900AD.

Obviously I am not denying that they are responsible for killing wildlife, but if cats were the voracious killers some posters on here seem to be suggesting they are, we'd have barely any birds left at all.

None of the anti-cat posters seem to be too upset about the rats, mice and other vermin our cats get rid of, I notice.

Except for one who's worried about FAUNA. It gets ridiculous when we favour plant life over animal life.

B0jangles

pilly wrote: »

Except for one who's worried about FAUNA. It gets ridiculous when we favour plant life over animal life.

Might want to check the ol' dictionary there Pilly...

pilly

B0jangles wrote: »

Might want to check the ol' dictionary there Pilly...

Oh right, I was thinking of flora. Thought you were finished with the discussion?

Ragnar Lothbrok

Just another thought................

Has a cat ever killed a human being?

Plenty of instances of pet dogs killing children and even adults, despite all the so-called restrictions on them.

I am definitely not anti-dog, I quite like them. I just want to introduce a bit of perspective into all this.

B0jangles

In fact I said 'I think I'm done with this thread' but it's nice to see you're so keen to see me gone.

All I've done is bring some facts and figures to the discussion - facts and figures you seem to dislike very much. I genuinely hope other cat owners out there are more open to accepting that cats can and do have a negative impact on the environment and they they are in a position to do something about it, if they are willing to make the effort.

pilly

B0jangles wrote: »

In fact I said 'I think I'm done with this thread' but it's nice to see you're so keen to see me gone.

All I've done is bring some facts and figures to the discussion - facts and figures you seem to dislike very much. I genuinely hope other cat owners out there are more open to accepting that cats can and do do have a negative impact on the environment and they they are in a position to do something about it, if they are willing to make the effort.

I don't dislike the facts and figures at all.

I do dislike people attempting to paint cats as "evil" creatures going around killing other animals for the laugh. It's a ridiculous viewpoint and despite people pointing out the FACTS to you you still choose to believe this.

I'm not sure what your agenda is to be honest. If you were a true animal lover at all you'd never even suggest cats should be restricted.

I also dislike how you conveniently ignore all the questions you don't like or don't have an answer to.

Ragnar Lothbrok

B0jangles wrote: »

In fact I said I was 'pretty much finished' but it's nice to see you're so keen to see me gone.

All I've done is bring some facts and figures to the discussion - facts and figures you seem to dislike very much. I genuinely hope other cat owners out there are more open to accepting that cats can and do do have a negative impact on the environment and they they are in a position to do something about it, if they are willing to make the effort.

How much of a negative impact do people have on the environment? Massively more so than the simple cat, I'd wager.

People suggesting that cats should be forced to remain inside, or to be fenced-in, should perhaps take a look at the damage WE do every time we pollute our atmosphere or eat a MacDonald's or whatever. The damage cats MAY cause to the environment pales into insignificance when compared to our own species.

pilly

As a general question, are all the cat haters happy to let rats and mice run around there houses?

ganmo

pilly wrote: »

As a general question, are all the cat haters happy to let rats and mice run around their houses?

no rats, mice or cats here
the rest of what I'd say would go against this forums charter

kathleen37

Falcon L wrote: »

What's really needed is funding from Government. The feral cat population seems to be out of control, and our wild bird and small rodent population is suffering badly.

This.

kathleen37

I haven't seen any facts. I've seen estimates.

ganmo

kathleen37 wrote: »

I haven't seen any facts. I've seen estimates.

how can you expect to get anything better than estimates?

nobody knows how many cats are pets so how would anyone know how many feral cats there are

kathleen37

ganmo wrote: »

how can you expect to get anything better than estimates?

nobody knows how many cats are pets so how would anyone know how many feral cats there are

That's the point. No one knows. But people in this thread keep referring to "facts" when there are none.

I think proper studies should be carried out. That way we would know for sure what the impact was, and what should be done about it.

pilly

kathleen37 wrote: »

That's the point. No one knows. But people in this thread keep referring to "facts" when there are none.

I think proper studies should be carried out. That way we would know for sure what the impact was, and what should be done about it.

So lets do a study to identify a problem we don't know we have?

The effect can't be catastrophic (excuse the pun) or we'd already know.

I often listen to Derek Mooney and the nature lady they have on withering about birds and they've never once mentioned any species going extinct because of cats.

sidious-sam

kathleen37 wrote: »

That's the point. No one knows. But people in this thread keep referring to "facts" when there are none.

I think proper studies should be carried out. That way we would know for sure what the impact was, and what should be done about it.

There is a three pronged solution to the problem, if it does indeed exist.

Firstly, Neuter domestic kittens as early as possible. While this does not stop cats roaming, it does stop them breeding.

Secondly, get people to stop dumping unwanted cats and kittens. (Admittedly this might be impossible because people tend to be egocentric asshats)

Thirdly, Provide better funding for TNR schemes.

Taken together, these three approaches will reduce the number of Feral cats. It won't eliminate them, because people are people are people, but their numbers will fall dramatically. That means, there will be a lower overall population of cats and thus less killings.

In regards to belling your cat. Make sure that when doing so the collar is a cat specific collar. These collars generally have an elasticated section that prevents the cat from being strangled if it gets caught on something like a branch.

I also believe that all domestics should be chipped.

ganmo

pilly wrote: »

So lets do a study to identify a problem we don't know we have?

The effect can't be catastrophic (excuse the pun) or we'd already know.

I often listen to Derek Mooney and the nature lady they have on withering about birds and they've never once mentioned any species going extinct because of cats.

Excuse me for pointing out the obvious but aren't cats native to Ireland meaning those wild cats are a problem to the native birds, lizards etc.

DBB

pilly wrote: »

As a general question, are all the cat haters happy to let rats and mice run around there houses?

This thread is fast running down the track of being closed, in no small part because if hyperbole like this.
Dial it in please.
That goes for everyone... Stop with the snide, bitchy comments please. There are too many for me to quote them all.
Do not reply to this post on thread.
Thanks.
DBB

pilly

ganmo wrote: »

Excuse me for pointing out the obvious but aren't cats native to Ireland meaning those wild cats are a problem to the native birds, lizards etc.

Don't understand your point?

ganmo

You're saying that wild cats aren't a problem.

I'm saying that the fact that they are there is a problem to the native creatures

pilly

ganmo wrote: »

You're saying that wild cats aren't a problem.

I'm saying that the fact that they are there is a problem to the native creatures

In what way? Are any extinct?

ganmo

pilly wrote: »

In what way? Are any extinct?

Some ground nesting birds are very close to it. Their eggs and chicks would be ideal food for cats

kylith

Falcon L wrote: »

Fine for the mid west. Here in the South-East, it's just words, and very few of them at that.

What's really needed is funding from Government. The feral cat population seems to be out of control, and our wild bird and small rodent population is suffering badly. The amount of dead Pigmy Shrew I have to deal with is heartbreaking.

And they're protected species

pilly wrote: »

If you were a true animal lover at all you'd never even suggest cats should be restricted.

One could say the same about someone who believes it's acceptable to allow their animal to be exposed to danger.

Falcon L

pilly wrote: »

In what way? Are any extinct?

I'd hate to think that we have to wait until a species becomes extinct in Ireland before we tackle a problem that has prompted other countries in the EU to do something about it.

I've noticed Swallow numbers declining in recent years. Their migration route across an ever widening Sahara is becoming more and more difficult. Losing a Swallow yesterday to a feral cat, at this time of year, means that a pair has been broken up and may lead to the loss of 3 or four clutches of chicks this year. Luckily for me, it wasn't one half of the mating pair that are nesting in my barn. A few years ago, that would have been 3 pairs.

kathleen37

sidious-sam wrote: »

There is a three pronged solution to the problem, if it does indeed exist.

Firstly, Neuter domestic kittens as early as possible. While this does not stop cats roaming, it does stop them breeding.

Secondly, get people to stop dumping unwanted cats and kittens. (Admittedly this might be impossible because people tend to be egocentric asshats)

Thirdly, Provide better funding for TNR schemes.

Taken together, these three approaches will reduce the number of Feral cats. It won't eliminate them, because people are people are people, but their numbers will fall dramatically. That means, there will be a lower overall population of cats and thus less killings.

In regards to belling your cat. Make sure that when doing so the collar is a cat specific collar. These collars generally have an elasticated section that prevents the cat from being strangled if it gets caught on something like a branch.

I also believe that all domestics should be chipped.

I agree with all of this, especially the funding for TNR.

I'm still warey of collars on cats. I once had to rescue a cat that had a collar caught under one of it's front legs, and embedded under the armpit so it ended up losing the leg. It was really, really horrible. Since then, I've shuddered a bit when I see cats with collars.

ganmo

kathleen37 wrote: »

I agree with all of this, especially the funding for TNR.

I'm still warey of collars on cats. I once had to rescue a cat that had a collar caught under one of it's front legs, and embedded under the armpit so it ended up losing the leg. It was really, really horrible. Since then, I've shuddered a bit when I see cats with collars.

Where will this funding come from?
The dog licence fee was brought in to deal with stray dogs, how about a similar deal for cats?

How else would you identify your cat?

pilly

ganmo wrote:

Where will this funding come from? The dog licence fee was brought in to deal with stray dogs, how about a similar deal for cats?

It's a good idea but it would have to be compulsory chipping to go along with it.

kathleen37

ganmo wrote: »

Where will this funding come from?
The dog licence fee was brought in to deal with stray dogs, how about a similar deal for cats?

How else would you identify your cat?

Indeed - where would the funding come from? Without studies and actual evidence proving the issue - I don't doubt there will be none.

I had no idea the dog licence fee was meant to deal with stray dogs - how does that work? Is the money ring fenced for council pounds? Does the money cover the pound costs? Anyone know?

I'm not sure how well a cat licence would work? Perhaps it may be a start?

(Could I have got any more question marks into this post???)