Stand up for your cat

Brendan Bendar

Lot of shade being thrown at cats recently, on BBC 4 this am we had a lad from Fremantle Aus.advocating cats be confined to a ‘Catio’. A patio fenced in for cats!!!

Also RTE have expressed an opinion that cats are “killers” and should be kept inside during nesting season.

Cats are very useful animals, keep vermin controlled.I have one myself and only time I saw a rat around the gaff was when I dropped a gherkin out of a jumbo burger and saw a lad chewing on it.

No sign of the fooker since..defend your animal folks, they do important work.

Let them roam free.

who what when

I like cats, i have two of them.

But theres no doubt that a cat roaming freely outside is a localised bio-diversity catastrophy!

Graces7

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120330001#Comment_120330001

Your last sentence!!!!! REALLY!

Oh and by the way birds kill birds and rats kill birds and people kill birds..

Why? I mean how do you reach that conclusion anyways? Cats have been roaming free for centuries and we still have a healthy small wild life population, NB birds can and do fly... the ones that get killed are weak and the gene pool benefits..

Yes cats are predators. But not to the extent cat haters aver. And cats need to run and leap and be free too. Oh and remember RATS!

When I came out here some five years ago, there was a generations old " rat run" by the gate... My cats cottoned on and dealt with it. One of the corpses was the size of a small cat.

As there are still abundant birds around?

dxhound2005

Feral cats

Map showing locations of feral cats in Australia

From Assessing Invasive Animals in Australia (2008) National Land & Water Resources Audit, Canberra

Feral cats threaten the survival of over 100 native species in Australia. They have caused the extinction of some ground-dwelling birds and small to medium-sized mammals. They are a major cause of decline for many land-based endangered animals such as the bilby, bandicoot, bettong and numbat. Many native animals are struggling to survive so reducing the number killed by this introduced predator will allow their populations to grow.

Feral cats can carry infectious diseases which can be transmitted to native animals, domestic livestock and humans.

CPTM

I don't like cats but I'd be devastated if the neighbours got rid of their outdoor ones. It's a bit annoying cleaning up their crap from the grass but it's better than having mice in the walls. They earn their keep as far as I'm concerned.

Graces7

Proof? And probably the opposite... Native critters carry diseases? NB I have been caring for ferals for decades and they are healthier and more disease free than our domestic cats

NB that post is.... well I guess the opposite of whitewash is BLACKWASH!

Badly Drunk Boy

So cats are to blame for us not having any bandicoots around here? Makes sense. 😄

dxhound2005

The way I read the post is that it referred to a BBC radio report about cats in Australia. Which I heard myself, and I took it a face value. It didn't suggest that cats in Ireland should be restricted.

who what when

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120330135#Comment_120330135

Yes absolutely they are. Its not just birds.

Mice, rats, shrews, rabbits, hedgehogs, voles. All small mammals really. Frogs, butterflys etc. If its small and moves a cat will kill it.

Also your list of things that kill birds missed the biggest one - winter.

dxhound2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120330135#Comment_120330135

You must mean stray cats. The ones destroying wildlife in Australia are proper feral.

Stray:

• A stray cat is a cat who lived indoors and was socialized to people at some point in her life, but has left or lost her home, or was abandoned, and no longer has regular human contact.
• Over time, a stray cat can become feral as her contact with humans dwindles.
• A stray cat may be socialized enough to allow people to touch her, but she will become less socializedor even feralif she spends too much time without positive interaction with humans.
• Under the right circumstances, a stray cat can also become a pet cat once again. Stray cats that are re-introduced to an indoor home after living outdoors may require a period of time to re-acclimate; they may be frightened and wary after spending time outside away from people.

Feral:

• A feral cat is an unsocialized outdoor cat who has either never had any physical contact with humans, or human contact has diminished over enough time that she is no longer accustomed to it. Most feral cats are fearful of people and are not likely to ever become a lap cat or enjoy living indoors.

Flinty997

It's feral cats that are a problem. That's why they have initiative to neuter the wild population. It's also a problem in countries and/or habitats with flightless birds. Where cats have no natural predators. So their population grows rapidly.

Of course like any thing these days it's exaggerated into hysteria. Someone fat pet cat isn't going to do much. Considering we've concreted over the parks, and killed of the biodiversity that sustained things like birds.

dxhound2005

I did not note any hysteria in the radio report about Australia. I knew nothing about the subject, but a little research on the internet suggests that it is a far from trivial issue. I was aware of the damage being done in Australia by other introduced animals, like rabbits and camels.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/australias-cats-kill-two-billion-animals-annually-180977235/

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120330298#Comment_120330298

I was more referring to...

"Also RTE have expressed an opinion that cats are “killers” and should be kept inside during nesting season."

If they'd done any research they'd know its feral cats causing the issue. Which begs the question how do they suggest keeping feral cats inside.

AllForIt

oh goodie, an excuse to post pics of cats I've snapped on my travels this week ...

dxhound2005

I ignored the bit about RTE expressing an opinion. It makes no sense.

ednwireland

"let them eat birds"

I absolutely love cats but I wouldn't lose the plot over someone pointing out issues they may cause when feral, non spayed and roaming free. Calm down and engage like an adult. A number of people here get bizarrely angry over things they merely dislike/disagree with.

A catio is commonplace in the US. It's actually for protecting the cat. Cats are prey as well as predators. Ditto why they're kept indoors all the time. Give me that any day instead of scumbags advocating poisoning/drowning them.

beachhead

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120330001#Comment_120330001

Same for me and true.Cats in Oz are decimating the native species of various small animals,some are already extinct.Cats were imported to Australia-most likely to keep the British gentry entertained.

Flinty997

In the states feral cat actually do have predators birds of prey, Coyote, Cougar etc.

If you in an area where people are poisoning/drowning them. Its not the cats that are the problem.

beachhead

The states? Is that the United States of America because Australia has states as well.A holiday there?

Brussels Sprout

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120330099#Comment_120330099

Judging by your avatar pic you look to be a neutral voice on this particular topic!

Flinty997

I think its slightly misleading to say "cats" not "feral cats" even after its pointed out.

It nothing to do with being fond of cats or not. Its because while you can keep a pet cat inside a feral cat you can't. Its an entirely different problem.

Mrs OBumble

I've never heard of a cat killing or injuring a small child.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120331140#Comment_120331140

Which one has  Coyote, Cougars?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120331128#Comment_120331128

I don't get how you could misinterpret my post like that. Your first paragraph I agreed with in my post in question (cats are prey as well as predators - that's why there are catios and cats kept indoors all the time, to keep the cats safe).

I don't live in such an area, but such scumbags do exist. And the OP expressed objection to catios and cats being kept indoors all the time - but those are preferable to harming or killing cats. And they keep the cats safe.

who what when

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120331165#Comment_120331165

While exceedingly rare unfortunately it has happened.

beachhead

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120331166#Comment_120331166

Ye,I know.but the states!!

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120331201#Comment_120331201

It seemed like it needed clarifying.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120331174#Comment_120331174

We live in a era when people steal pets. I get what your saying.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120331126#Comment_120331126

Probably also came off ships as I think rats did.

Princess Calla

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120331165#Comment_120331165

Cats can be very territorial.

They've been known to smother a new born, which is why it's recommended to bring baby's worn clothes home from hospital before the baby to get them used to the scent etc.

Now I haven't heard of a recent case that I can remember any way. Probably because there's more awareness of it, but according to my mam there were a few cases in her generation.

dxhound2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120330783#Comment_120330783

Let them eat pussy.

fineso.mom

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120331535#Comment_120331535

Yes, definitely has happened. I remember as a small child in the 70's my grandmother going ballistic when a cat came in the kitchen window and jumped into my baby brothers bassinet. Her neighbour's baby had been suffocated by the family cat sleeping on the baby"s face years before.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120331621#Comment_120331621

A cat will sit on any heat source.

There are media reports of deaths from this and actual attacks but there must be like a billion cats and very few reports.

blackbox

Do you think that maybe cats got blamed in the wrong for cases of cot deaths?

SuperBowserWorld

The biggest danger to animals, plants, humans and the planet from cats and dogs is the meat production cost of pet food. Tiddles and Fido need loads of natural resources to produce, ship that food and get rid of the waste. Not to mention c02

Sorry for putting in such a downer on here. 😁

My cat said he doesn't give a ****. He didn't create the problem and won't have to deal with it. Also cats don't go to heaven as they don't have souls. So he's especially uncaring. 😁

tayto lover

An old lady who lived near me had 18 cats. I asked her what she did with all the kittens. She told me she drowned them in a bucket of water but that she wasn't cruel because she heated the water. When she died all the cats disappeared and probably went feral.

Leg End Reject

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120331535#Comment_120331535

Another theory is they are attracted to the smell of milk and plonk down for a snooze. Cats will curl around an adult's neck too for warmth.

Oh my mother hates those "cute" videos of cats getting close to babies... they make her very nervous. I wouldn't let a cat near a baby either. What if the baby annoys the cat and they scratch them. Those claws are fking stabby!

Princess Calla

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120331795#Comment_120331795

I hate the dog ones too. No matter how placid a dog is, they are still an animal and can be unpredictable.

Then you get the whole "oh they've never done that before"

@dxhound2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120331225#Comment_120331225

Yes, I saw a documentary about the topic @dxhound2005 mentioned too, and the cats were introduced to Australia by the British via India. The little dudes (referred to in the documentary as the domestic cat) did a lot of damage unfortunately. Hilarious the way people think this mere fact is offensive - offensive to whom? Cats? If they could understand, they wouldn't give a sh1t.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120332819#Comment_120332819

Sorry who said it was offensive?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120332878#Comment_120332878

Someone at the start of this thread lost it.

endacl

Even cats think cat people are weird.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120332906#Comment_120332906

So no one said "offensive" then?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120332921#Comment_120332921

Good lord. First you don't bother properly reading my first post that you quoted, then this shoite.

It's OK - relax. Nobody's saying anything against you, you're just picking things up weirdly (or looking for an argument). Someone very early in the thread lost the plot over a member mentioning the destruction that can be caused by cats, and another mentioning the situation in that regard in Australia. They didn't say "I'm offended" but I think we can take it as red that they obviously were offended.

Flinty997

So thats still a no, no one got offended or lost the plot.

Maybe we should introduce some natural predators to cats. Jurassic Park Raptors or something. Seemed to work out ok.

BagofWeed

I like cats. They are very smart and can be very affectionate to people they like. Cats are a free animal and it's in their nature to wander and explore and do cat things. I've always found that you can tell a lot by how a person feels about dogs/ cats or animals in general. Cats are independent by nature thus control orientated people may not take to them and I've noticed over the years that a lot of not very nice people have a dislike of cats, coincidence ? Cats are generally kept under control here anyway so we don't need any more moaning and preaching about their natural behaviour.

andy6

Our poor cat died recently, and I miss her. Am going to get another after the summer, just dont need the hassle of cat sitters etc when/if we're going on hols. I didnt realise there is a kitten 'season'? Am I the only one who didnt. I miss her around the place, and 'think' I hear mice scratches! When the cats away...!

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120332970#Comment_120332970

Yes she did get extremely offended - you can see it easily early in this thread.

Why should we do that? I love cats - why would that be something of interest to me?

Graces7

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120331621#Comment_120331621

They do that as the baby's face is warm, not from aggression or malice . Cats are heat-seeking missiles. Their body temperature is higher than ours. And surely easy enough to take precautions ...ANYTHING rather than that dreadful tragic and avoidable loss of a baby.