Can I shoot all these cats?

[barredrockgrl]

Quote:
+1 to trapping the cat. +1 to putting someone in a legal nightmare if they shoot one of my animals. Of course, my cats are indoor only

I understand you making a legal nightmare for someone killing a pet, really I do. I love my dogs beyond reason and am very protective of them. That's why they are kept in a fenced yard, wear collars, and are chipped. People who dump cats or even let them roam, obviously don't deserve ownership. We have a hellish feral cat situation. I WISH we could shoot them and be done with it. AC won't even bring traps anymore, they say they're too busy. We're not allowed to take them to the pound ourselves either. It's frustrating, aggravating, and anxiety inducing. Shooting them would be a humane death....

 

[Tylt33]

Quote:
In some places people DO have the right to let their cats roam the neighborhood. That doesn't mean you have the right to deal with them how you want. You may hate cats, but that doesn't change any laws.

Around here ALL pets require a licence, and none are allowed to damage property as they see fit. Nope, no law that allows pets to damage property. :shrug

And as the OP stated, they were concerned not that the cats had actually done damage, but that they were "threatening". Not sure how the rest of the country works, but I don't believe we're allowed to kill "threatening" animals here when we have other humane options.

 

[Tylt33]

Quote:
I disagree. When you have to overly protect your animals by penning them all day it is cruel to your animals. Why do you have to do this and waste all your money and yet those feral cats or dogs come in your yard and terrorize them. I'm as much of an animal lover as the next person but once there is a threat on my animals the game is over and something needs to be done.

You're missing the argument here; we're not saying you should do nothing, we're saying there's other options to shooting a cat that is sitting in the bushes looking at your chickens (refer back to the OP). Talk to the owner, trap it, spray it with water, etc. No one wants your animals to be harmed. There are other reasonable options to killing an animal.

 

[Tylt33]

Quote:
+1 to trapping the cat. +1 to putting someone in a legal nightmare if they shoot one of my animals. Of course, my cats are indoor only

I understand you making a legal nightmare for someone killing a pet, really I do. I love my dogs beyond reason and am very protective of them. That's why they are kept in a fenced yard, wear collars, and are chipped. People who dump cats or even let them roam, obviously don't deserve ownership. We have a hellish feral cat situation. I WISH we could shoot them and be done with it. AC won't even bring traps anymore, they say they're too busy. We're not allowed to take them to the pound ourselves either. It's frustrating, aggravating, and anxiety inducing. Shooting them would be a humane death....

I'm trying to be as objective about this as I can. I mean, my cats are chipped, kept indoors, licensed, etc. I even have a contract with the breeders saying I wouldn't let them outside. Indoor cats average a lifespan of ~12 years, while outdoor cats make it ~3. I think it's in everyone's best interest to keep cats indoors.

HOWEVER, I realize that some people just don't do that, this is far from a perfect world. I love my cats, and would hate to think that someone would shoot one without contacting me first, trapping it, etc. While it might be "legal" as defined by the law, I think in the spirit of the law (as it is often interpreted) and as a moral and ethical person, we should explore other options before jumping to the most drastic measure.

 

[stumble_n_mumble]

Quote:
I disagree. When you have to overly protect your animals by penning them all day it is cruel to your animals. Why do you have to do this and waste all your money and yet those feral cats or dogs come in your yard and terrorize them. I'm as much of an animal lover as the next person but once there is a threat on my animals the game is over and something needs to be done.

You're missing the argument here; we're not saying you should do nothing, we're saying there's other options to shooting a cat that is sitting in the bushes looking at your chickens (refer back to the OP). Talk to the owner, trap it, spray it with water, etc. No one wants your animals to be harmed. There are other reasonable options to killing an animal.

Ok sure. Not worth arguing over

 

[Jody]

Seems I may have lucked out. The night I posted this was the last time I seen any of them. I talked to my neighbors in regards to a couple of them whom I do not know owns and am told that they're probably feral. I know one of the cats belong to a home on the next street over and their house is on the lot behind mine and then last night I heard my other neighbor prowling around at night going "kitty kitty" so I now know she too has a cat, so I will find out which one it is and what it looks like so I know.

My own cat likes to come in and out as she pleases and she often spends time outside in the yard and she does roam too, so I'm in no position to debate the issue of roaming cats as seen in this thread, however, I know for a fact that my own cat is harmless to chickens and ducks, but not so with little birds, chipmunks, mice, etc, OH and I know she kicks other cats butts, so it's good when she's out at night cause she can chase away any predator kitties, I think.


When I have a few extra bucks I'm gonna buy one of those havahart traps. I called animal control and was given a number to call this feline rescue that has traps and can catch them.

As far as shooting them goes, I use a bow and arrow, so it's quiet. Hasn't come to this and hope not, but will see.

 

[aprophet]

Quote:
+1 to trapping the cat. +1 to putting someone in a legal nightmare if they shoot one of my animals. Of course, my cats are indoor only

I understand you making a legal nightmare for someone killing a pet, really I do. I love my dogs beyond reason and am very protective of them. That's why they are kept in a fenced yard, wear collars, and are chipped. People who dump cats or even let them roam, obviously don't deserve ownership. We have a hellish feral cat situation. I WISH we could shoot them and be done with it. AC won't even bring traps anymore, they say they're too busy. We're not allowed to take them to the pound ourselves either. It's frustrating, aggravating, and anxiety inducing. Shooting them would be a humane death....

this is the very reasons the farmers gave about running them over they got tired of dealing with bureaucrats/AC

 

[kelar]

"I disagree. When you have to overly protect your animals by penning them all day it is cruel to your animals. Why do you have to do this and waste all your money and yet those feral cats or dogs come in your yard and terrorize them. I'm as much of an animal lover as the next person but once there is a threat on my animals the game is over and something needs to be done."

I really don't understand the above response. My birds are penned because it keeps them safe. They are not in cages, but in large secure covered runs with indoor accomodations if they wish. Feral cats are the least of my worries - we all know that chickens are high on the list of roaming diners including coyotes, dogs, bobcats, raccoons, hawks, eagles etc. While they might be happier roaming the property, I'm afraid their lives would be very short. While I don't like the idea of other people's animals coming onto my property and doing damage, it's a possibility, & it's my responsibility to protect my animals against as many threats as humanly possible. We live in a very rural area and part of its charm and its danger is that we share it with other wildlife and sometimes feral or just wandering domestic animals. I'd hate to think that if my dog or cat got lost and happened to look at someone's livestock it would just get shot - someone please give me a reason to like humans as much as animals!

 

[stumble_n_mumble]

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Many people are very one sided. Birds should be able to roam free and you just read what I wrote wrong lol

 

[kelar]

If birds should be allowed to roam free, why not cats, dogs, cattle, horses & everything else? That statement makes no sense. Do you read the posts about all the birds that are injured or killed by predators because they are allowed to roam free? Animal owners have a responsibility to protect their charges. A dead or mauled chicken is definitely not a happy chicken.