Cats v/ snakes??

[deerman]

Quote:
Made your heart happy, to see kittens, turn loose so they can be shot for getting into someones animals. Or get hit by a car.

Sorry cats same as dogs, you let them run loose its your fault when someone shoots them protecting their animals,or birds.

 

[NotTheMomma]

My cats are free to come inside or stay outside, their choice. Two lay on the brick patio and sun, and seldom go any further. My gray cat is a serious mole killer! Never bothers the song birds, the chickens, quail, etc. What it kills it brings to the back door, and once praised, he'll eat it. Love it when it finds the field mice, and moles. Our yard was over run with moles when we moved here, now we seldom see them. Now the two youngest are almost a year old. They were feral kittens that we took in, and they are both good hunters. So far no interest in the chickens, or quail. I haven't seen them kill any rabbits, or songbirds, but not saying they haven't. The last three WILL kill small snakes, but I don't know how large of one they are willing to take on.

My oldest cat, one of the ones that lays on the patio now, use to kill any snake he saw. Twice I had to take him to the vet though due to the infection from a snake bite. Both times we found 4 ft and larger black snakes dead in the yard. We think he was bitten while killing them. He's probably 15 yrs old now, and has slowed down considerably. He was a stray we took in about 13 yrs ago, so unsure of his real age.

BTW, all of my cats are altered, and all well fed. A well fed cat is IMO a better hunter than one that is hungry. IMO, those that MUST hunt for their food aren't as strong and healthy. So make sure you feed them if you want them to hunt well.

If the pound, or a feral cat society has any ferals that have been tamed, they again, IMO, make the best pets, and hunters! Four of ours were ferals that we tamed. You do risk diseases that are contagious to other cats at times with the ferals, but it's a risk that is worth it, IMO. Especially since none of mine leave the yard.

BTW, not sure how much land you own, but it IS possible to keep cats on their own property and not bother neighbors. We now have 10.5 acres, but before we lived in the city on an acre, and the cats still didn't leave the yard.

 

[2boxers]

I'm not too concerned about cats wandering into my neighbors animals. I have "neighbors" on three sides. Two of my neighbors own cattle and horses and they are both about a half mile away (one is across the road.) The other neighbor has three acres right next to our five, and he has a pekingese. The only other person with chickens (and guineas) is another half mile away.

I had a healthy cat population (two cats) but in the last two years both my cats (a tortoise shell named Diddy and a gray and black tabby named P-Mouse) died of old age. When they were around, we had no snakes, mice or moles. The cat I have now-Keeza (Or Kee Kee Dee) is a great little hunter. She has dispatched our mole population. We also have a family of mud thatches that returns to our front porch every spring. I was worried about Keeza and those birds, but they have made it plain that she is not a welcomed guest on the front porch! None of my animals has harmed any of the chickens so I am not worried about that. My rooster is very...uhm...effective!

I am used to having cats and those cats will be loose on my property. The cats will be kept UTD on shots, they will be spayed/neutered. They will also be fed, have fresh water, and housing out of the elements (likely in the house...I'm a sucker for fuzzy butts). Next time I go to town, I will stop by the pound and pick up two cats who otherwise would be killed. My daughter will give them silly names like Pinky and Froggy, and the cats will live out their existence here in the country killing varmints on my little 5A Farm.

My next door neighbor is extremely fastidious about his lawn-as in, he mows it daily. I doubt he will mind much if one of my cats wanders over there & offs a few moles.

 

[2boxers]

Deerman, this really has you upset, doesn't it? I am sorry. I sure didn't mean for you to get your Irish up. Please have no fear. I live in southern Virginia, and I doubt if my cats will roam far enough to be a problem for your birds.

 

[swedishfish]

My cats are smart enough that the only time they go out to the coop is when I do. I have a kitty who loves to rub against my legs, no matter how many times I accidentally step on her. She rubs on the door or walks around the coop until I come out. And my cats are like yours 2Boxers, strays who are fixed, fed, and given a nice barn to sleep in (since they can't come inside). When I open the door they step back, and have never once tried to get inside. I see one of my neighbors cats watching my Wyandottes every once in a while, but even with my very old coop that is falling apart and held together with scraps of chicken wire, the only thing I've had break in was is my horse and mule. They think they're chickens, and all they wanted was some chicken scratch.

Plus "It's better to have loved and lost, then to have never loved at all." I think it's better to take care of an animal, especially if it otherwise would have been living poorly or put down, as long as you can until it dies. I've never had an animal get hit by a car (Dead end lane). Oh, scratch that, my dad ran over my kitten when I was 5. She was in the garage, so it shows you that even 'contained' cats can get run over. I have had animals die of old age, sickness, and Trapper's puppy sister, my very favorite missy Two-Toes (Like 2-socks in Dances with Wolves), just died one day. All pet owners have to be prepared to deal with death.

Deerman, I'm assuming you hunt since that's your name. Have you ever thought that maybe your wife should keep you inside the house so you don't go shooting those beautiful deer? Don't take that the wrong way please, I'm just trying to make my view easier for you to see. And don't just think that I'm a little prissy city girl. My entire family hunts. But Deerman, I agree with you on one thing. Dogs should be kept in a kennel or fence or be chained somehow. I am sick and tired of my neighbor's mini lassie dogs barking at me like I'M the tresspasser, pooping on my lawn, and throwing my puppy hound Trapper into a fit.

 

[2boxers]

None of the concerns posted by Deerman effect me-we are a ways off the road, we live on a road that gets almost no traffic, and the only livestock around to be harassed is cows, horses, noisy donkeys, a pekingese and my chickens.

Of course I advocate good stewardship. Anything less is irresponsible. Deerman, I am sorry for your troubles with bad owners. You are painting us all with a wide brush. Don't be shocked if that favor is returned.

 

[deerman]

Well my user name ,was because of the two pet deer, that were bottle fed from 3 day old. the one on my post.

Guess what happen to them. Neighbors dogs running them in their pen, until they broke their neck.

Dogs couldnt get in the pen, still killed both.

No wife to lock me up....

Another time let chicken out, my mistake went to town to get some fast food, gone less than a hour. Got home their the neighbors Dog eating my game rooster, in my front yard.

Yes it makes me MAD when people let their dogs or cats come on my place.

Try not to kill them, dog warden set traps, caught dogs , yep back the next week. I trap their cats, they go to another county pound.

yep, they go get more, because they give them good homes???????

 

[Marie66]

Quote:
I'm SO sorry about your animals, deerman. That is awful. All of my surrounding neighbors are rude as well. I have to clean other people's dogs' poo out of my front yard daily. and i have to protect my animals in the back from not only raccoons, skunks and possums, but also 5 neighborhood cats. none of the cats are feral, they all have homes. anytime i set foot out of my house into my own backyard, i get barked at by 5 dogs surrounding my yard. for as long as i am there. my dog used to go out there and sit at the fence, and turn and look at me, as if to say, 'what is their problem?" it is so irritating.
i live in the suburbs, though. i know many people on larger properties that have outside cats that stay on their property, so they don't bother anyone else's pets/livestock.
sounds like the poster is responsible with her kitties, and that they have a large property to roam, won't need to go to neighbors houses etc.

oh, yeah, and i don't know about the cats and snakes thing. i have all manner of animals in my yard: raccoons, possums, squirrels, skunks, rattle snakes, rat snakes, cats and dogs. not all at the same time, but you know, over the course of a few days. the snakes come and go. my neighbor says i shouldn't have snakes, because of all the cats, but, i still find a nest every year or so of rattle snakes. usually, though, they leave within a few days of my 'finding' them, they are shy.
i have no rats, though! YAY, I absolutely LOATHE rats. rather have rattle snakes.

 

[swedishfish]

Deerman, I am SO SO SO sorry about those deer!

What a caring guy you are! And apologies for the misnomer. And I am amazed at how rude your neigbors are with their animals, both you and Marie66.
And as for the neighbors that go get more cats when you take theirs to the pound - that is stupid. Obviously they know that you don't like cats on your property. And they don't plan to keep their cats from going onto your property.

I see your point. Maybe all I needed was a bit more explaination.