Dogs and cats - Why is it ok for cats to kill things for fun?

[SassyKat6181]

We have barn cats to take care of the rodent population. A few summers ago, we lost all our cats to coyotes and our garden was overrun with critters. These new cats are awesome....and the carrots are even better. They do occasionally get a bird or a chipmunk, but mostly field mice and moles. The red tail hawks take care of the gophers and rabbits. Everything has a predator/prey situation around here, that is life.

 

[ZuulLanceMaster]

My Grandpa's old tenant had quite a few cats. that lady was NUTS! she was the center of the universe. also, her cats were vegetarian. so my dumb peice-o-work grandpa snuck over to her porch with some tuna. i can just picture him.
"hea hea. heeeer kitty, heeeer kitty! hea hea!"
BAAAD idea! his tenant caught him.

 

[Tbird84]

It's just as well he did. Cats are strict carnivores. That vegetarian diet would kill them eventually.

 

[deerman]

Quote:
No this is not true...........many islands had no native cats, until man took them there on the ships. Reason some of the ground nesting and flightless birds were kill off.....

Trouble I see so many people think its ok to let them roam, just because they kill a few mice.

 

[PurpleChicken]

Quote:
No this is not true...........many islands had no native cats, until man took them there on the ships. Reason some of the ground nesting and flightless birds were kill off.....

Trouble I see so many people think its ok to let them roam, just because they kill a few mice.

Ditto.


Another thing many people don't realize is the rodents (many species of mice and rats) were also brought to this continent by settlers and merchants. Those species killed off many native species.


I'm about ready to turn this into a cat recipe thread. I hear they're good eatin.

 

[desertdarlene]

I don't know if I brought this up before, but there was a study that talked about coyotes and their affect on ground nesting birds where I live. In urban canyons where coyotes kept a control over smaller predators (such as feral cats), ground nesting birds existed and were able to rear young. In canyons with no coyotes and feral cats were plentiful, there were no ground nesting birds. People worry about coyotes killing all the baby quail, killdeer and ducklings, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

But, back on the topic, I do agree with the person who said that cats probably don't get in trouble so much for killing things for fun is that cats are not seen as a threat to human beings, while many dogs can be dangerous.

 

[TreeHugger]

I do agree with a comment pages back that dogs are a choice and cats just happen

I've got seven cats - all outdoor. All of mine were someone else's rejects that were dumped. None of them are a threat to my chickens (at least the full grown ones). I will admit I do not like it when I see them "playing" with something and I've taken many a frog or lizard away from them. As far as I'm concerned rodents are fair game and 99 times out of 100 they can't catch a bird when they try. However, they have a self feeder on the porch so they really don't have to hunt for food.

BTW they are all fixed - I don't think people realize how quickly the cat population explodes with just a few breeding cats. One feral or stray cat might not be an issue but that one animal can produce a whole colony of cats within a few years if she gets pregnant.

 

[Tab's chicken obsession]

I've had my birds since march and my dogs have never bothered them. The cat on the other hand has tried getting up close and my original birds stare her down and flap their wings at her then she runs. Last week I got a couple of andulusians and they are a little flighty (run away from most eveything). I lost one to the cat yesterday when my birds were out ranging. That darn cat was quick because we were out with them almost the whole time. I'm really disappointed. I've tried keeping the cat inside before and after awhile she gets mad and pees on things in the house, last time she peed on my guest bed.

 

[Mattemma]

Tab's chicken obsession :

I've tried keeping the cat inside before and after awhile she gets mad and pees on things in the house, last time she peed on my guest bed.

I had a neighbor who started letting their cats out for this reason.The cats then used the dirt around my foundation as a toilet.It smelled horrid. I could not open windows,and the neighbors were happy to have a pee-free home.They did not care about what their cats did to us.

I have 3 cats and one started voiding in the house. I moved all 3 out to the garage side room. Years ago I had a cat pee up an entire house.Had attitude issues.Won't put up with that again.A large cat run might be an option if letting it roam is not ideal. I love some of the runs people have built for their cats.Our yard is fenced so I let ours out,but they better not kill any of the birds or it is back to the room for them!

There has been a large cat sited around our fenced yard the past few weeks.Given my experience with other cats peeing around the home, and the risk of disease to my own cats I will be trapping that cat- stray or not- and taking it to a shelter.

I feel cats runs are the best option for cats that really want to be outside.They get their nature and everyone is safe at the same time.I want my dogs(and other dogs) in a fenced area too.​

 

[andythescot]

I couldn't agree with you more! On top of cats going out and wrecking havoc, they also endanger themselves with cars, dogs and other dangerous affairs. PLUS, your cat goes out and walks ALL OVER the joint, and then it comes home and walks all over your counters and you couch!

Plus there are always like eighty cats that are wandering around my yard! They are always looking at my girls. One time a cat was sitting IN the nest boxes!

I think we should start eating cats and dogs in this country. Do away with the excess... besides, I bet they taste good.