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Dogs and cats - Why is it ok for cats to kill things for fun?
- Thread starter PurpleChicken
- Start date
- Jun 15, 2008
- 4,654
- 94
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My dogs sometimes kill wild rabbits, raccoons, possums, and try to run down deer. Most wouldn't have a problem with that anymore than they do cats killing mice, rats, voles, gophers, and sparrows. Dogs just tend to kill things we are trying to raise like chickens or harass larger livestock in to injury. I've only had 1 stray/feral cat go after bantams and caged quail and it's dead. The rest I ignore unless they take up residence and start reproducing. Then they get neutered or pts. If dogs only went after wildlife we would probably just consider them an annoyance and some wouldn't even care. If they did no harm to my livestock or other pets my goal would be to capture them and turn them in to the humane society or somewhere they can find a more responsible home like I do with cats I don't want around. Unfortunately most dogs are a danger to my poultry, rabbits, cats, other dogs or even people so they get a stronger response. If you want to start shooting roaming cats for killing things in your yard only a few are likely to complain and it will probably be the same few that complain about shooting dogs. I just don't think too many see it as a priority to protect wildlife.
Most of the cats I have are just because they'd be dead otherwise. I've tried to rehome one numerous times. I can't keep them as indoor only and I haven't decided any wildlife they've caught come above their lives. Plus one can't find her way out of a paper bag so her impact on wildlife is limited to the mice who run right in to her. I found her on the center line of the highway as a 3week old kitten with a rock indent in her head and decided at minimum she would die a less painful death than laying there on the hot blacktop bleeding to death. Surprisingly she lived so I gained another indoor/outdoor cat. Dogs are a choice, cats just happen. I'm not responsible for their existence on this property.
Most of the cats I have are just because they'd be dead otherwise. I've tried to rehome one numerous times. I can't keep them as indoor only and I haven't decided any wildlife they've caught come above their lives. Plus one can't find her way out of a paper bag so her impact on wildlife is limited to the mice who run right in to her. I found her on the center line of the highway as a 3week old kitten with a rock indent in her head and decided at minimum she would die a less painful death than laying there on the hot blacktop bleeding to death. Surprisingly she lived so I gained another indoor/outdoor cat. Dogs are a choice, cats just happen. I'm not responsible for their existence on this property.
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I'm a former cat owner that used to keep cats outside and let them roam, mostly because I couldn't keep them in the house because I was severely allergic. All the cats I had were strays and one did catch birds (though the rest ignored them). Keeping cats fed doesn't stop them from hunting. I kept all my cats well fed with lots of food and they still hunted. However, I would never keep my pet cats out to roam free again, especially after seeing/hearing about adorable little killdeer chicks or ducklings becoming victims to roaming cats. I would try to build an outdoor enclosure if I have to keep them outside or not have cats at all.
Another thing that could be done is spaying and neutering the cats (even the strays) because they roam a lot less and are more likely to stay put in your yard or barn rather than roaming around. When I was keeping cats, it was extremely expensive to spay/neuter them and there were no places to take feral cats for "fixing". Now, that's not so much a burden with a lot of organizations having trap and spay/neuter programs for feral cats. I feel that if you can't keep your cats indoors, for whatever reason, at least get them spayed or neutered.
We don't have to "register" cats where I live or pay a license. Cats are not considered anyone's property, I've heard.
Another thing that could be done is spaying and neutering the cats (even the strays) because they roam a lot less and are more likely to stay put in your yard or barn rather than roaming around. When I was keeping cats, it was extremely expensive to spay/neuter them and there were no places to take feral cats for "fixing". Now, that's not so much a burden with a lot of organizations having trap and spay/neuter programs for feral cats. I feel that if you can't keep your cats indoors, for whatever reason, at least get them spayed or neutered.
We don't have to "register" cats where I live or pay a license. Cats are not considered anyone's property, I've heard.
I think the thing is that cats aren't commonly known to attack people or cause 'serious' damage. Whereas dogs are large and can often cause more trouble.
That's not to say cats are sweet little angels, I've been attacked by both animals before. But if the majority cats were as large as many dogs and had a canine's disposition, I'm sure there would be leash laws on cats. I do know that most places has leash laws on large cats such pet tigers etc. (Or at least I HOPE they do).
When I still had cats and lived in the country, I only fed them goat milk twice a day, otherwise they hunted for the rest of their meals, and they were always sleek and healthy. They did get some dry cat food in the winters but otherwise I left it up to them. I only had one cat that went after chickens and she's in a hole still.
If I had cats AND chickens - And the cat ate chickens, said cat would be gone.
If I had dogs AND chickens - And said dog ate chickens, said dog would also be gone. (Or trained in whatever manageable way)
However, I have no issues with dogs killing mice/squirrels/etc. When I still had a dog she would frequently kill wild animals. Cats do this too.
Predatory animals usually kill other animals. That is a fact of life.
Also, although I have had both cats and dogs kill chickens, the cat would always kill what she needed and eat it. The dog would kill off chickens in massive proportions and let the meat rot until it got to eating it.
That's not to say cats are sweet little angels, I've been attacked by both animals before. But if the majority cats were as large as many dogs and had a canine's disposition, I'm sure there would be leash laws on cats. I do know that most places has leash laws on large cats such pet tigers etc. (Or at least I HOPE they do).
When I still had cats and lived in the country, I only fed them goat milk twice a day, otherwise they hunted for the rest of their meals, and they were always sleek and healthy. They did get some dry cat food in the winters but otherwise I left it up to them. I only had one cat that went after chickens and she's in a hole still.
If I had cats AND chickens - And the cat ate chickens, said cat would be gone.
If I had dogs AND chickens - And said dog ate chickens, said dog would also be gone. (Or trained in whatever manageable way)
However, I have no issues with dogs killing mice/squirrels/etc. When I still had a dog she would frequently kill wild animals. Cats do this too.
Predatory animals usually kill other animals. That is a fact of life.
Also, although I have had both cats and dogs kill chickens, the cat would always kill what she needed and eat it. The dog would kill off chickens in massive proportions and let the meat rot until it got to eating it.
I have 2 indoor cats-useless and fat but I love them when they cuddle me at night
I hate it that all my neighbors have their cats loose-my chickens hate them though and chase them off of the property
its my dog ( cocker) that would kill my birds and anyone elses if he got loose. he did it once and that was enough for me he is leashed at all times outside-unless the birds are locked up still early am or late pm. If someone shot my dog for killing their chickens on their property-Id be devestated but I would understand:-( good thing I dont have anyone around me with chickens!
its my dog ( cocker) that would kill my birds and anyone elses if he got loose. he did it once and that was enough for me he is leashed at all times outside-unless the birds are locked up still early am or late pm. If someone shot my dog for killing their chickens on their property-Id be devestated but I would understand:-( good thing I dont have anyone around me with chickens!
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I am countrified, and any animal that kills chickens at my house faces exactly the same consequences. I haven't heard these arguments excusing cats for killing chickens. I love cats, but one that took to killing my chickens would be a dead cat.
That said, dogs and cats and chickens, alike, are welcome to interact naturally with wildlife at my house. It's the circle of life.... as long as they know which part of that circle belongs to me. (Oh, and if the wildlife they interact with wants to make my dogs, cats, chickens, or rabbits, part of the circle of life, i'll let that wildlife interact with my gun.)
That said, dogs and cats and chickens, alike, are welcome to interact naturally with wildlife at my house. It's the circle of life.... as long as they know which part of that circle belongs to me. (Oh, and if the wildlife they interact with wants to make my dogs, cats, chickens, or rabbits, part of the circle of life, i'll let that wildlife interact with my gun.)
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Dogs have owners.
Cats have staff
Dogs have owners.
Cats have staff
I have never owned a cat. I am a dog person. But, I have heard that if you feed a cat they are less likely to kill things. I have some ferral cats around the far end of my property. I don't think they mess with my chickens and I hope they catch rodents so I guess we have all struck a happy co-existance.
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That had to be one heck of a dog just to catch a stray cat. In my opinion the dog was doing his job by attacking the cats and raccoons. If it got out and killed an animal on someone else's property that would be different.
When my dog is outside on his run he serves as a deterrent to predators but I highly doubt he could catch a cat or know what to do with one if he caught it.
That dog was a pit bull my fiance found in the woods and took in. I would not have had a problem with it killing stray cats and raccoons either, but it was showing agression towards me, my son, our company and even my fiance, whom the dog worshiped. As of last night the dog attacked my fiance, and it is now no longer with us.
That had to be one heck of a dog just to catch a stray cat. In my opinion the dog was doing his job by attacking the cats and raccoons. If it got out and killed an animal on someone else's property that would be different.
When my dog is outside on his run he serves as a deterrent to predators but I highly doubt he could catch a cat or know what to do with one if he caught it.
That dog was a pit bull my fiance found in the woods and took in. I would not have had a problem with it killing stray cats and raccoons either, but it was showing agression towards me, my son, our company and even my fiance, whom the dog worshiped. As of last night the dog attacked my fiance, and it is now no longer with us.
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