My War with cats.

[James the Bald]

I strongly recommend that you not relocate it.

You may "strongly" recommend against this, but here is my opinion on "Pets", especially "Family Pets". I used to own a Boxer. Beautiful, most gentle dog I've ever owned. Not a lot of my neighbors knew I owned a dog, because my dog was a family pet. As a "family pet", it was part of my "family", thus, she stayed indoors, unless she had to go outside to do her business. She had her own pillow by the door where she would sleep and her own place to eat her food. When we went on trips, she went along. During the day when I went to work, she would stay at home and lay around on the floor or her pillow. We were pretty sure that if a burgler broke into our home, she would point out where we kept the few valuables we own. The only time I had her in a kennel was when I did some island hopping in Hawaii (where she initially became part of my family).
I asked my next door neighbor why her dog was chained to a tree in the backyard. She fussed about the dog being on the furniture, crapping on the floor, eating food out of the trash and how she didn't have time to train it and on and on. She darn near gave me a headache about all the reasons she shouldn't own a pet. I then asked her, "would chain one of her relatives to a tree if they stopped by for a visit?" She was angry and told me no, so I told her that her family pet doesn't want to be chained to a tree either. I haven't spoken to that neighbor in 3 years, but I haven't lost a wink of sleep over it. I just feel sorry for the Alaskan Malmute that is starved for affection. Another neighbor had "adopted" a stray dog. When animal control picked it up a few blocks away, the family never seemed to care. Same with cats. If you love your cat, keep it indoors. When I was little, my mom had a Siamese. Never set foot beyond our front porch. If you have a family pet, you have a responsibility to take care of it and train it. Now, if you own a large ranch, and allow your pets to roam "your ranch", that's OK. But when your family pet becomes a neusance to others (like killing my quail) they're fair game.
If your cat disappears, PM me and I'll tell you where I left it.

 

[SavageChick]

I'm glad someone else spoke my mind about this. Have an awesome cat myself, but he stays indoors, except for the times we take him out to join us in the backyard with his cat harness and leash. We're the only folks I've seen in the neighborhood who actually use a harness and leash for a cat. Love him dearly. Yet, when a stray cat comes along and kills all the wild birds I've been feeding at the feeders, as well as all their new chicks, we set the traps out. I feel the same way about stray dogs that take a dump on our front yard where my kids play....even worse towards the owners who allow their dogs to do this and then walk away without bagging it up.

Back to the feral cats....after watching a wild pair work so hard for weeks, this is what I want to protect from them.

 

[DoubletakeFarm]

Your pet in your yard is a pet, your pet in my yard is a predator. I have a responsibility to my livestock to keep them safe from harm and will not hesitate to do what I have to. That being said, I understand that people's pets do get loose by accident. I will use my discretion but if I see it twice you won't see it again.

 

[Ntsees]

I'm not sure how you interpreted it, but what I mean by not relocating it is that it might cause trouble for someone else or wildlife. I was going to say bring it to the animal shelter, but read that you had to also donate something. I'm in agreement with everything you said because like you, I've had my own losses due to cats. Personally, I don't care about cats, but I do care that they kill my birds on my property. Thumbs up to your quote: "If your cat disappears, PM me and I'll tell you where I left it."

 

[James the Bald]

...I feel the same way about stray dogs that take a dump on our front yard where my kids play....even worse towards the owners who allow their dogs to do this and then walk away without bagging it up.

When I catch somebody allowing their dog to "do business" in my yard and not clean it up, I get a shovel and pick it up and ask them to take it with them. When they say they have nothing to carry it in, "I tell them they should have thought about that before they left their house, and can you please hold out your hand". The guy thought I was joking. He won't walk his dog on my side of the street anymore. My neighbors witnessed this, and word traveled.

NT... I didn't mean to make it seem like I was "dumping on you. I retired from the Marines 8 years ago next month, and I'm still having difficulty speaking my mind without offending everyone.

 

[Weirdness555]

People who let their pets stray aren't being responsible pet owners. Their pet is in just as much danger, it could get hit by a car, or have a run in with a nastier person that yourself and get shot dead. We have 3 dogs that live in the house and have free access to our totally fenced in garden. They can't get out onto the street, not because we're worried they'll kill other people's livestock (although I wouldn't out it past them) but because we think that they'll get hit by a car. We won't keep a cat, because cats have a stronger instinct to roam and we don't feel that we could keep a cat safe. I think you're being fair enough. If you were going out shooting them on sight around your neighbourhood then that would be uncalled for, but you should have the right to keep them off of your property. Have you tried lion poo? You can buy it from zoos and I'm told that small predators steer clear of it.

 

[crazzzymike13]

I live in a really small town and there are all kinds of feral cats around here. I have a live trap that I set up and I take them out humanely. In a week I've caught about 12! I let them go if they have a collar, but most of the time you can tell they are wild.

 

[James the Bald]

... Have you tried lion poo? You can buy it from zoos and I'm told that small predators steer clear of it.

There's some advice you don't hear everyday!!!

 

[Weirdness555]

There's some advice you don't hear everyday!!!

I know! I've never tried it, because we don't really have a problem with cats, but the logic is sound. Big predator lives here, keep out.

 

[James the Bald]

OK, but if I "attract" a female lion, I'm going to be a little upset.