Killer Cats

[xoxoxoBruce]

From the NY Times;

In devising their mathematical model, the researchers systematically sifted through the existing scientific literature on cat-wildlife interactions, eliminated studies in which the sample size was too small or the results too extreme, and then extracted and standardized the findings from the 21 most rigorous studies. The results admittedly come with wide ranges and uncertainties.

Nevertheless, the new report is likely to fuel the sometimes vitriolic debate between environmentalists who see free-roaming domestic cats as an invasive species — superpredators whose numbers are growing globally even as the songbirds and many other animals the cats prey on are in decline — and animal welfare advocates who are appalled by the millions of unwanted cats (and dogs) euthanized in animal shelters each year.

snip

Yet the new study estimates that free-roaming pets account for only about 29 percent of the birds and 11 percent of the mammals killed by domestic cats each year, and the real problem arises over how to manage the 80 million or so stray or feral cats that commit the bulk of the wildlife slaughter.

[toranokaze]

Cats are murders

[orthodoc]

Hunting: it's what they do. Just like polar bears, cats are wasteful hunters. We cringe at what they do, but it's hard-wired ... they can't help it.

It's irresponsible humans that are to blame. Those who don't spay/neuter their pets; those who abandon their pets; those who let their pets outside. Every pet cat should be indoor-only. If the songbird statistics don't move you, consider that the average lifespan of a pet 'outdoor' cat is two years. They come to grief quickly.

When I bred Siamese and Balinese cats my contract stipulated that I had to receive proof of spay/neuter by a certain date (four months of age), upon which I would then send the registration papers. If I didn't get proof, $1000 penalty; still no proof, repossession. If an owner bred one of my cats I reserved the right to repossess the cat and all its offspring. No refund, of course. Once I found a vet who would spay/neuter at 8 weeks that's what I did, before sending the kittens out at 12 weeks. The contract also specified indoor-only and I talked to prospective buyers ahead - never sold to those who thought it would be 'nice' for a cat to roam.

It was also less likely that someone paying $600-$800 for a kitten would let it roam outside or decide the money wasn't available to spay/neuter. I also had a clause giving me first right of repossession should the owner ever decide to relinquish the cat for any reason. If I was satisfied with the secondary home proposed, fine. If not, I took the cat back. It was phrased to assure owners that they always had a place to send their cat if they needed to ... no abandonment necessary. This contract was common among responsible cat breeders.

I always had waiting lists of prospective owners; never had trouble placing a kitten. I matched personalities to owners/homes as well as I could. Only had to enforce my contract once.

[Trilby]

My vet has a saying: better indoors and fat than outdoors and flat --- which refers to them being hit by a car, but I see what you mean. My kitties are indoor only. I had to sign a paper promising the adoption agency that I would keep them inside.

[glatt]

I have no problem with cats killing the small mammals. Mice, rats, etc. Who need them? Even the baby bunnies.

But I feel a little bad about the songbirds. Let them kill the starlings though.

[Pete Zicato]

Originally Posted by glatt

Let them kill the starlings though.

You want cats to kill young women in Hollywood? I don't understand. Are you thinking of Lindsay Lohan?

Wait. Wut?

[Nirvana]

How many times have had to enforce your contract O? [ you said once oopsy]I bet you did a good job of screening for homes so that never happened. In my experience most contracts concerning "live property" are more expensive and time consuming to enforce than finding the right home. My SIL is an attorney my BIL a magistrate judge I got free legal help but never pursued a claim I just quit having contracts told the prospective owner I expected them to take care of their animal or bring them back. I tried to make better home choices. Contracts are toilet paper. JMO Spending $5,000 to punish someone for a $1000 claim they may or may not ever pay seemed like a waste of time.

If a cat can kill a bird that bird must be sick or stupid and it's survival of the fittest. As far as rodents tree or otherwise carry on kitties!

[BigV]

Originally Posted by glatt

I have no problem with cats killing the small mammals. Mice, rats, etc. Who need them? Even the baby bunnies.

But I feel a little bad about the songbirds. Let them kill the starlings though.

+1

[footfootfoot]

Cats only kill wastefully if they are over fed. My cats pretty much ate what they caught. I had a strict agreement with them that I would keep them flea and tick free, give them regular kibble, but they were on their own as far as fresh food.

Vet expenses were limited to rabies shots and any vaccines. If they didn't like the arrangement they could go back to the shelter and I would have no hard feelings.

I've never owned an ungrateful cat, and it wasn't until we had to give the cats away that we had mice.

[orthodoc]

@ Nirvana - I did screen very carefully and tried to place locally or at least regionally so that if necessary I wouldn't be getting into travel issues. Careful screening really did the trick. Once or twice I declined a sale at the last moment when the buyers arrived and it was clear this was not going to be a suitable placement (that was in my contract too).

@foot - did you and your cats shake on your strict agreement?
Didn't you have any kibbleheads who just chowed down on that stuff despite hunting? I've found that some cats love kibble more than fresh food. I agree about the mice completely - cats are the best solution!

[footfootfoot]

I only had one cat who couldn't regulate his eating. He'd been a stray and had obviously starved at some point (I think when the shelter got him) He'd wolf his food until he threw up. In hindsight, an anti-anxiety med might have been good for him.

My cats and I could communicate telepathically. Can't everybody? I thought that was normal.

[orthodoc]

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

My cats and I could communicate telepathically. Can't everybody? I thought that was normal.

And here I thought I was the only one!

[Gravdigr]

Yeah, of all the fucked up problems this planet is experiencing right now, cats are the one we should be concentrating on.

Sheesh.

[footfootfoot]

Originally Posted by orthodoc

And here I thought I was the only one!

You're the only one for me. You and the rest of the cellar ladies.

[orthodoc]

You cellar ladies-man, you heart-breaker! But what would we cellar ladies do without you? We just have to be content to share.