Had to have been that Devil's Lettuce!
We have one cat. She wears a harness and tag, gets vaccinated yearly and is microchipped. She goes out, but stays in our yard. She doesn't stay out long, just goes out like our dog does. The only things I've seen her kill are mice, voles and chipmunks.Cursory research will show that feral cats (and outdoor "pets") kill huge amounts of native wildlife yearly. It is always open season on outdoor cats. The bleeding hearts that TNR are just allowing more death and destruction during the feral cats' lifetimes (which are usually hard, brutal and short).
We have a strictly indoor cat that doesn't have a collar or vet visits - she NEVER goes outside, and freezes in fright if she makes it onto the porch. She is a PET.
I've got a crazy cat lady or two in my hood. Those cats are feral, they may call them pets but it doesn't mean they are. And I've lived around a person that had "pet" feral dogs. They didn't last long, and it wasn't by me. Neighbors dog gets loose? If they'll come, I'll grab them and let their owners or animal control know. The dogs I'm talking about, yeah no.Fify
It sounds like you are a good responsible cat owner, as everyone should be. It sounds like the woman in this case was the opposite, if she could even be considered a cat owner. More like a cat attractor.We have one cat. She wears a harness and tag, gets vaccinated yearly and is microchipped. She goes out, but stays in our yard. She doesn't stay out long, just goes out like our dog does. The only things I've seen her kill are mice, voles and chipmunks.
SSS
Don't be stupid.
Like Ron White, they had the right to remain silent. Just not the ability.
When I lived over near CM, (before I had a cat) we had a crazy cat lady that fed all the strays in the area, and they also bred. We had a dog that we took in as a stray (best dog I ever had). She killed a couple of kittens that got into our fenced in yard and all of a sudden we were the neighborhood pariahs. I imagine that before we took her in, she killed a lot of small animals just to survive. She was quick. Saw her grab a bird out of midair once.It sounds like you are a good responsible cat owner, as everyone should be. It sounds like the woman in this case was the opposite, if she could even be considered a cat owner. More like a cat attractor.
IMO, the crazy cat ladies in both cases are the ones responsible for the death of the cats. Unfortunately, being a crazy cat lady seems to be yet another protected class of mental illness today.When I lived over near CM, (before I had a cat) we had a crazy cat lady that fed all the strays in the area, and they also bred. We had a dog that we took in as a stray (best dog I ever had). She killed a couple of kittens that got into our fenced in yard and all of a sudden we were the neighborhood pariahs. I imagine that before we took her in, she killed a lot of small animals just to survive. She was quick. Saw her grab a bird out of midair once.
I was never a cat person until I met DoggyMama (wasn't with her when I lived by CM). The one we have now is very much a Daddy's girl. When I was still going in to the office, she would be waiting by the door when I got home from work. She's practically glued to my leg when I get up in the morning now, at least until she decides to go back to bed. Still follows me around throughout the day though and puts her front paws up on my leg (doesn't claw me) for petting. She's more like a dog than some dogs I've had.IMO, the crazy cat ladies in both cases are the ones responsible for the death of the cats. Unfortunately, being a crazy cat lady seems to be yet another protected class of mental illness today.
Well, voles, chipmunks and some mice are also native animals, and have a place in the ecosystem, including as food for snakes, hawks, owls and foxes. I don't intend to go overboard defending them, but there are consequences. Cats, on the other hand (unless they are bobcats), do not have a place in our native ecosystems, which have not evolved to include a well-armed, fast, agile viscous animal that kills even when it is not hungry. That could be said to apply to some owls and weasels also, but they are native, and there are a lot fewer of them than cats.We have one cat. She wears a harness and tag, gets vaccinated yearly and is microchipped. She goes out, but stays in our yard. She doesn't stay out long, just goes out like our dog does. The only things I've seen her kill are mice, voles and chipmunks.
Same. Cats were always "nasty, spiteful, vindictive, ungrateful household parasites," but now that we have one (courtesy of our youngest), she mainly wants to paly with and be petted by me. They seem to know who doesn't like them and gravitate that direction.I was never a cat person until I met DoggyMama (wasn't with her when I lived by CM). The one we have now is very much a Daddy's girl. When I was still going in to the office, she would be waiting by the door when I got home from work. She's practically glued to my leg when I get up in the morning now, at least until she decides to go back to bed. Still follows me around throughout the day though and puts her front paws up on my leg (doesn't claw me) for petting. She's more like a dog than some dogs I've had.
I know what you're saying. But chipmunks, voles and mice can also do a lot of damage to the yard and to buildings. If she weren't killing them (and she doesn't nearly as much as she's gotten older), it would just be more for me to kill.Well, voles, chipmunks and some mice are also native animals, and have a place in the ecosystem, including as food for snakes, hawks, owls and foxes. I don't intend to go overboard defending them, but there are consequences. Cats, on the other hand (unless they are bobcats), do not have a place in our native ecosystems, which have not evolved to include a well-armed, fast, agile viscous animal that kills even when it is not hungry. That could be said to apply to some owls and weasels also, but they are native, and there are a lot fewer of them than cats.
You know, in some ancient cultures cats were revered as gods. The cats have never forgotten this.Same. Cats were always "nasty, spiteful, vindictive, ungrateful household parasites," but now that we have one (courtesy of our youngest), she mainly wants to paly with and be petted by me. They seem to know who doesn't like them and gravitate that direction.
I don't have a crazy cat lady, but I have 6-8 stray cats that are always causing issues around here.I've got a crazy cat lady or two in my hood. Those cats are feral, they may call them pets but it doesn't mean they are. And I've lived around a person that had "pet" feral dogs. They didn't last long, and it wasn't by me. Neighbors dog gets loose? If they'll come, I'll grab them and let their owners or animal control know. The dogs I'm talking about, yeah no.
All of the predators you list are present in much smaller numbers now, especially in more developed areas. Plus you forgot Coyotes.Well, voles, chipmunks and some mice are also native animals, and have a place in the ecosystem, including as food for snakes, hawks, owls and foxes. I don't intend to go overboard defending them, but there are consequences. Cats, on the other hand (unless they are bobcats), do not have a place in our native ecosystems, which have not evolved to include a well-armed, fast, agile viscous animal that kills even when it is not hungry. That could be said to apply to some owls and weasels also, but they are native, and there are a lot fewer of them than cats.
I've driven down the street by my house and saw 30+ cats in less than a block. One moved, the other was taken in for mental issues(go figure) still have at least one that I know of 3-4 doors down the alley.I don't have a crazy cat lady, but I have 6-8 stray cats that are always causing issues around here.
I damn well know I'm not putting up with 20+, and we have no Animal Control around here.
I have taken a few to the Humane Society and they wanted me to pay them to take them.
Renting out your kitty. Isn’t that prostitution?If you could train your cat to dig and kill moles, you make a ton renting it out.
Good cat....We have one cat. She wears a harness and tag, gets vaccinated yearly and is microchipped. She goes out, but stays in our yard. She doesn't stay out long, just goes out like our dog does. The only things I've seen her kill are mice, voles and chipmunks.