Should domestic cats be eradicated to protect wildlife?

The wildlife they target are insects, mice, rats sometimes, and squirrels and birds. They are prey to larger wildlife and bigger birds, like owls, hawks and eagles. They are very old themselves, been domesticated for this cycle of man, and probably for the many they won't tell us about. THEY LIE about history.

Be a part of the flow of life and love whats around you, never harm a fly if you can help it and stop trying to control anyone.

If people really want to be good samaritans they could get a little group going that pays for fixing male and female cats, when sometimes that becomes hard, some people are good souls who adopt lost and homeless cats/dogs, and struggle to feed them, but the generous souls usually don't have lots of money. The more money the less generosity and kindness tends to be a human dilemna. So offer to fix the cats.

And otherwise just be a nice person. Try to keep cute little cats exploring the world safe, ie. shoe them away from under car wheels, where they often go to warm up from their adventures.

Be a good, kind grateful to be alive and share this world, awed by butterflies and life, kind of decent person.

I won't allow anyone to make this world even uglier. Not on my watch.

Originally posted by butcherguy
reply to post by HelenConway

 

This is a non argument against cats,

Correct.
Most people that bring the point up would not tolerate the filthy things living in their house, so it is really a non- argument. The people that love cats that much don't care if it is filthy in their house.

This is one of the dumbest comments I've ever read! Domestic cats, as opposed to strays, are generally clean. I don't know what rock you've been living under but most people don't let stray animals into their home.

You don't have to like cats, but get a clue before making a comment in future.

reply to post by Beast Of Gevaudan


I agree with your post, specifically about the cleanliness of cats. Mine had pinker toes than I do!

I remember the last thread like got shut down.

I was agreeing with the eradication of cats because I know they are over populated in my area.

I have 12 budgies to protect from stray cats.


Why does everything on ATS get recycled this subject has been talked about many of times and closed down very fast because people can't agree or disagree.

reply to post by Beast Of Gevaudan


We have three indoor cats. The female cat washes her front paws in the water dish every time she goes to the potty. The big cat is always looking at the dish and twisting his ears when he is thirsty. We have to change the water every day or the biggest cat dumps our cup of water trying to get fresh water which makes a mess.

Our oldest cat washes his front paws in the toilet, swishing them around in the water, he rests his chin on the toilet seat so he doesn't fall in. I'm not so sure that this is any more sanitary. The female cat also uses the broom to clean the littler from between her toes. She also uses the basement broom as dental floss, running the fibers between her teeth. I guess that we don't realize that animals do pay attention to what we do and learn.

reply to post by rickymouse


Okay, that is so cute. My parent's cat use to pick up his food with his paw and eat it out of his paw.

There is nothing finer or more adorable than a cat except a herd of them.

Click here for more information.

I can only speak from my perspective based on my experience. I live in the country, very often people dump their animals out there. We get a lot of stray cats and dogs, some are abused or so poorly fed that it takes months to years to rehabilitate them. Some are so poorly cared for that you just can't help them. Since we have wild coyotes out here(and owls), often domesticated cats don't live long, but sometime a few years ago there was a mama cat that had kittens. I know because I've seen her babies show up (some look just like her)..I've lived on this property on and off for the last 10 years and several of my family members as well, and these are several generation feral kittens now. Two years ago, I moved back onto this land, and came across several kittens, I knew I shouldn't have fed them, but I have a kind heart for animals. When I got to the kittens, they were perhaps six months old..so not little kittens mind you. I managed to tame all six and get them homes, except two I kept here. Here in Oklahoma, if you live in the country you can develop quite a rat problem. Since keeping these cats, I haven't seen any mice in the house, but this is why :



Forgive it's largeness, I kept it that way so you can see the muscle in this cat(and the size of this field rat). He's one of the little feral kittens I kept. He's an outdoor cat, and one of the sweetest animals I've ever seen. I've never seen him with any birds, nor have I ever seen any dead ones on the property. I'm not shocked at all that they could cause an issue with wildlife, but here in Oklahoma they tend to do more good than harm. I think though, we have a bit more of a balance out here due to larger predators like owls and coyotes. It's said that out where I live there is also a very large bobcat. I've heard it outside, but never seen it.

So should domesticated cats be eradicated? No, in my experience domesticated cats are at more of a risk to get eaten in the wild (here, I can't speak for other areas of the world), before they can ever cause any real damage.

I knew a woman that had seven cats all indoors, it was a terrible smell. She was nice lady, but she sheltered her cats. If one got out, she was frantic. Cats don't survive that long out in the wild if they are sheltered, even in the cities if a cat is kept indoors for a long period of time, while they have some instinct for survival. It's more likely they will get hit by a car before being able to kill anything. I know it's possible, but the solution is fixing the animals so there aren't overwhelming strays and ferals running around.

That .... and to stop them puping on my patio...

In the last 15 years my 3 cats have probably caught a combined 20 birds and mice

most cats are terrible at hunting, my present cat hasn't caught anything to date. it goes outside whenever it wants but never leaves the back yard or the neighbours yard

the idea of cats as hunting machines that destroy wildlife isn't really true. most domestic cats are terrible hunters

maybe it's different in nz and aus where you have an abundance of rural areas where strays and domestics alike can roam.

Originally posted by HelenConway

Originally posted by butcherguy
[Correct.
Most people that bring the point up would not tolerate the filthy things living in their house, so it is really a non- argument.

yet your wife allows you in your house ?

Actually, I threw her out and am a single father now.

She was a pig. She liked cats.

Originally posted by butcherguy
[Actually,

She was a pig. She liked cats.

hahah sorry but it is a bit ironic .

Originally posted by Beast Of Gevaudan

Originally posted by butcherguy
reply to post by HelenConway

 

This is a non argument against cats,

Correct.
Most people that bring the point up would not tolerate the filthy things living in their house, so it is really a non- argument. The people that love cats that much don't care if it is filthy in their house.

This is one of the dumbest comments I've ever read! Domestic cats, as opposed to strays, are generally clean. I don't know what rock you've been living under but most people don't let stray animals into their home.

You don't have to like cats, but get a clue before making a comment in future.

Coming from a person that agrees with keeping an animal in their house that craps in a box, that really hurts.

Think about this: Restaurants (in most developed countries that have sanitary regulations) are not allowed to keep pets in the restaurant. (One exception would be guide animals.)

Why do you suppose that would be?

reply to post by HelenConway
I have been so much happier since she is gone.

She had one cat that crapped outside of the litter box.

It is really great to get up in the middle of the night to take a whiz, and step in a steaming pile of cat poo.

I really miss that. (not)

reply to post by ollncasino


They do, the crazy neighborhood cat lady feeds dozens of them in our neighborhood, they kill the squirrels and the birds, if you want the cats, at least keep them inside and fixed not just a wandering lot of disease ridden creatures.

She is not doing them any favors, they are all sickly.

www.nature.com...

We estimate that free-ranging domestic cats kill 1.4–3.7 billion birds and 6.9–20.7 billion mammals annually. Un-owned cats, as opposed to owned pets, cause the majority of this mortality. Our findings suggest that free-ranging cats cause substantially greater wildlife mortality than previously thought and are likely the single greatest source of anthropogenic mortality for US birds and mammals

I believe it because I have seen it happen.

reply to post by SheeplFlavoredAgain


Even if you do not own pets, you should always clean the area you plan to prep food in before you prep it. Anhything can land in the area, it can come off your hands (since most do not wash them properly), cloths, or just dust particles in the air.

I am a guy and I am very anal about my food prep and washing my hands. I have seen others eat stuff off a break table that others use and that you can see is not that clean as well as leaving the restroom withouth washing.

People want to blame cats for the disease when really it just takes simple hand washing to make sure you do not get it. Also if you are super worried about it wear a dust mask while cleaning it as well and the dust cannot get into you lungs, mouth, nose.


Of course though, those who hate cats are not going to listen. All they know is that cats are evil, blah, blah, blah. It is left over ingrained fears from a time when it was thought that cats were the devils pets. As someone who has been attacked by a dog and scratched by a cat I can say the dog bite was worse and was inches from being a life ending bite. Feral dog packs are far more dangerous than cats, but then again anything feral is a problem not just cats.

Raist

Originally posted by butcherguy
reply to post by HelenConway

 

I have been so much happier since she is gone.

She had one cat that crapped outside of the litter box.

It is really great to get up in the middle of the night to take a whiz, and step in a steaming pile of cat poo.

I really miss that. (not)

Ok that is why you hate cats - I understand now,
Let me leave you with one thought, not all cats are alike and not all women are alike.
You do get some good women and some great cats...
Peace

reply to post by Violetshy

It's more likely they will get hit by a car before being able to kill anything. I know it's possible, but the solution is fixing the animals so there aren't overwhelming strays and ferals running around.

I live in the city and it is the same cats running around here for years, and having countless litters, she must have fifty in her house and also hoards them under her porch.

Lucky me they poop in my gardens all summer.