Should domestic cats be eradicated to protect wildlife?

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Originally posted by Ahabstar
Domestic house cats (pets) are not the problem. Colonies of feral cats (not pets) seem to be the problem. Just one little problem with that thought process. If a colony of feral cats become too large for their environment, a blight strikes the cats and wipes out the colony.

Those that have seen it in action can tell you it is a very quick disease and very horrible way for the cats to die.

Go overseas and dogs are the problem. I remember once I was in Egypt and walking off the beaten path. Me and two buds were walking around 100s of holes that were where slaves were buried when the pyramids were build. This little dog with a bum leg was following us and all of a sudden a dog poked its head out of a tomb and started to bark. 100s and 100s of dogs started to come out of the other holes...

We backed up very quickly and told the bum dog he was on his own...very "Oman movie" surreal event.... But dogs are a big problem in most of the world....

reply to post by ollncasino


The cats I killed were not collared, were on my property, and threatened the birds that came to my feeders, and the squirrels that came to me for nuts... it's no different then trapping/killing a rat... people keep those as pets too.

reply to post by Night Star


I own and have owned Cat's and I allow them to go outdoors. My cat's get their shots and I feel that allowing them to go outside in my considerable garden keeps them happy and gives them the space to excersize.

My Cat's live long lives and average over 17 years old as well I have had one live to 22 yeras old.

I think that putting a bell on them tends to drive them nuts with the sound as well as not allow them to hunt which I find is something a cat needs to do to truly feel free.

Split Infinity

Originally posted by ForestForager
reply to post by ollncasino

 

The cats I killed were not collared, were on my property, and threatened the birds that came to my feeders, and the squirrels that came to me for nuts... it's no different then trapping/killing a rat... people keep those as pets too.

Some people consider their cat as a family member, if you killed my cat, you would have to watch your back.

Have you thought about how much pain and misery you have probably caused to some people and their children?

Also if you had the time to take out a gun and aim at a cat, you obviously had plenty of time to simply scare the cat away. Cats are clever and will remember when you scare them, and will most likely never return.

Originally posted by ForestForager

The cats I killed were not collared, were on my property, and threatened the birds that came to my feeders, and the squirrels that came to me for nuts... it's no different then trapping/killing a rat... people keep those as pets too.

So if my son wandered onto your property without a collar, would you be justified in killing him as well?

Only if he threatened the birds and squirrels?

reply to post by polarwarrior


Well your example is using a small closed system which is what a Island is. Obviously a large cat population on an Island is going to cause issues.

As far as my observations of Bird Populations...I have hunted all my life and have done so in multiple states. I have traveled extensively and still do and I am VERY observant of wildlife and populations.

For instance at one time you could drive at night down a road in Mass. during a rain and you would see Untold Millions of Frogs and other Amphibians on the road. During the same period many snakes could be seen in ones backyard grass.

Now because of Acid Rain these animals eggs are destroyed and I do not see this anymore and I have to really search to find a snake.

Split Infinity

Originally posted by SplitInfinity

I think that putting a bell on them tends to drive them nuts with the sound as well as not allow them to hunt which I find is something a cat needs to do to truly feel free.

Split Infinity

I feel the same with my mountain lions....

reply to post by Wertdagf


To a degree I agree with you but I see also as out obligation even duty to preserve at least a viable pocket of every lifeform if we evolved brains it should be at least to to that even if it is only for atone our blame in tweaking the normal of the process to our benefit, well, at least the 1%s.

I fail to understand the logic behind wanting to terraform mars but at the same time the unwillingness to avoid desertification in large part of the world and taking other actions to increase biodiversity. Even social changes that would reduce our footprint should have primacy at most things else our own survival and basic needs.We will certainly need a new planet if things are not properly prioritized...

Originally posted by SplitInfinity
reply to post by polarwarrior

 

Well your example is using a small closed system which is what a Island is. Obviously a large cat population on an Island is going to cause issues.

As far as my observations of Bird Populations...I have hunted all my life and have done so in multiple states. I have traveled extensively and still do and I am VERY observant of wildlife and populations.

For instance at one time you could drive at night down a road in Mass. during a rain and you would see Untold Millions of Frogs and other Amphibians on the road. During the same period many snakes could be seen in ones backyard grass.

Now because of Acid Rain these animals eggs are destroyed and I do not see this anymore and I have to really search to find a snake.

Split Infinity

and again the animals would adapt and already are (by producing thicker shells on the eggs because only the ones with the genetics that produce the thicker shell are successful)
acid rain is bad for a myriad of reasons but the wild life will adapt just fine as long as drastic changes dont occur very quickly

this planet will stop being able to sustain us long before it stops being able to sustain itself and if something like that were to happen there would be an evolutionary explosion with enumerable new species popping up virtually over night


its egotistical to think were going to stop anything at worst we can create a small speed bump in billions of years of change

reply to post by ForestForager


You're sick in the head.

So they kill off the cats!
what about All the weasels, stoats, ferrets, rats, mice that came with the settlers?
You NEED the Cats to Control them!!!

just some sick evil do gooder.

reply to post by _Phoenix_

There is no point in arguing I guess... humanity is all and nature is nothing under the eyes of humanity... one day nature will be nothing, and humanity will wish they saw and understood nature for something while it still was something.

reply to post by Xtrozero


HEY! I have seen two Mountain Lions in the North Western towns in Mass. So have many other people but the Fish and Game officials REFUSE to admit they exist.

Just recently after reports in Connecticut...a state just down the street...of people seeing two Lions was squashed as false by officials. The very next day a Lion was hit and Killed by a car and as the Lions body was being removed from the road...another was spotted watching.

The dead Lion was BIG! Very BIG...and officials released a statement saying it had to be a pet that was released...but the lion showed no physical signs of being anything but wild.

The ones I saw while Deer Hunting were freeking big also and I and my friend went back to their tracks the next day and made a plaster of paris imprint. My buddy brought it to the town which...LOST THE PRINT!

Yeah...they lost it all right!

Split Infinity

Originally posted by ForestForager

I've killed several cats in my time that I've found wandering around my old neighborhood that may have been someones pets, I didn't care... if it's not on a leash or in a house, I consider it a stray and a threat to local wildlife. Don't get me wrong, I love cats, but they are predators, and need to be controlled. If you are going to let your cat out and wander, please collar it with an attached bell. That simple measure will spook its prey, and I may let it live to return to its semi-responsible owner (semi-responsible because any animals considered pets should NOT be wandering around off of your property).

edit on 3-2-2013 by ForestForager because: (no reason given)

Sounds like a serial killer in the making. I would beat your ass to a pulp if I caught you killing a cat. Please tell us how you "do it"?

Do you smash their heads in with a club, stab them, break their necks, cut them up, torture them for awhile? I really want to hear this one.

Ever hear of the "animal shelter" or "humane society" or are you really one of those sick puppies?

Most pets are "tagged" and the shelter will call the owner, or the owner can find their pet at the shelter. What jollies do you get from killing someone's pet?

reply to post by sirhumperdink


Yes..eventually they will adapt...but this is not like adapting to a new predator or a slow changing climate. This is a sudden change of PH from Sulfer Dioxide which when placed in water or rain becomes Sulfuric Acid.

This quick level of change is not gradual and could very well render many Amphibian and Reptile species extinct.

Split Infinity

with things like this, you find out who is selfish and greedy
and dont care about life and the environment.
they are the people who are destroying the world and turning it in to a hell.

people who care about other animals and trees and the environment.
are the good people who would make this a good world.

animals killers grow up to be cereal killers and get jobs in banks and the government.

reply to post by buddha


You have to define Animal Killers as in some cases such as in my state of Mass...deer populations are out of control and we have so many deer they are starving in winter as well as killing small sapling trees as they eat off thier bark and kill them.

The death of so many small trees which tend to exist at the edges of lakes and on the sides of hills...allows for ground and soil erosion once their root systems begin to rot.

The deer are also getting diseased as we have very few large predators and Hunters are now allowed to harvest more than one deer a year.

So...in some cases...harvesting an animal in a state of over population as well as allowing Hunting of species with stable populations as 100% of all money collected for Hunting and Fishing Licenses goes to Conservation in my state....ensures the health of our ecosystem.

Split Infinity

Originally posted by ForestForager

I've killed several cats in my time that I've found wandering around my old neighborhood that may have been someones pets, I didn't care... if it's not on a leash or in a house, I consider it a stray and a threat to local wildlife. Don't get me wrong, I love cats, but they are predators, and need to be controlled. If you are going to let your cat out and wander, please collar it with an attached bell. That simple measure will spook its prey, and I may let it live to return to its semi-responsible owner (semi-responsible because any animals considered pets should NOT be wandering around off of your property).

edit on 3-2-2013 by ForestForager because: (no reason given)

That's sad. I'm sure some of those cats you killed was a pet dearly loved by someone. Perhaps even by a little boy or girl wondering whatever happened to their cute little ball of fur.

My cat went missing once and I was afraid an animal had gotten to him (we live out in the sticks and fishers are known to attack and eat cats). Turns out someone had brought him to a local shelter. I was a bit annoyed since he had a collar, indicating he belonged to someone nearby. When I went to get him, I noticed his collar was missing. Turns out the people at that shelter threw away his collar. I was again annoyed since that was a custom made one I bought from a friend.

But I was still thankful he was alive and well regardless of the annoyances. Definitely better than having someone kill him for merely wandering around the area.