Kill the cat that kills the birds?

[charliebigchips]

I don’t think that would be right to take the biblical saying “an eye for an eye” when it comes to cats killing birds. A lot of you are singling out stray cats, which to some extent is true but why are these particular cats stray? I will tell you why, because we humans breed the daylights out of the species to a point where it has become uncontrollable. How is that the cats fault?? A stray cat has to literally hunt and fight for its next meal and it won’t care what it has to kill in order to get some food and that includes your pet bird!!!

It is not just stray cats that are an issue, it is a cat’s natural hunting instinct to attack prey that it can easily overcome. This instinct is still domicile in cats that have been around captive birds since it was born and I personally would still not trust a cat of this nature with my Charlie (CAG).

All we can do as responsible pet owners it make sure 100% that our beloved feathery friends are never put in an environment where a cat can get anywhere near them. If your bird is allowed to freely roam around an environment where there is the slightest chance of being attacked by a cat then you only have yourself to blame when the inevitable happens.

[4HAND]

You don't have to live on an island to host endangered species.There are many songbirds that use my land as a migratory stop.There are mice and chipmonks abound in the wooded wetland surrounding my house but the cats seem to prefer the birds,even going so far as to climb the rafters in my barn to take babies from nests.As for keeping the rodents down,nothing is more effective than the native owls and hawks.There is a balanced ecosystem that existed here for thousands of years before humans came and loused it up.That balance did not include the domestic cat.I love cats but they are pets,not wild animals.No one would tolerate a pack of wild dogs feeding on their livestock.Don't the wild birds deserve as much consideration?

Tena

[prettybird3]

Originally Posted by 4HAND

You don't have to live on an island to host endangered species.There are many songbirds that use my land as a migratory stop.There are mice and chipmonks abound in the wooded wetland surrounding my house but the cats seem to prefer the birds,even going so far as to climb the rafters in my barn to take babies from nests.As for keeping the rodents down,nothing is more effective than the native owls and hawks.There is a balanced ecosystem that existed here for thousands of years before humans came and loused it up.That balance did not include the domestic cat.I love cats but they are pets,not wild animals.No one would tolerate a pack of wild dogs feeding on their livestock.Don't the wild birds deserve as much consideration?

Tena

Sure, maybe owls and hawks do a great job in rural and wild areas, but how many of those hang out in the cities? I know, there are some, but I think cats do a much better job in urban areas. I`m not saying that is a good life for them to lead by any means.

And I don`t see how wild dogs feeding on domesticated livestock compares to wild cats feeding on wild birds? That`s comparing apples and oranges.

[4HAND]

My point was...If a dog that had once been a pet was allowed to kill and injure animals that belonged to humans you can bet those humans would be mad enough to hunt it down and likely shoot it.People won't tolerate it if they suffer financial or sentimental loss.If someone's pet cat is cast out or allowed to escape and kills many songbirds few people care,it wasn't their bird after all.It is not apples and oranges.It is two feral predators that are only differentiated by there choice of prey.
Tena

[xafsmom]

Hmm... I have cats, dogs, horses, birds...

My cats and dogs are fixed. I know that when I got my dog, he needed a tag from my city saying he's had rabies vacc, and a license. There's no reason why people who acquire pets shouldn't be made to spay/neuter their animals. That would solve, over time, the majority of the long term issue; spaying and neutering. People needs to be regulated with animals (and children, honestly!), and start being forced into responsibility.

This method of taking responsibility starts with the breeder. Reduce prices, sell their animals already fixed. Any breeder of an invasive animal should be required to get a license and then be regulated on their breeding. Any pet shop should sell fixed animals. Any strays should - by law - be fixed. People who let their animals outside of their homes should be fined; largely. Anyone who doesn't fix their pets should also be fined. Will this ever happen? Heh, no. The animal services dept of any city just doesn't have that sort of budget. Though, you know it would be far cheaper to start such a program of policing pet ownership than to continue to euthanise the vast amount of animals out there every day that are carted in.

I don't condone killing any animal ...unless I'm going to eat it (I'm watching you, Mister Xaf!). I feel that any human that is forced to be the executioner of another living being lessens themselves inside, somehow. It doesn't matter the species they kill. Even if it comes to catching a feral cat and having it taken to a shelter, you know deep down that it most likely is going to die, and you've provided that death sentence. It's a tough thing to do.

It hurts to lose pets, and it's not just cats. I've watched a feral parrot mow through a bunch of house sparrows once, a racoon disembowel a small dog, a dog destroy a cat, a cat rip open a guinea pig, a horse trample a goat, a cockatiel eat the eyes out of 13 baby chickens methodically one night (not my birds, a friends and yes, dumb friend). Who deserves to be blugeoned to death for this? Save the parrots because we like birds? Save the cats because we love cats? It demeans us all to think that way. Love animals, but love them responsibly. I do condone blugeoning people who are irresponsible pet owners. Grr.. especially at this time of year. I start frothing at the mouth seeing "BUY EASTER BUNNIES TODAY! 20 BUCKS!".

Lack of personal responsibility due to ignorance is what most pet owners deal with, I think. Little Tommy wants a kitty, so Mum and Dad get Fluffy. After Fluffy's newness wears off, Fluffy becomes a typical cat and pees the floor, scatches the furniture, acts like a git when hormones hit, and out you go Fluffy! Fluffy then wanders the neighbourhood and becomes a tragic statistic - one way or the other. It's not Fluffy's fault, it's the owners. And, who pays for this situation? Well, Fluffy for one, for being what Fluffy is, and the rest of us ultimately. All because Mum and Dad are ignorant of the larger picture, or they don't care.

Bird owners are naturally more hands-on than dog and cat owners because birds are so needy in their particular way. Cats and dogs can be left out of sight, come and go as they please, they're far more independant. You'd never catch a bird owner saying "Oh Polly's around here someplace, he'll come out after dark." In general, we're more responsible for our charges (there are exceptions). We should be, considering what we pay through the years! lol A cat gets a few sneezes and you say bless you. A bird sneezes a few times and it's a sleepless night wondering if it's a vet trip!

Owners of any animal need to be responsible, so no one has to think about whether or not they're going to kill another species, and no one abuses the privilege of pet ownership. Will that ever happen? Who can say.

[Courtzrocks]

Yes I think dogs/cats/guinea pigs/rabbits/ferrets..all those "pest" animals to the country should all be desexed unless you want to breed them responsibly which in that case you should have to get some sort of licence and get checked up on by animal welfare to make sure you are breeding responsibly. Also you should NOT be allowed to let your cats/dogs etc wander the streets. It really annoys me when people say "oh but its a cat and its mean not to let them be free"......THEY ARE A PET NOT A NATIVE ANIMAL!!! GRRRR You wouldnt let your small child wander the streets so DONT let your animals...they are YOUR responsibilty and if your dog or cat kills a wild or pet animal then maybe you shouldnt have it.

(not posting this to anyone in particular just a subject that really gets to me as i at times feel it would be easier to get rid of my neighbours cats rather than put up with them fighting outside my room at 2 in the morning and killing possums and bandicoots that live in our yard..they arent our cats so we shouldnt have to even see them)

[xafsmom]

I hate people who think their cats 'belong' outside. That they need the 'freedom'. These animals face danger every second they're out there. The percentage of cats that can actually make a go of it as a feral animal is very, very slim and even the succesful ones don't have it easy or well. It's not 'kindness', it's a slow torture. The rest of them that don't go feral starve to death, injure themselves or get injured, pick up diseases... I could go on. Cats are domesticated. They should never be released in an environment where they have to fend for themselves, it isn't fair to anyone, most especially them!

[Kevin]

I think this thread has ran its coarse and its time to move on.