Cats

[NightAngel]

Here's a topic that could get heated for you- cats. Yes, fuzzy, cuddly cats.

I like cats overall.

It's the cat owners I don't like much.

Why?

Because cats are animals- just like dogs. In my opinion cats should be collared and leashed- just like dogs. I don't want your cat in my yard, on or in my car, at my door, at my window taunting my dog, under my car hissing and swiping at my legs, etc.

And I HATE cat smell- that nasty spray odor. I do not want that anywhere near anything I own.

Basically, I don't let my dog out to run rampant- my dog is leashed. I do not expect anyone to want to know the joys of my dog.
Do not expect me to want to know the joys of your cat. If I wanted the joy of being around a cat- I'd own a freakin' cat.

Cat owners seem to think that we all are going to be thrilled at having their cat/s around.

[Seshat]

Around here, the councils and the RSPCA are starting to encourage people to either put up cat-proof fencing, or put up cat cages. Basically, the fencing is a type that the cats can't get out of - thus confining our cats to our yard. The cages are simply enclosed 'play areas' for the cats.

We have a covered patio - we just need to save up enough to put doors in, and then we've got a giant cat cage.

[Amethyst Hunter]

My cats always have been and will be 1) fixed, and 2) strictly indoors pets. This is as much for their protection as it is for others' - it's statistically proven that altered, indoor cats live much longer and healthier lives than those allowed to roam outdoors and 'sow their oats' (the latter leading to the pet overpopulation problem and results in too many animals being killed because no one can or will adopt them ;_; ). While I like seeing cats, I feel sad seeing them wandering freely outside, because of all the nasty things that could happen to them. :(

Part of that 'letting cats roam' mentality comes from the stereotyped image of cats as aloof and independent, so a lot of people - especially those raised in a farmlike environment - still tend to think that cats don't need the same considerations as a pet like a dog would. That misconception simply isn't true.

[AFPheonix]

My cats at the farm are a half-mile away from my closest neighbor, and they don't tend to wander far afield. Since most of them were ferals and living in the barn when we moved in, we've let them stay in the barn if they wished or come inside the house if they wished. Now, the neighbors goddamn dogs that come over and shit all over everything....that's another story.

I can totally see where in the city it's a whole 'nuther thing, though. I live in an apartment complex, and some of the neighbors let their cats go about as they please, and I've had a few cheeky ones come into my apartment if my door's open! That, and the yowling catfights in the middle of the night aren't so cool, either.

[Lace Neil Singer]

My cat tends to stick to my parents' house, the front bit, the neighbour's garden, and sometimes to the people over the road to beat up their tomcat. She likes to roam free, keeping her shut in the house would be cruelty of the first order. One neighbour understands that; they in fact like her a lot. The other, "Victor Meldrew" spends far too much time bitching about her being there. Then again, he bitches about everything and anything. The cat is just another thing on the list.

I don't like the idea of leashing cats; they're not meant to be collared and leashed anyway. If you object to my cat entering your garden, then feel free to put bramble sprays on your flowerbed or citrus candles about; they'll deter her, no problem. I don't particularly like the sound of your children shrieking in your garden, or your dog barking at night, but this kind of thing is all part of being neighbours and living at close proximity with other human beings. Live with it, or live out in the sticks somewhere.

[NightAngel]

I could just as easily say that dogs weren't meant to be collared/leashed and are meant to run free.

Why should I have to spend extra money on candles and things to keep your cat out? You don't have to install extra things to keep my dog out. And really, how much money would you be willing to spend on that? I'm not particularly willing to spend a dime on it.
I shouldn't have to.

I used to have a neighbor that would get insanely angry at me because every time her cat decided to hang out on my property I'd spray it with a water gun. Didn't hurt the cat and I already owned the water gun. LOL

[Greenday]

I used to have a neighbor that would get insanely angry at me because every time her cat decided to hang out on my property I'd spray it with a water gun. Didn't hurt the cat and I already owned the water gun. LOL

That's an awesome idea! I should start doing that to my neighbors cat who is always on my property and sits there, taunting my dog.

[rahmota]

Since I live in a rural area I'll go with AFP on this one. Most of my cats are ferals. Live in the barn and unless one of them gets in my way or directly gets my attention somehow (like the one that died in the barn by chewing through a light cord or the one friendly one that will let you pet her if she decides to do so) they are ignored. most of these are like fifteenth cat generations later having been a farm for so long this place just kinda raised them And no we dont have an overpopulation problem as there are skunks, foxes, coyotes, dogs, hawks and all sorts of other population limiters on them around here. That circle of life thing you know?

I have had one somewhat pampered clipped king in my trailer before he went nuts and pushed through the screen door (not opened the door went through the screen) to go and try and find his former owner ,my friend in the Navy. Hope the stupid fark can swim. And the wife(2) has 2 young clipped ones in her trailer she kinda dotes on. But nothing stupid as she grew up a good farm girl herself.

Being out in the country I dont have too many roaming pets coming around much.

I don't like the idea of leashing cats; Actually I find it rather quite humorous. the one time we tried to leash a cat he went into a death roll worthy of a gator, flipped and went crazy insane. then he finally just stopped moving and laid there. We thought he was dead but nope he was just playing possum. made a cute drag toy briefly as he refused to walk. When we finally turned him loose the little piikker scratched and bit me for gratitude.

And yeah I could say leashing a dog is unnatural as they are descended from wolves and the spirit of wolf is strong in many of them. Spirit of wolf is a good thing showing much honor and strength. (To quote a native american friend of mine)

I personally like dogs more having a kennel and all. Dogs are more loyal, more trainable, more personable and generally just better pets. IMO. Cats aside from that whole hunting vermin thing are about useless and if they dont hunt vermin they are useless and dont need to be around on the farm.

Should have told the neighbor that a water gun is a lot better than a bb gun and then showed him the difference the next time the creature got into you yard.

[Seshat]

Actually I find it rather quite humorous. the one time we tried to leash a cat he went into a death roll worthy of a gator, flipped and went crazy insane. then he finally just stopped moving and laid there.

Both our cats tolerate leashes. Our white cat thinks we're nuts, our grey and white just sees it as another incomprehensible human thing.

Both cats will 'sit' or 'give me five' for suitable treats - mince for the grey, cheese or dog treats for the white - and the white is amenable to more complex training. I just have to keep the training up. Hard to do with the dog sitting and giving me puppy eyes saying 'I'm being good, can I have the treat?

Cats can be trained to accept confinement, do simple tricks, and behave nicely for the vet*. Our method is to encourage behaviours we want, providing reward and attention for good kitties. Harmless behaviours we don't want get ignored or pointedly ignored, and harm-causing behaviours get distracted, discouraged or (rarely) punished with something harmless like a water gun. (Some of our furniture is currently wearing aluminium foil. The white boy won't scratch that.)

* unless they have an outright phobia of the vet, which our grey does. :(

[AFPheonix]

Two of my barn cats aren't really feral anymore (they discovered the joys of lunchmeat and scritches), and the other one will find you and pester you to get petted if there aren't any of the dogs around. If I did have any of them in the apartment with me I probably wouldn't let them out.

[Boozy]

Most of my experience with cats is also with the feral/barn variety. But I did live in town with my mom for a few years, and this story still upsets me today:

My mother had just bought herself a finch feeder for the backyard and filled it with seed. She was very excited about all these cute little yellow finches that started coming around after a few days. She'd sit out on her deck every evening and enjoy watching them.

Then a clearly well-fed house cat, whose owners evidently allowed it to roam the neighbourhood, had started sitting in the bushes beside her feeder and was leaping at the birds.

I was the one who eventually saw the cat actually catch and eat one, and I was furious.

We tried everything to keep this cat out of the backyard, but nothing worked, and we couldn't watch the feeder all day. So my mom had to remove the feeder, or continue watching her beloved finches get eaten.

She's also had neighbourhood cats destroy part of her fence, dig in her garden, and leave paw prints all over her car.

Cats should be inside or on leashes.

[rahmota]

Hmm Seshat I dont know about that. My experiences with attempting to train cats to do anythign has not been the most productive.

Boozy: sorry to hear about that. Thats one of those times a BB or airsoft gun could be an effective traning tool as well as highly entertaining.

[protege]

Hmm Seshat I dont know about that. My experiences with attempting to train cats to do anythign has not been the most productive.


I had mine trained. He knew he could only sit on the couch...was if the protective sheet was in place. He knew that if he wanted to hide downstairs...that he had to go through the kitty door.

[AFPheonix]

Hmm Seshat I dont know about that. My experiences with attempting to train cats to do anythign has not been the most productive.

Boozy: sorry to hear about that. Thats one of those times a BB or airsoft gun could be an effective traning tool as well as highly entertaining.

Electric fences and kitties are pretty amusing, too. My neighbor, when we lived more in the 'burbs, had a fish pond and had to have an electric fence around it to keep out the herons and raccoons. My cat came over one day to see if she could get herself a fishy, but right about when she was about to pounce, she flicked her tail a little to vigorously, hit the electric fence, jumped out into the middle of the pond in suprise, and on her way out she hit the fence again. Poor, bedraggled, pissed off kitty! :p My neighbor rather liked her coming over, though, she was an expert at catching moles. Much more effective than him sitting next to a fresh molehill in a lawn chair with a shotgun across his knees....

[Seshat]

Hmm Seshat I dont know about that. My experiences with attempting to train cats to do anythign has not been the most productive.


You have to be more patient than with dogs, and provide a positive reinforcement that the cat is willing to work for. And they're a lot less patient than dogs, too, and don't have the eagerness to please.

But I've proven to my own satisfaction that it can be done.

[rahmota]

Seshat: I guess so. I dont know. Cats are not one of my most favorite animals overall and they all stay outside at home here. Not to say they arnt useful or nice I guess. I'm partial to dogs though.

[Lace Neil Singer]

I could just as easily say that dogs weren't meant to be collared/leashed and are meant to run free.

Why should I have to spend extra money on candles and things to keep your cat out? You don't have to install extra things to keep my dog out. And really, how much money would you be willing to spend on that? I'm not particularly willing to spend a dime on it.
I shouldn't have to.

I used to have a neighbor that would get insanely angry at me because every time her cat decided to hang out on my property I'd spray it with a water gun. Didn't hurt the cat and I already owned the water gun. LOL

I wouldn't give 2 shits if you did that; my cat wouldn't, either; she doesn't mind water. And bramble sprays won't cost you a penny; you can go out when you walk your dog and cut a couple to take home with you. And your dog makes noise; the sound of it howling and barking means that in the summer, I can't have my windows open; same goes for your kids howling and screeching. The difference is, your kids/dog are disturbing everyone, not just me; my cat just wanders in your garden.

(not being nasty or attacking, btw; just answering the questions.)

[DesignFox]

I agree that cats in a neighborhood should be left indoors or leashed or confined to your own yard.

Cats are destructive. They dig up gardens, kill plants and shit anywhere they want. You can try deterrents, but eventually they fade or the cat gets used to it and ignores it. It is also extra work/money to have to protect your yard from a cat. It shouldn't be necessary and it isn't fair to do that to your neighbors.

Dogs on the other hand, may occasionally bark, but are not allowed to run wild and dig up gardens or shit on people's property.

Kids may occassionally make noise, but once taught properly, will not invade a yard or defecate in it.

So, I see a big difference.

Cats on the farm are a different thing. They have large enough territories to roam, so they don't go pestering the neighbors.

And at least at the barn I ride at, they are all spayed or neutered so in the event they contact a feral cat, there are no unwanted pregnancies.

I think no matter what the animal, it should be kept in your own space. It should not be allowed to wander wherever and do whatever to whoever. If you want a free-roaming animal, move to the stix where that sort of thing is allowed because everyone is so far away from one another that it doesn't matter, anyway!

But where people are crammed on top of one another...sorry...you should respect each other's limited space.

[Rubystars]

I live in a two story house, and one time I went upstairs at night and saw glowing eyes out the window. It made me jump, then I realized there was a cat on the roof looking in the window.

[Lace Neil Singer]

The cat haters here can't possibly ever see reason, cuz they dislike cats. And you obviously have not been round most neighbourhoods where the kids do roam, shrieking loudly and causing trouble. Not mine as such, but it does happen when gangs of kids terrorise the area. You're on very thin ground comparing a cat walking over your garden to gangs of yobs.

[Boozy]

And you obviously have not been round most neighbourhoods where the kids do roam, shrieking loudly and causing trouble.

The minute a roving gang of neighbourhood children trespass into my mother's backyard and tear the heads off birds right in front of her is the minute she calls the cops.

She has no such recourse with cats.

You're right, we can't compare cats and destructive children.

Cats can do what they'd like outside my property. Its their owner's job to ensure that they stay there.

[Lace Neil Singer]

Get a rabbit. I used to own a male rabbit who'd attack cats; unlike with dogs, there's no legal recourse that cat owners can take if a rabbit attacks your cat.

Or, buy a super soaker. The neighbours over the road have one for cats; my cat doesn't mind water but takes umbrage at being hit with a fast moving jet of water. She avoids that place.

Another note; cuz the neighbour who the cat does enter the garden a lot is a nasty arsehole who has been known to swear at children and call the police on trick or treaters, neither I or my parents feel much inclination to keep our cat out of there. Maybe it's your attitude that's the problem.

[AFPheonix]

Maybe it's different in the US than it is in the UK, but if a person owns an animal that invades another person's private property, and the person being invaded is not amused, it is the pet owner's responsibility to be a good steward of his animal and prevent it from annoying the other person.
I don't think it really matters what species the animal is.

[rahmota]

Well Like I've mentioned before. In my county here if your animal comes in my yard I am authorized and encouraged by the county sheriff's to kill the animal. And the legal repercussions are on the owner of the tresspassing animal not the one who was tresspassed upon.

So basically if your cat comes on my property and my dog kills it, eats it , maims it or whatever or I plug it with a .22lr and you go crying to the sheriff they will either A: laugh at you, B: tell you to buzz off , C: ticket you for allowing your animal to run loose and tresspass on other people's property or D: all of the above. It is the animal owners responsibility and fault if the animal goes on someone elses property. I like it like that.

[Lace Neil Singer]

Not over here it's not. Over here, a cat is classed as a wild animal, which is a two edged sword; if someone runs your cat over, they don't have to tell you, but if your cat goes and craps on their prize dahlias, they can't do shit.

The cat hatred is kind of worrying; what happen, did a cat piss in your wheaties when you were a rugrat? O.o

[rahmota]

Actually the county ordinance is not about cats specifically or hatred of any animals per se... Its more about protecting livestock (which is worth a lot, lot more than any housecat could ever hope to aspire to) which is a means of livelyhood for many people in this county.

Also it is about taking personal responsibility for your animals. I mean a person here lets their dog or cat run into their neighbor's yard and the animal does damage in the neighbors yard or otherwise causes an issue that neighbor could successfully get the animal's owner to pay for the damages or get the animal removed if the owner will not control it, assuming the animal doesnt meet up with an accident before the animal control guy can get around to taking it.

Personally I dont particularly like or dislike cats. They are okay I guess, just not as good or useful or enjoyable to own as dogs. IMO. I definately wouldnt classify it as hatred.

[AFPheonix]

I like my cats a lot. I guess Americans are just more overprotective of their housepets or something. My cats get away with moseying about because my nearest neighbor is 1/4 to 1/2 mile away, and they don't wander that far away. (fat lazy boys)
But like I said before, if I had them in my apartment with me, I wouldn't be letting them out unattended. There's too many retards in this neighborhood who apparently are willing to take a shit on my husband's car. Goodness only knows what they'd do if they come across my beloved cat.

[Luna]

I spose it all depends on where you live and if you love one animal more than another. I love all animals. if I had a house instead of an apartment, I would definately have a dog as well as my cats. One of my neighbors has a big dog. We're not even allowed to have pets in our complex, but he isn't turning me in so I'm not turning him in either.

The problem is his dog will try to tackle you down to play. You have to constantly be on the lookout when entering or leaving your apartment b/c the dog is allowed to run wild all over the place with no collar or leash.

There are quite a few strays around here. A little family moved in the cellar at the end of my building. Mommy cat with 3 kittens. They're shy, but I'm a sap so I bought a bag of store brand dry food and I leave some food out for them. Having cats around in an apartment means no rats! I like that. I came downstairs today to deliver my laundry for cleaning and there was the dog - his face in the bowl of cat food I had just set out for the starving kitties. Poor kitties are in the tree, all skin and bones crying. I found the guy and asked him to please not let the dog run around wild and he then called the dog over. As soon as i dropped off my laundry and walked back to my building, I saw the dog running around the parking lot again - leash free.

I think it depends on the owners of the animals - not the animals themselves. My kitties are fixed and are indoors, fat and happy. They are not declawed though. Don't even get me on that subject.

[BroomJockey]

I don't hate cats by any means. But if I had one continually on my property doing anything I didn't approve of, I'd do one call to the owner, if I knew who, then after that I'd get a humane cage, trap the sucker, and take it to the pound. Then let the owner deal with it. A cat is exactly like a dog in my opinion. If someone's decided to own it, they can own its actions too. I shouldn't have to take steps to keep your animal out of my yard, dog OR cat.

[DesignFox]

I agree with BroomJockey. I never said I hated cats (actually, I love kitties quite a lot!). But I don't believe they should be allowed to roam the neighborhood and tear up other people's yards. And while I don't set up traps personally, I've known other people to do so.

[BlaqueKatt]

The cat hatred is kind of worrying; what happen, did a cat piss in your wheaties when you were a rugrat? O.o

actually my dislike of outside cats comes from being attacked by one that was under my mom's car while I was putting my son in his carseat-the owner wouldn't fess up or turn the cat over to be quarrantined(we knew who it was) so I got a nice batch of rabies shots.

I wasn't the only one that got attacked by that cat-it was stomped to death by one of our neighbors when it went for her child-and the owner was fined for the attack on me, and for hiding a vicious animal.


I love house cats-but outside cats it just cruel to the animal-would you let your 3 year old out by itself? A cat's mental capacity is equal to that of a 3 year old human.

Average lifespan for inside cat-15 years
Avgrage lifespan for outside cat-8 years-exposed to cold, disease, predators, cars-etc.

[Lace Neil Singer]

My cat is now 10 years old and counting; most of the cats in my parents' neighbourhood are either 10 years or over, with a few new kittens and a couple of older cats, including one that's 21 years old and never allowed out at night any more in case she forgets where she lives; that's feline senility or something. My parents live in a quiet village, in a culldesac where there is zero traffic; where did you get your stats from? Of course anyone letting a cat out if they live on a main road is dicing with (cat) death; and you can't compare a cat to a toddler. That's crazy talk; the day a toddler comes in with a live bird in its mouth after playing in the garden or a cat suddenly calls its owner "mummy" is the day the two can be compared.

Put it this way; if a bomb dropped on a house and rendered the three year old and the cat homeless and parent/ownerless, which one would survive without human intervention?

[Sylvia727]

I think this all comes down to rights and courtesy. I have the right to privacy and the right to refuse entrance to my property. However, as common courtesy, I allow my neighbors to cut across my grass. I extend that same courtesy to their pets. I'm not required to let anyone or anything on my property, I do it because I live in a small neighborhood and doing each other favors is part of the community spirit. But if anyone or thing, be it cat, dog, child, or adult, starts damaging my property, that courtesy will be revoked. Trespassing charges for the adult, stern lecture to Mommy for the child or pet.

I'm not sure how I would handle a neighbor who refused to take responsibility for his pet. So far, all of my neighbors have been as courteous to me as I have been to them. While I do believe in my 2nd Amendment rights, I wouldn't want to kill a helpless animal for its owner's mistakes. But on the other hand, I'm certainly not going to sit there with a water gun and play games with it. I have better things to do. I think the cage and pound idea is the best, although that still requires me to invest too much time and energy cleaning up after someone else.