Someone has already posted what happens to cats that cause problems outside of the 'first world'. I'm sure we don't want to see that in this country so yes maybe it is a first world problem.
Yes, after the post I was referring to, so please don't try to just create a problem.
to play devil's advocate, are you able to speak on behalf of everyone that cat's aren't welcome on other people's property. The only solution I've really heard from those who are against the cats is for them to be kept indoors. Do you really think that's a viable solution.
What does actually concern me about this is that having worked in conservation for over 20 years I find trying to simplify species decline down to the impact of domestic cats isn't very helpful and risks misinforming if not put in proper context. I pointed out some of the other factors in an earlier post and I think most people here are probably well aware of them. Criticising organisations like the RSPB for not taking a stand is a little unfair.
I wasn't trying to create a problem. Someone mentioned animals getting poisoned etc in other countries and I don't think that exposing cats in this country to that kind of risk by removing the protection they enjoy is a good idea nor would it solve the problems in a positive way.
I don't see that I need to speak for anyone else's property. If there are 10 houses in your area and only 1 has a problem with your cat does that mean that is an acceptable number? Do cat owners go door to door and make sure all the houses in their area are happy to entertain their cat? Of course not. The assumption is always that their cat is welcome everywhere or otherwise they don't care what impact their cat is having on other properties. And yes I do think keeping your pet on your own property is a viable solution and is the only responsible way for a cat owner to deal with their pet.
I think it is acceptable to simplify the cause of species decline to cats in a debate about cats. That's what we're discussing so why would we broaden the debate any further than that? It is also fair to critise the RSPB, whose mandate is the protection of birds, if they're ignoring one of the largest threats to birds in this country. I also support the BTO though since they're a non-campaining organisation who focus on the science of bird decline and provide the research data that is necessary to inform such debates. I imagine the cat debate will come to a head at some point in the future and scientific data on cat predation and it's effects will have more sway than the opinions of gardeners who are fed up of cats in their gardens.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
Yes we had a couple of cats when I was younger. We lived rurally and all the neighbours had cats and they all roamed free. Cats don't suit my current lifestyle but my sister has a couple, still in the same location and still free roaming. I have to deal with a lot of the animals her cats bring back to the house, dead or occasionally very alive. I can advise that knocking on someone's door with a baby moorhen in one hand and asking if their pond is missing one isn't a good way to meet new neighbours by the way.
I'm aware that cats prefer to be outside rather than kept indoors but I still don't accept this as a sufficient excuse to let them roam in most cases. My sister listens to my opinion about as much as any other cat owner does though.
Anyway here is a vole that I rescued from my sister's cats and let free in my garden. I'm not sentimental, it's a cute creature but voles are basically born to die and form a massive part of the diet of a lot of wild animals. They can be a pest and they eat pests and both are welcome in my garden.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
From the article: The neighbour has put all the barbed wire just to stop Tiggly, out of spite. It prevents her living a normal, happy, free life
Or the alternative point of view, 'Out of desperation and at great expense to themselves the neighbour has put razor wire and barbed wire up to try and stop my cat from fouling in their garden.
That's the problem in a nutshell. The way this discussion works is cat owners say they can't keep their cats in because it's impossible to effectively fence off their garden and they shrug in a 'too bad' sort of way. Cat owners' neighbours say it's impossible to keep cats out because it's impossible to fence off their garden and they get more and more angry and frustrated at both the cat poo and the shrug.
Frustrating circumstance 1 (call it the Hosta issue): You can chose to enclose only a part of your enormous garden to keep your cat in a manageable area that you can afford to fence properly. Your neighbour has to pay the cost of fencing all of his enormous garden to keep your cat out. Frustrating circumstance 2 (call it My problem): You can chose to allow your cats to take their lives in their paws wandering across roads and other people's gardens and say you'll be sanguine should your cat not come home one day, because at least he lived free. I would be devastated about having to bring your cat back to you in bits if it got into my securely dog fenced garden and was killed by my dogs who I believe should be able to roam about my own garden off lead. Frustrating circumstance 3 (call it Everybody's problem): You could pay £100 to securely fence your garden but you don't see why you should. 10 of your neighbours therefore have to pay £100 each to fence their gardens to keep your cat out. How is that fair to anyone but the fencing supplies shop?
And that's setting aside the wildlife debate and sticking strictly to the 'garden only' issues
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
Maybe I picked it up wrong, but Bea Upton, 46, didn't really seem all that concerned that her moggy is obviously perceived as a pest/nuisance by her neighbour (why else go to all that trouble to keep it out of their garden).
Perhaps that is where the problem lies in this case? Blindness to an obvious problem or an unwillingness to address said problem?
Maybe a kind, responsible neighbourly gesture of purchasing some anti cat deterrents for an obviously (I'd say) exasperated neighbour would have negated the need for the Colditz like structure atop fencing and gutters?
Of course, it's always worth bearing in mind that the media are not always meticulous in their attention to details and parity when reporting.
Posts
I don't see that I need to speak for anyone else's property. If there are 10 houses in your area and only 1 has a problem with your cat does that mean that is an acceptable number? Do cat owners go door to door and make sure all the houses in their area are happy to entertain their cat? Of course not. The assumption is always that their cat is welcome everywhere or otherwise they don't care what impact their cat is having on other properties. And yes I do think keeping your pet on your own property is a viable solution and is the only responsible way for a cat owner to deal with their pet.
I think it is acceptable to simplify the cause of species decline to cats in a debate about cats. That's what we're discussing so why would we broaden the debate any further than that? It is also fair to critise the RSPB, whose mandate is the protection of birds, if they're ignoring one of the largest threats to birds in this country. I also support the BTO though since they're a non-campaining organisation who focus on the science of bird decline and provide the research data that is necessary to inform such debates. I imagine the cat debate will come to a head at some point in the future and scientific data on cat predation and it's effects will have more sway than the opinions of gardeners who are fed up of cats in their gardens.
I'm aware that cats prefer to be outside rather than kept indoors but I still don't accept this as a sufficient excuse to let them roam in most cases. My sister listens to my opinion about as much as any other cat owner does though.
Anyway here is a vole that I rescued from my sister's cats and let free in my garden. I'm not sentimental, it's a cute creature but voles are basically born to die and form a massive part of the diet of a lot of wild animals. They can be a pest and they eat pests and both are welcome in my garden.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3255513/Neighbours-barbed-wire-garden-cat.html
It's in the daily mail, so it must be true..
Frustrating circumstance 1 (call it the Hosta issue): You can chose to enclose only a part of your enormous garden to keep your cat in a manageable area that you can afford to fence properly. Your neighbour has to pay the cost of fencing all of his enormous garden to keep your cat out.
Frustrating circumstance 2 (call it My problem): You can chose to allow your cats to take their lives in their paws wandering across roads and other people's gardens and say you'll be sanguine should your cat not come home one day, because at least he lived free. I would be devastated about having to bring your cat back to you in bits if it got into my securely dog fenced garden and was killed by my dogs who I believe should be able to roam about my own garden off lead.
Frustrating circumstance 3 (call it Everybody's problem): You could pay £100 to securely fence your garden but you don't see why you should. 10 of your neighbours therefore have to pay £100 each to fence their gardens to keep your cat out. How is that fair to anyone but the fencing supplies shop?
And that's setting aside the wildlife debate and sticking strictly to the 'garden only' issues
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
Perhaps that is where the problem lies in this case? Blindness to an obvious problem or an unwillingness to address said problem?
Maybe a kind, responsible neighbourly gesture of purchasing some anti cat deterrents for an obviously (I'd say) exasperated neighbour would have negated the need for the Colditz like structure atop fencing and gutters?
Of course, it's always worth bearing in mind that the media are not always meticulous in their attention to details and parity when reporting.
Interesting thread.