I small comment regarding native predators, past and present.
Domestic cats exist at population densities 500 - 600 times higher than in the 'wild'. Because they are fed by the owners and protected against disease.
So once again a mute comparison to justify the ongoing carnage. There is absolutely no comparison to be drawn between an animal existing at such high and artificial numbers to any native predator.
I didn't mean personally @FlyDragon, but we do have them up here. Although the wildcat population is now being diluted. Guess why? There was talk about re introducing wolves too. They're the natural predator of red deer, Many areas are becoming too heavily populated, which just leads to sickness and weakness in the herds. Pine martens also hunt grey squirrels, which aid the recovery of our reds.
Its ok, I'm just jealous, I'd love to catch a glimpse of a pine marten in the local woods!
Just get dogs, you'll never see a cat near your garden again and you can all relax.
Will a dog in my garden stop the neighbours cat hunting along the adjacent connective corridor of hedgerow? Of course not. The impacts are still there.
You can scoff as much as you like, all you need to do is get a copy of the book and read it.
It is fully referenced, so you can fact check every word published in it.
The vile and uninformed 'cat lobby' is very real. I have had threats from them myself when posting on my own ecology website about the devastating and documented affects domestic cats had on my wildlife garden.
Just get dogs, you'll never see a cat near your garden again and you can all relax.
Will a dog in my garden stop the neighbours cat hunting along the adjacent connective corridor of hedgerow? Of course not. The impacts are still there.
You can scoff as much as you like, all you need to do is get a copy of the book and read it.
It is fully referenced, so you can fact check every word published in it.
The vile and uninformed 'cat lobby' is very real. I have had threats from them myself when posting on my own ecology website about the devastating and documented affects domestic cats had on my wildlife garden.
What did they threaten to do?
They threatened to kill me. You will find them on social media and once they have hold of an article on the web it is quickly distributed, so the threats just keep coming in a barrage of hate. They actually existed long before social media as well.
For the record, I don't even dislike cats, like not at all, and would never harm one in any way.
I am though in no doubt at all of the very real impacts of domestic cats on native wildlife and stand back in ever increasing amazement at the very sluggish response to curbing it or even recognizing it in the UK.
Just get dogs, you'll never see a cat near your garden again and you can all relax.
Will a dog in my garden stop the neighbours cat hunting along the adjacent connective corridor of hedgerow? Of course not. The impacts are still there.
You can scoff as much as you like, all you need to do is get a copy of the book and read it.
It is fully referenced, so you can fact check every word published in it.
The vile and uninformed 'cat lobby' is very real. I have had threats from them myself when posting on my own ecology website about the devastating and documented affects domestic cats had on my wildlife garden.
As an addendum. Our cats are kept in at night. In the daytime they sleep. A lot. When they are out they just about never venture beyond the boundaries of our garden. Where, then, is the evidence of this carnage?
”Allowed out to kill” ... get a grip. Large strips of my garden are kept as an untended wilderness as a wildlife haven. Next I will be accused of maintaining this as a hunting ground for the pets.
Is that not exactly what you are doing?
I gave you the evidence.
Read the book, read the scientific studies, see the truth.
How can someone honestly think a garden with cats is going to be full of target species to provide evidence?
Do you think wildlife is really that stupid? You will never see the abundance we once had in our wildlife garden if you have cats so you have no baseline for comparison.
It is only possible to judge the impact when one sees populations before the pressures of cat predation and compares it to the results afterwards. Total devastation of wild populations.
We have a Maine coon kitten who is a house cat with only garden access when we’re out they’re with him, we inherited a small pond made from an old bathtub when we moved into our home.
The pond has newts and frogs living in it, he will sit by it but is more interested in chasing bees, wasps and other flying insects, I think the lack of movement from the amphibians when they’re just basking in the sun/pond means he lacks interest in them?
Maine Coons are known for being very prolific hunters, however Reign is only 9 months old so I’m sure he has lots more learning to do!
I have some lovely big frogs in my pond and I have been enjoying watching them. A few days ago I caught a cat from across the road, at my pond trying to get a frog. I shouted and waved, thinking the cat would run away from the pond and out of the garden, and it just strolled under a bit of decking next to the pond and I couldn’t get it out. It was obviously prepared to wait it out until I went away, which I did, nothing I could do. I was fuming though. I get herons looking for frogs, but they have to earn a living, right? The car from over the road grrrr!
How can someone honestly think a garden with cats is going to be full of target species to provide evidence?
Do you think wildlife is really that stupid? You will never see the abundance we once had in our wildlife garden if you have cats so you have no baseline for comparison.
The four feeders in my garden are emptied daily by at least ten different bird species, despite the garden being patrolled several times a day by neighbours' cats. (I don't have any of my own at present, but have had several in the past.) Once or twice a year, a bird is killed by a cat in my garden. It's usually a feral pigeon; as far as I'm aware their numbers are not in decline, or, if they are, not to the extent that anyone in the wildlife protection lobby is concerned about it. Of course, I have no way of knowing what slaughter these same cats commit when they are not in my garden. But I think your claim that cats in gardens = little or no wildlife is pretty far-fetched.
Can you tell us what should be done with all the cats and kittens at present in rescue centres waiting to be re-homed? I would never buy a cat from a breeder, but if and when my personal circumstances change, I would like to adopt a cat or two. And I don't think it's much of a life for a cat to be kept indoors 24/7.
As above, do cats pose problems when having a pond, what about frogs/ toads other pond life? They very very rarely catch birds, too fat, lazy and well fed. Would love to have one.......but don't like the thought that they would kill frogs, which would hopefully come......
Could you create a pond with marsh like margins? Plant up with iris, reeds, and other tall margin plants? That would hide many of the creatures, and discourage your well-feed cats by threatening damp paws and pushing through thick stems of vegetation. Maybe a bit of a fence around it while the plants grow? Or twiggy branches? They will have access to migrating creatures.. frogs and such as they move to a new area.. but you can reduce the risk and increase coverage for those actually in the pond and surrounds.
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Domestic cats exist at population densities 500 - 600 times higher than in the 'wild'. Because they are fed by the owners and protected against disease.
So once again a mute comparison to justify the ongoing carnage. There is absolutely no comparison to be drawn between an animal existing at such high and artificial numbers to any native predator.
For the record, I don't even dislike cats, like not at all, and would never harm one in any way.
I am though in no doubt at all of the very real impacts of domestic cats on native wildlife and stand back in ever increasing amazement at the very sluggish response to curbing it or even recognizing it in the UK.
Is that not exactly what you are doing?
I gave you the evidence.
Read the book, read the scientific studies, see the truth.
How can someone honestly think a garden with cats is going to be full of target species to provide evidence?
Do you think wildlife is really that stupid? You will never see the abundance we once had in our wildlife garden if you have cats so you have no baseline for comparison.
It is only possible to judge the impact when one sees populations before the pressures of cat predation and compares it to the results afterwards. Total devastation of wild populations.
The pond has newts and frogs living in it, he will sit by it but is more interested in chasing bees, wasps and other flying insects, I think the lack of movement from the amphibians when they’re just basking in the sun/pond means he lacks interest in them?
Can you tell us what should be done with all the cats and kittens at present in rescue centres waiting to be re-homed? I would never buy a cat from a breeder, but if and when my personal circumstances change, I would like to adopt a cat or two. And I don't think it's much of a life for a cat to be kept indoors 24/7.