It's a puzzle, @Hostafan1. Although I enjoy the company of human beings, my family apart, I much prefer animals. I like to care for them, spend time with them, give and receive friendship. They give me fun and laughter, serenity and I am never lonely when they are there. I can't say that of many people .
@scroggin, you could turn out to be a farmer and know much more than I do, but believe me, we do use a variety of methods. Most people who keep or live next to livestock find rats a problem. A sharp Jack Russell or a gun can be a help but I cannot use those on someone else's land. My cats also catch voles and very rarely, field mice. The area is stuffed with wildlife including stoats, weasels, foxes,buzzards and kestrels so it doesn't seem to be depleting prey for them.
I see the birds argument as mostly an appeal to emotions. On the other hand, I completely understand people's annoyance with cats coming to their gardens and leaving unwanted gifts. Cat owners should certainly at least feel responsible (and possibly be legally responsible) for any damage their pet does to someone else's property. That still isn't an argument for a cat roaming ban for me though. It is an argument for education, looking for viable compromises and for people to be kind and considerate to each other. Treating cats more as pets we are responsible for than as an animal that just lives with its human and comes and goes as it wants is a part of it. If more cat owners tried to supervise their cats more when outside, neuter their cats, and reach out to their neighbours to make sure that the cat isn't a nuisance (maybe offering a bottle of wine if they are aware that it is), I believe there would be fewer cat haters. Maybe I am naive, thinking like this, I don't know.
The bird argument ignores the other three quarters of the 300 odd million animals that are killed. Not many people care about reptiles but cats do have a significant impact on slower-breeding animals like them.
I totally agree that a ban on roaming cats would never work. Educating cat owners is the only way and until organisations like the RSPB start realising this then very little will happen. Almost every discussion you read on the internet will contain a link to the RSPB website with 'look, the RSPB say it's fine so what's the problem?' written under it.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
@BenCotto, well I've signed lots of petitions and most come to nothing, however direct action often has a more positive outcome, Greenpeace comes to mind. Maybe Extinction Rebellion will prove to be the same?, I don't know enough about them to make a valued judgement .
@Posy, cat faeces is not just ' undesirable ' it's toxic! You're honestly telling me that I should accept that, sorry but my tolerance levels don't stretch that far.
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Not sure Emily Pankhurst would have agreed with you on that one.
My cats also catch voles and very rarely, field mice. The area is stuffed with wildlife including stoats, weasels, foxes,buzzards and kestrels so it doesn't seem to be depleting prey for them.
My feeling is that many people sympathise with their objectives but few with their practices.