Do You Have A Cat Problem?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/dear-cat-menace-oxford-scientists-letter-warns-village-of-drastic-action-over-birdkilling-9659123.html

Not one for you 'cat lovers' I'm afraid, but yes they can be a nuisance, so should owners of these feline creatures now be made responsible for them?

[wolf63]

I understand the reasons that he has given for his dislike of cats but he seems a little OTT in his reaction to the problem.

Is he saying that his extremely educated brain is incapable of outsmarting a small animal like a cat?

The only cat problem that I have is the huge bundle of fur currently on my desk and stomping on the spacebar and the one looking out at the rain and howling.

Thanks for posting this in Chatterbank.

[Sparkles62]

The only cat problem that I have, are the ones that sit in my garden waiting for my old girl to come out,
She is a spayed Ragdoll, but I think she must be a bit of a tart when she is out, which isn't very often,
she certainly attracts the other cats. Lol.

[Buenchico]

It seems unfortunate that a scientist doesn't recognise that predation by cats is beneficial to the evolutionary development of birds, as cats normally fail to catch any birds other than the weakest.

My own cat problems come down to:
(a) having only a tiny part of my bed to sleep on, because there are always several cats taking up the nearly all of the space ;
(b) constantly having to re-type answers here on AB because a cat has just jumped onto the keyboard ;
(c) having to eat most of meals standing up, clutching a plate in one hand and a fork in the other, to prevent a feline nose finding its way into my food ; and
(d) a ruddy great hole in my bank balance through looking after them all!

[Zacs-Master]

It would seem that Mr Mowforth runs a wildlife photography company. Draw your own conclusions.
http://www.mowforth.co.uk

[RATTER15]

I think the vast number of cats has helped decimate the wild bird population.

[pusskin]

Have to agree with you RATTER.
I quite like cats as I had my cat for 20 yrs, and she must have jumped gardens and killed birds too unbeknowing to me. its a horrible thought.

[roopower]

I think in our area a greater threat to birds is the number of magpies, crows and rooks we have. I've never seen so many. In the spring we watched them flying round the trees listening for the young birds calling.

[pastafreak]

The worst the cats around here get up to is flashing furry tummy's while sunbathing. I'm surprised any outdoor cats have the energy to be predators in hot weather.

[Baldric]

It appears that he is threatening possible illegal action and should be treated accordingly.

[mrs_overall]

I hate cats


waits for torrents of abuse

[craft1948]

I used to have problems with cats pooing all over my garden, until I bought a dog......

[237SJ]

I get far, far more foxes messing in my garden than I do cats but nobody would dare suggest culling them (I would). There is a very predatory cat that is a real killer around here and I can`t understand why the owners don`t put a collar and bell on it. That would solve a lot of the bird killings.

[boxtops]

He's not going to be a popular man - they'll know where to point the finger if cats go missing, or are found dead or injured...

[Obiter]

I am not a pet owner but in my limited experience the feline of the species is vastly superior to the canine. Let me tell you a story:

A few months ago I was sitting in the bus shelter on my own when approached by a cat miaowing pitifully. I said, "Hello, Pussy," (as you do), which the cat took as my acceptance of it. It kept rubbing itself between my legs, miaowing all the time. What a friendly cat, I thought. Wrong! The reason he was so keen to rub up against my legs was not affection, merely that he wanted somewhere to deposit his fleas! Having done so to his satisfaction he turned his back upon me, tail held high, crossed the road whilst ensuring that I had ample opportunity to view the tea towel holder!

[Buenchico]

>>>I can`t understand why the owners don`t put a collar and bell on it. That would solve a lot of the bird killings

Precisely because many owners want their cats (and others) to follow their natural instincts. I've only ever put a collar on an (all black) cat so that it would be more visible when crossing the road. However I deliberately removed the bell, so that he would be able to hunt efficiently.

None of my 5 cats has a collar, nor ever will have. If I stroke someone else's cat that has a bell on its collar, that bell has a strange habit of becoming loose and falling off!

[viv38]

I often wonder how the poor birds survive what with cats, magpies, crows etc. They have a tough time of it.

[Lie-in King]

I love ***

[Lie-in King]

^ puss!es