Time To Cull The Cat Numbers?

[youngmafbog]

//Scientists, who have described cats as 'indiscriminate predators', have revealed that the household pets consume a vast diet of 2,084 animal species globally, including 981 bird, 463 reptile and 431 mammal species.

Their diet includes 347 species which are threatened or low in number, including the endangered green sea turtle. Meanwhile, species eaten by pet cats which have already become extinct include the Paradise parrot from Australia and the New Zealand quail. //

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12857397/Domestic-cats-devour-2-000-different-animal-species-birds-menu-study-finds.html

[bazwillrun]

Yes...sooner the better

[pastafreak]

Microchipping will be a legal requirement for all cats from 20 weeks old from June 10 next year.

[ynnafymmi]

As far as i know my wee cat has never eaten any turtles,any parrots or any reptiles.Certainly not any Green Sea Turtles.-As far as im aware that is.

[barry1010]

I see far fewer cats now than I did in my childhood.  

[Deskdiary]

If it means the neighbourhood cats stop crapping on my drive and pulling up my beds, I'm all for it.

I wouldn't let my dog crap on somebody else's property, yet cats get a pass because they're "independent".

And I hate with a passion when cat owners pretend the cat owns them - I've seen it on this site when cat owners say they are their cats "hooman".

[fender62]

plenty of excellent air rifle clubs, they would take out the feral cats, let alone pidegons and gulls... ouch..

[tomus42]

It's a shame about the birds but we'd probably be up to our necks in rats and mice if the outdoor cats disappeared.

[10ClarionSt]

The RSPB and The Wildlife Trust, along with other organisations, have said that the domestic cat is the biggest threat to small wildlife in this country. Cats kill birds, rabbits, mice etc. for no reason, other than they can. 

Not your cat, of course. Yours doesn't do that, does it? It must be someone elses. 

[douglas9401]

Shouldn't this be in Mews?

[fripfrip]

No we should not cull cats,do you want to kill tigers,lions,etc because they hunt and kill other animals ?.

[wolf63]

I live in a city centre and all three of my cats lived indoors.

More and more cats are being kept as indoor cats or let out into a fenced off area where they are safe - a Catio.

To reduce the number of kittens being born is a good idea.  Animal welfare charities look after many feral colonirs.  They trap an neuter them and then release them.

Culling any animal is unnecessary.  

[Deskdiary]

In a Harry Hill voice, the leap of logic of the week goes to fripfrip.

[jourdain2]

My last cat (and she will have been my last as they are now an asthma trigger for me) was wonderful.  I found her sitting on a bale of straw in my barn in France. Minette tackled not only mice, but huge rats (she was a small cat) and twice I saw her kill an aspic (poisonous snake like a small adder) one of which was poised to strike me.

Like all my cats (previously in UK) she was kept indoors at night - hunting  was  therefore  limited.  Obviously I had her chipped and spayed after her first litter (she was v. young and pregnant when I  found her).  So much easier to neuter the Toms - but the French wouldn't do that.

Feral cats and  feckless owners are, as always, the problem.  It is i.m.o. cruel to keep most cats indoors.

There is a balance in nature eventually.  Feral cats can be  limited by birth-control-laced food, trapped and neutered etc..

 

[fripfrip]

In a Harry Hill voice to Deskdiary START FIGHTING.

[david small]

My daughter who has had several “house only cats” would take issue with this culling. She volunteers at the Cats protection League twice a week and deals with many abandoned felines. Every cat gets seen by the vet and is rendered sterile.

[wolf63]

David small - Cat's protection is a brilliant charity.   Our local branch looks after feral colonies, TNR is essential to make sure the colonies don't continue to grow.

Most people are fond of dogs.  Cats are like Marmite.  🐱

[campbellking]

My two are clearly underperforming with the grand total of one mouse in just over a year. Not all cats are prolific.

[david small]

Well wolf63, then I like Marmite.

[Hazlinny]

When spending time in Santa Ponsa, I always liked to see the cats which seemed to be everywhere I went - even clifff tops and out of the way places....  so many colours and friendly (of course, looking for food). It was decided they posed a risk to holidaymakers and there was a cull.  For me, the resort was never the same without them.😿