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

[Redhelen72]

//Time To Cull The Cat Numbers?//

No

[pastafreak]

The huge feral cat population in Australia is culled. Sounds awful, but an Aussie friend told me it's absolutely necessary...and she has a cat.

As for here, maybe owners should keep cats indoors...also make sure all cats are spayed/neutered. For male cats in particular that limits both the instinct to mate and to hunt.

[Cloverjo]

My cat is indoors and neutered. 

[pastafreak]

So is mine Clover. I'm in a flat, so necessary to me. If I had a garden, I'd build a catio so outdoor access would be limited.

[Canary42]

I see there's a move to give cats the same "protection" as dogs - in other words road deaths must be reported.

 

I'm OK with this on one condition - any stray cat caught in my garden can be reported/taken to local pound as happens with dogs. 

 

[Countrylover]

I hated it when I was in Australia for a good while staying with my Aunt.  They seemed to take pleasure in shooting cats, or shooting any animal , to be honest.  They didn't even  bother to find out whether they were pet cats!Actually I was pleased to get home.  I didn't like the Austalia culture at all.

I think I told 1ozzy that once!!

[barry1010]

If cats were never pets but feral, would there be more cats or fewer?

[Countrylover]

Actally, I'd rather cull humans who pose greater risk to nature than any animals.  You just have to see the amount of road kill at the roadside in the countryside!

[youngmafbog]

//Actally, I'd rather cull humans who pose greater risk to nature than any animals//

Ah yes that old chestnut.

Lets keep to topic eh?

 

[ladybirder]

Clearly something has to be done about this.  We can't have our song birds wiped out.  When cats are out all night they are out killing, especially when dawn breaks and the birds start to feed.  So I say do what I did and keep them in at night but let them out during the day.

[ichkeria]

Plenty of cats around here and amazingly also lots of filthy pigeons. Our boy sadly is not quite  up to the chase so much these days 

[ichkeria]

"Study shows cats are predators"

I hope not too much money was blown on tbat stunning revelation 

[youngmafbog]

We have a cat (not ours) that comes into our garden and kills all the mice, seen her quite a few times running over the patio with a mouse (once  a small rat) in her jaws so they can be very useful.  Round here thanks to the seagulls (that also need culling) there are no small birds.

[dustypuss]

My cat will only eat dry cat food 🍲 🙀 

[ichkeria]

I am sure there are places where culling might be appropriate.
I know which pets I would cull, but I don't want to get myself into trouble and be accused of being woofless.

[retrocop]

You are a brave man YMF posting this on AB. I have noticed many women on this site are very protective of their pussys.

[youngmafbog]

Now now Retro!  We expect that sort of comment from Douglas 😉

It's not meant to be a dig at anyone BTW.  But it clearly is a problem.

Just out of interest could the cat owners tell me if fitting a bell or something to the collar help?

Oh and we had a Boxer that caught a bird out the air once. It's the animals instinct.

[jno]

this was in the Guardian recently

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/19/bird-killing-machines-new-zealand-cools-on-cats-to-protect-native-wildlife

More of a problem in NZ I expect as there are so many flightless birds. In Britain I suppose it's a matter of what you value most, cats or birds.

[retrocop]

I value a well trained dog who will 'leave' when told to do so.

[roopower]

The problem is mostly with feral cats and kittens and irresponsible owners not getting cats neutered. Reading about the problems with dumped cat/dogs, puppies/kittens I think pet culture needs looking at. Dogs should be licenced, chipped ( a lot still aren't) and for the most part neutered, cats need to be chipped and neutered. Dogs and cats do not have to have a litter in order to be fulfilled and unless from a reputable breeder shouldn't be bred. Ok, I'll get my hat and hobble off into the distance.