Would you get another cat if

milliebear00001

To be fair to the upset nature lover, I think there's quite a lot of evidence that cats are disproportionately responsible for the dwindling number of native birds in many areas, although clearly not the only reason. Similarly, the domestic cat is not a native species to the UK whereas things like gulls and sparrowhawks are, and so has 'upset the balance' of birds' places in the food chain to an extent.

I say these things as a cat lover (and owner, albeit of a cat who rarely ventures outside and has never brought home anything dead!)

I think the most valid point in this argument is that these cats already exist. They desperately need homes and the OP is able to provide one. If she were talking about bringing new kittens into the world deliberately, then I might agree that she shouldn't be increasing the cat population when there are so many already unwanted, but she isn't. She's simply talking about offering a home to cat that's in the world already, and will be in the world somewhere, whatever she chooses to do.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

But, don't forget, we have pretty much always had cats, usually unspayed and hunting for birds and mice to provide for their litters, particularly as cat food didn't exist. We have also until very recently, about the same time, actually, persecuted predatory animals and birds, allowed egg collecting, hunted foxes and used vast quantities of chemicals such as DDT, paraquat, slug pellets, fertilizers, and a whole myriad of things that would have reduced the breeding success of avian species.

VoucherMan

pineapple wrote: »

As a nature lover can I please enter a plea for people to retrict the number of cats in their household. Why is it that cat lovers seem unable to stop at one or two?

So long as they're in the house I can't see it making any difference whether I have 2 or 10.

My two are hopeless bird hunters anyway. Every time I see a pigeon on the bird table I'll send one of them out to chase it off (doesn't seem to deter the pigeons unfortunately). The cat flaps are transparent so the cats sit inside waiting for a good opportunity. But try as they will they can't use the cat flap quietly. Sometimes the birds fly off, other times they just stay on the table eating. There's no easy way for the cats to get them.

On the rare occasions they do choose to go out they usually just sit on the back wall.

In the spring I put belled collars on them just to give the birds a better chance when there are youngsters about.

If I get another cat or two I may have re-think the going out policy but I'll deal with that later.

Fosterdog wrote: »

and looking into fostering

Certainly worth thinking about but I'd have to have a good chat with someone from the rescue centre. They may prefer someone who can spend more time with new arrivals. Being at work every day I wouldn't be able to.


PS - milliebear - I'll let you off this time (the clue's in the username);)

milliebear00001 wrote: »

the OP is able to provide one. If she were

Fridaycat

pineapple wrote: »

As a nature lover can I please enter a plea for people to retrict the number of cats in their household. Why is it that cat lovers seem unable to stop at one or two? My neighbour has 5, yes five. In our tiny community there are now as many cats as people. It's decimating the bird population for a start.
Said neighbour shakes her head sadly and says 'I feel bad, but what can I do? That's the way cats are'.
I feel like shaking her and saying 'Well you can choose not to have 5 for a start!'.

I have 5, yes five, cats!! Oh dear, I am obviously a deranged person who couldn't stop at one or two *rolls eyes*. :mad:

How many cats I have is my business: As long as they are healthy and happy, it is no business of anyone else's. Three of mine are rescue moggies, so perhaps I should have left them in the shelter rather than giving them a home where they are thoroughly spoilt and loved.

And despite the fact that they are allowed to go outside, and I live in a rural area with lots of wildlife, it is rare for them to catch anything other than the odd leaf and perhaps a fly or two.

VoucherMan

fozpot wrote: »

just wanted to say I love those pics of the 2 cats... they are simply adorable!

Prince agrees with you. I can see where he got his name from. Always happy to pose.

Of course he does [STRIKE]demand[/STRIKE] require a lot of attention to stay as handsome as he considers himself to be.

Bluemeanie_2

VoucherMan wrote: »

Prince agrees with you. I can see where he got his name from. Always happy to pose.

Of course he does [STRIKE]demand[/STRIKE] require a lot of attention to stay as handsome as he considers himself to be.

So handsome, regal and beautiful!

I feel the same way about kids as the nature lover feels about people needing to have more cats.
We are over populated, in debt, public services stretched to the max, schools pack out but yet people just keep having more and more! (tongue in cheek!)

Buttonmoons

I had 2 cats, the longest resident here is female and just isn't interested in anything, she wants to sleep on my bed, eat food from sachets (no cans) and snore in my ear when I get into bed. I added a male cat to the mix when she was about 2, she was not impressed in the slightest, never slept next to each other, although would share the same space (my bed) with a large gap, the male cat always instigates play fighting and she is just a misery and ends up lamping him and sauntering off.

Crazy cat lady me just added another male kitten, and she doesn't like him either, but him and the male cat LOVE each other, always cleaning each other, snoozing next too each other (fighting way too much in my eyes lol) but they gel well, I find female cats more highly strung and aloof...

Boys are huggable!