Cats and dead birds!!

Ticklemouse

Murtle wrote:

yuck, cat's just sicked up a mouse he'd clearly eaten....thought it was a furball....until the third puddle had it's tail in it.....

LOL - I knew there were excellent reasons why I don't have cats (oh, and the fact both I and Mr TM are allergic to them )

Rave

To think they spent hundreds of hours of parliamentary time banning fox hunting, when they could have prevented 10 times as many animals dying slowly and in pain by banning cats instead.

Edit before I get flamed: I'm not in favour of banning cats, I am in favour of rationalism.

gravitytolls

Fox hunting should have been banned, rightly so along with bear baiting, badger baiting, !!!!/dog fights etc.

Why?

Because we're supposed to be a civilised species, and chasing small furry mammals until they are finally cornered, exhausted and terrified, then watching them torn to pieces, is hardly the height of civilisation.

We have laws preventing cruelty to animals, and these laws can hardly be enforcable if blood sports are legal can they?

As for cats, they are not civilised, merely domesticated (not tame) wild animals.

My cat was run over last Wednesday. He caught mice, rats, rabbits and the odd bird - it was gross really, but I'd put up with anything to have him back in my life.

He was a big, hairy, ginger tom; he came in and out through the bathroom window, he laid on my chest at night or curled around my head, purring me to sleep. He wasn't just a cat, he was my friend, and is irreplacable.

But back to the topic, let's not confuse the killing wild animals do with the killing human beings do.

Rave

gravitytolls wrote:

We have laws preventing cruelty to animals, and these laws can hardly be enforcable if blood sports are legal can they?

Why do these laws apply to foxes and not mice?

As for cats, they are not civilised, merely domesticated (not tame) wild animals.

So how are they different to hounds then?:rolleyes:

But back to the topic, let's not confuse the killing wild animals do with the killing human beings do.

Well, with fox hunting, it's the hounds that do the killing, not the humans. So what's your point?

BWZN93

Rave -

Firstly, we dont usually hunt mice for sport, but do with Fox Hunting, and is therefore a blood 'sport' for humans, and as such - Govt can ban it if it wishes

Secondly, Cats and Dogs differ in small ways, and yes - both are domesticated wild animals, however, we do not accompany our cats on horses in uniform and go out with them to search out little furry creatures to kill - they do it by instinct. Dogs arent usually let out by themselves as to be honest, they are a little stupider than cats (ive had both - im not predjudiced!) and cause more havoc, therefore - the issue with fox hunting is that humans are allowing and actively encouraging the dogs to continue with their instincts. Cats on the other hand, are not - bringing back a furry creature is usually met with displeasure by a cat owner.

Finally - as you point out - its the hounds that do the killing, as do cats. However, a cat does not do it in a pack as a part of a sport that the owner wishes to participate in, and therefore - rationally - there is a rather large difference.

Also - your original point was completely off topic, so lets not get into it any further. The Arms is just down the road, feel free to voice this subject there.

Just before I sign off and go and get another tea, I would like to catagorically state that I have no opinion one way or another about fox hunting, in fact, I simply couldnt care less - I have neither been to a meet, participated in one, nor have ever shown an interest in one. Some of my freinds have participated and enjoy it, and I have other friends who find it distateful and wrong. I simply wanted to put another opinion in since you hijacked the thread.

Jo xx

Rave

jw1096 wrote:

Also - your original point was completely off topic, so lets not get into it any further.

Well, the OP was asking how to discourage cats from leaving dead animals on her back doorstep, so I fail to see how my reply was any more off topic than all the other replies containing no useful advice on how to solve her problem- of which there were plenty.

Nonetheless I'll leave it there- or take it to the Arms at some point.

Tojo_Ralph

The solution lies in educating the cat that coming into your garden is not a good idea in the first place and cats learn pretty quick which gardens/people to avoid.

Paintball guns really do work a treat and are the simplest and easiest (if not the cheapest) solution. I'll point out here that one does not fire at the cat but one fires at fence panels, tin dustbins, shed panels, wheely bins or whatever strategically placed objects you choose to put out.

The Large size balloons full of water dropped from a height into a pre-arranged pile of gravel on the patio works a treat as well.

jen_jen_2

Tojo_Ralph wrote:

The Large size balloons full of water dropped from a height into a pre-arranged pile of gravel on the patio works a treat as well.

will you stalk my back door and stop the blighters bringing them in - today have found rancid bird under bed, and mouse released by cat in dining room - cat left mouse because bored of waiting for it to emerge.

i love up but would love to stop em more (they have bells)