I called the council about disposing of some cats this morning. Apparently they will do it commercial property, but in residential areas you have to do it yourself. That means you have to hire a cat trap or pay someone to come out and set one.

Does this seem reasonable to you?

I think it just encourages people to not bother dealing with the problem. It's not like a feral cat will stick around one residential property. I have seen it at around half a dozen properties nearby. I have only seen it inside my yard since it had kittens. The council's policy forces people to take financial responsibility for a problem that someone else created.

It also encourages people to take a simpler option, like hitting it over the head with a cricket bat. This is arguably more humane, though it is hard to change your mind if it turns out to be someone'e pet.

Anyway, I just finished building myself a simple deadfall trap and have put some old tinned fish out beside it to get the cat used to it.

Considering in some Councils the pound charges you to take them off your hands, some people do take the "bat" option to remove them.

Its sad, but feral cats are a problem, they attack domestic cats and birdlife doesnt stand a chance.

Im lucky I have a couple of 30kg dogs to look after our cat.

I really wouldn't like to be the fellow who tried to trap my cat, if I caught him.

Ferals I have no argies with, but, as freediver said, how would
you feel if it turned out to be the neighbours' kid's pet.

Kat wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2011 at 8:37pm:

Ferals I have no argies with, but, as freediver said, how would you feel if it turned out to be the neighbours' kid's pet.

Not that bad if it was caught over night without a bell and/or id tags.

I couldn't believe the reaction i got from some off my family when i said one of their neighbours was justified when he warned of traps.

He had seen 'cats' kill native birds in his backyard... Fair enough i say.

jame-e wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2011 at 9:02pm:

Kat wrote on Jan 3rd, 2011 at 8:37pm: Ferals I have no argies with, but, as freediver said, how would you feel if it turned out to be the neighbours' kid's pet. Not that bad if it was caught over night without a bell and/or id tags. I couldn't believe the reaction i got from some off my family when i said one of their neighbours was justified when he warned of traps. He had seen 'cats' kill native birds in his backyard... Fair enough i say.

;D

And lizards and other such things, then again, i have seen my dog go them as well, not to mention the amount that are killed by Humans.

But hey, best we get rid of cats !!

Feral cats are the Muslims of the animal world.  We even had a suicide bomber cat here yesterday.  Blew up our little dog`s kennel.

aussiefree2ride wrote on Jan 4^th, 2011 at 1:09pm:

Feral cats are the Muslims of the animal world.  We even had a suicide bomber cat here yesterday.  Blew up our little dog`s kennel.

Are you sure that wasn't the 12 gauge you hit it with AF2R???

gizmo_2655 wrote on Jan 4^th, 2011 at 1:11pm:

aussiefree2ride wrote on Jan 4th, 2011 at 1:09pm: Feral cats are the Muslims of the animal world.  We even had a suicide bomber cat here yesterday.  Blew up our little dog`s kennel. Are you sure that wasn't the 12 gauge you hit it with AF2R???

#3  ;D ;D ;D ;D

Verge wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2011 at 8:32pm:

Considering in some Councils the pound charges you to take them off your hands, some people do take the "bat" option to remove them. Its sad, but feral cats are a problem, they attack domestic cats and birdlife doesnt stand a chance. Im lucky I have a couple of 30kg dogs to look after our cat.

LOL Verge, I've seen some ferals that run close to 30kg..(well 15-20kg anyway)..

gizmo_2655 wrote on Jan 4^th, 2011 at 1:19pm:

Verge wrote on Jan 3rd, 2011 at 8:32pm: Considering in some Councils the pound charges you to take them off your hands, some people do take the "bat" option to remove them. Its sad, but feral cats are a problem, they attack domestic cats and birdlife doesnt stand a chance. Im lucky I have a couple of 30kg dogs to look after our cat. LOL Verge, I've seen some ferals that run close to 30kg..(well 15-20kg anyway)..

Holy crap!!!!

The one feral we had floating around beat up our cat, so now the dogs are let into the front yard to stop that.  Our labs are really protective of the cat, and our cat is always locked up of a night and doesnt go out of the yard.

I had found out that the 'feral' actually belonged to someone, but in essence they only feed it and thats it.  Other than that its an outside cat 100% of the time and no real human contact.  When I spoke to them they said "not our problem mate, its nature."  When I retorted with "well, it will be nature when I drop the parts back on your yard after my dogs tear it appart too wont it."  It seems to have worked, but our dogs have hunted a few others thats for sure.

Irresponsible cat owners peeve me.  They need to be locked up of a night, and monitored during the day.

"Irresponsible cat owners peeve me.  They need to be locked up of a night, and monitored during the day. "

Agreed, their cats too,

aussiefree2ride wrote on Jan 4^th, 2011 at 7:32pm:

"Irresponsible cat owners peeve me.  They need to be locked up of a night, and monitored during the day. " Agreed, their cats too,

Gold!

Cats should be locked up 100% of the time; any cat is an accomplished killer; it's instinctive.

qikvtec wrote on Jan 4^th, 2011 at 8:29pm:

aussiefree2ride wrote on Jan 4th, 2011 at 7:32pm: "Irresponsible cat owners peeve me.  They need to be locked up of a night, and monitored during the day. " Agreed, their cats too, Gold! Cats should be locked up 100% of the time; any cat is an accomplished killer; it's instinctive.

Agree. Any cat owner who thinks their cat doesn't kill because they only go out in the daytime is simply naive.


Quote:

And lizards and other such things, then again, i have seen my dog go them as well, not to mention the amount that are killed by Humans. But hey, best we get rid of cats !!

Cat and other ferals are up there with habitat destruction in causing extinctions. So yes it is best we get rid of them, or at least the feral ones.

freediver wrote on Jan 5^th, 2011 at 9:13am:

qikvtec wrote on Jan 4th, 2011 at 8:29pm: aussiefree2ride wrote on Jan 4th, 2011 at 7:32pm: "Irresponsible cat owners peeve me.  They need to be locked up of a night, and monitored during the day. " Agreed, their cats too, Gold! Cats should be locked up 100% of the time; any cat is an accomplished killer; it's instinctive. Agree. Any cat owner who thinks their cat doesn't kill because they only go out in the daytime is simply naive. Quote: And lizards and other such things, then again, i have seen my dog go them as well, not to mention the amount that are killed by Humans. But hey, best we get rid of cats !! Cat and other ferals are up there with habitat destruction in causing extinctions. So yes it is best we get rid of them, or at least the feral ones.

The best our cast has got is some locusts and a couple of little lizards, and considering our dogs also do that I cant say much.  Our cat hasnt got a bird, and come to think of it I have never even seen her try.  This bloody cat is the closest thing I have seen to a dog without being one.  It eats with them, sleeps with them and plays with them.

I am confident that our cat hasnt been distructive to date.  I know its their instinct to hunt though, and will monitor and bad bird hunting behaviour.

A lot of it comes down to training too, and people dont tend to train cats.  I took another path, a from when it was first home it learnt its name, and comes inside on one call and a couple of whistles.  The bloody thing knows the sound of the car, and greets us at the gate when we get home, even if she is in the back yard and cant actually see us.
They are great pets, but like dogs, are only so with disciplined owners.

Quote:

The best our cast has got is some locusts and a couple of little lizards

How do you know?


Quote:

I am confident that our cat hasnt been distructive to date.

So eating native reptiles is not destructive? Only birds count?


Quote:

A lot of it comes down to training too, and people dont tend to train cats.

You cannot train the killer instinct out of a cat. How does coming on command prevent it killing?


Quote:

The bloody thing knows the sound of the car, and greets us at the gate when we get home

So, you let your cat hunt freely while you are out, but insist you know what it does?

freediver wrote on Jan 5^th, 2011 at 9:36am:

Quote: The best our cast has got is some locusts and a couple of little lizards How do you know? [quote]I am confident that our cat hasnt been distructive to date.

So eating native reptiles is not destructive? Only birds count?


Quote:

A lot of it comes down to training too, and people dont tend to train cats.

You cannot train the killer instinct out of a cat. How does coming on command prevent it killing?


Quote:

The bloody thing knows the sound of the car, and greets us at the gate when we get home

So, you let your cat hunt freely while you are out, but insist you know what it does? [/quote]

Im not going to cry when the locust plaugue made its way through and my pets had a field day with them.

As for the birds, there has been no evidence to suggest she has got any.  No feathers in the yard, nothing.

My fathers yard is a different story, his cat knows how to hunt.

Freediver, Im not going to get rid of our cat who is a brillant family companion for all of us, including our dogs over a couple of little lizards.  When it comes to birds, we will do our best to ensure she doesnt get any, and will exhaust as many methods as possible.

And yes, we do leave her out by herself during the day unsupervised, and until there is evidence to suggest she is misbehaving we will continue to do so.  If she starts killing birds and the like, or ventures outside our yard, she will only be allowed out supervised.

You seem to be completely avoiding the issue of non-bird species. Why is it that only birds deserve your concern? Is the extinction of native reptiles of no consequence?


Quote:

As for the birds, there has been no evidence to suggest she has got any.  No feathers in the yard, nothing.

A common logical fallacy. Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.


Quote:

Im not going to get rid of our cat

No-one is suggesting you do. What we are saying is that you should stop deluding yourself into thinking it isn;t a killer because it comes when it is called.


Quote:

When it comes to birds, we will do our best to ensure she doesnt get any

You seem to be falling far short of your best. You are merely trying to justify being an irresponsible pet owner.


Quote:

And yes, we do leave her out by herself during the day unsupervised, and until there is evidence to suggest she is misbehaving

Killing birds is not misbehaving. It is the way cats are supposed to behave.

The cats have gone through three serves of tinned fish. I set the trap a few hours ago. Fingers crossed.

Verge wrote on Jan 5^th, 2011 at 9:54am:

freediver wrote on Jan 5th, 2011 at 9:36am: Quote: The best our cast has got is some locusts and a couple of little lizards How do you know? [quote]I am confident that our cat hasnt been distructive to date. So eating native reptiles is not destructive? Only birds count? [quote]A lot of it comes down to training too, and people dont tend to train cats.

You cannot train the killer instinct out of a cat. How does coming on command prevent it killing?


Quote:

The bloody thing knows the sound of the car, and greets us at the gate when we get home

So, you let your cat hunt freely while you are out, but insist you know what it does? [/quote]

Im not going to cry when the locust plaugue made its way through and my pets had a field day with them.

As for the birds, there has been no evidence to suggest she has got any.  No feathers in the yard, nothing.

My fathers yard is a different story, his cat knows how to hunt.

Freediver, Im not going to get rid of our cat who is a brillant family companion for all of us, including our dogs over a couple of little lizards.  When it comes to birds, we will do our best to ensure she doesnt get any, and will exhaust as many methods as possible.

And yes, we do leave her out by herself during the day unsupervised, and until there is evidence to suggest she is misbehaving we will continue to do so.  If she starts killing birds and the like, or ventures outside our yard, she will only be allowed out supervised.[/quote]

I've seen our old family cat jump 8' in the air to climb through a window of our house because she was inadvertently locked outside one day.  How can you be sure when you cat is not supervised that it isn't going over the fence and having a field day in one of the neighbours yard?

I believe if cats are left outside during the day it should be illegal for them to be outside a run.  

I don 't hate cats, but as an adult would never own one; stinky, arrogant little sods.

freediver wrote on Jan 5^th, 2011 at 10:12am:

You seem to be completely avoiding the issue of non-bird species. Why is it that only birds deserve your concern? Is the extinction of native reptiles of no consequence? Quote: As for the birds, there has been no evidence to suggest she has got any.  No feathers in the yard, nothing. A common logical fallacy. Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. [quote]Im not going to get rid of our cat

No-one is suggesting you do. What we are saying is that you should stop deluding yourself into thinking it isn;t a killer because it comes when it is called.


Quote:

When it comes to birds, we will do our best to ensure she doesnt get any

You seem to be falling far short of your best. You are merely trying to justify being an irresponsible pet owner.


Quote:

And yes, we do leave her out by herself during the day unsupervised, and until there is evidence to suggest she is misbehaving

Killing birds is not misbehaving. It is the way cats are supposed to behave.[/quote]

Im not avoiding the issue of non birds, its just a non issue to me full stop.

And we will be doing all we can to ensure she doesnt get birds.  Birds dont tend to come to our yard anyway because the dogs hunt them first, however until there is evidence she has killed one, Im not going to lock her inside.  Why punish her if she has done nothing wrong.

We are not irrespsonsible owners in one bit.  Our cat stays in her own yard, and yes, I know they can jump, however this one has yet to be caught out.  Im not going to lock her inside just incase she leaves the yard.  Thats like locking the dogs inside because we left the gate open.

There is no evidence to suggest she has killed birds, no evidence to suggest she has left the yard.  Our neighbours comment how they only see the thing with the dogs.

So if no one has seen her do anything wrong, its no irresponsible of me to allow her time outside.

Verge wrote on Jan 5^th, 2011 at 10:47am:

freediver wrote on Jan 5th, 2011 at 10:12am: You seem to be completely avoiding the issue of non-bird species. Why is it that only birds deserve your concern? Is the extinction of native reptiles of no consequence? Quote: As for the birds, there has been no evidence to suggest she has got any.  No feathers in the yard, nothing. A common logical fallacy. Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. [quote]Im not going to get rid of our cat No-one is suggesting you do. What we are saying is that you should stop deluding yourself into thinking it isn;t a killer because it comes when it is called. [quote]When it comes to birds, we will do our best to ensure she doesnt get any

You seem to be falling far short of your best. You are merely trying to justify being an irresponsible pet owner.


Quote:

And yes, we do leave her out by herself during the day unsupervised, and until there is evidence to suggest she is misbehaving

Killing birds is not misbehaving. It is the way cats are supposed to behave.[/quote]

Im not avoiding the issue of non birds, its just a non issue to me full stop.

And we will be doing all we can to ensure she doesnt get birds.  Birds dont tend to come to our yard anyway because the dogs hunt them first, however until there is evidence she has killed one, Im not going to lock her inside.  Why punish her if she has done nothing wrong.

We are not irrespsonsible owners in one bit.  Our cat stays in her own yard, and yes, I know they can jump, however this one has yet to be caught out.  Im not going to lock her inside just incase she leaves the yard.  Thats like locking the dogs inside because we left the gate open.

There is no evidence to suggest she has killed birds, no evidence to suggest she has left the yard.  Our neighbours comment how they only see the thing with the dogs.

So if no one has seen her do anything wrong, its no irresponsible of me to allow her time outside.[/quote]

Absolutely YES!

Quote:

Im not avoiding the issue of non birds, its just a non issue to me full stop.

So only birds matter to you? I'm guessing you have concern for them because you like having birds around, not because you have any concern for biodiversity.


Quote:

And we will be doing all we can to ensure she doesnt get birds.

Everything, except becoming a responsible pet owner.


Quote:

Birds dont tend to come to our yard anyway because the dogs hunt them first

Do your dogs climb trees. or just your cat?


Quote:

however until there is evidence she has killed one

You just gave some evidence.


Quote:

Why punish her if she has done nothing wrong.

It is not punishment. It is part of being a responsible pet owner.


Quote:

We are not irrespsonsible owners in one bit.

You just don't care what native animals your cat kills - so long as they aren't birds? Doesn't sound very responsible to me. It sounds selfish.

Success!

Well sort of anyway. Both the mother and one of the kittens went into the trap. Then left. Then came and went a few times. Even though we were watching they didn't seem too concerned. I had the food (old tinned sardine fillets) in one of those red plastic mesh onion bags. I had a look and they had eaten straight through the mesh.

So I reloaded, this time wrapping the fish up a bit tighter, and also made some adjustements to make the trigger fire a bit easier. This time it worked, but it only caught one of the kittens - the orange one.

I have more food out for them, without the trap, but they haven't touched it. I hope this hasn't dimished the trust I have built up with them

Gee freediver, I didnt realise you were such a favourite of lizards, I guess its time to lock the dogs up as well since they eat them too.  I just hope you apply the same car to our wildlife when you speak out against road users since vehicles would do more damage to the ecolife than my cat could ever hope, or the developer who took our new block of land that was farming land and made it residential.

Quote:

Gee freediver, I didnt realise you were such a favourite of lizards

I'm not, but I do respect the need to conserve biodiversity and I am realistic about the nature of cats. I just don't confuse biodiversity for the 10 or so backyard species that I like and can identify.


Quote:

I guess its time to lock the dogs up as well since they eat them too.

Which do you think eats more? I know dogs make more of a fuss about catching (or at least chasing) lizards, but I can guarantee you your cat kills far more.


Quote:

I just hope you apply the same car to our wildlife when you speak out against road users since vehicles would do more damage to the ecolife than my cat could ever hope

So instead of you controlling your cat, everyone else should stop driving? Sounds like a good way of avoiding taking any responsibility for your own behaviour.

My parents used to have cats when I was living at home. They were very much domesticated so my observations probably arn't typical of all cats.

They all had bells put on them. What ever they caught they would proudly show us. Many times my Mum found a pair of mouse legs on the back step in the morning.......And I guess that is my point. My observations have been that when the cat is young it catches mostly mice, maybe a few blackbirds or sparrows and maybe a few lizards. I don't think they caught any native birds and my theory is that native birds don't spend a lot of time on the ground where they can be caught. Once cats get a bit older and lose their speed and agility they dont catch anything, especially well fed domestic cats like the ones we had. The cats I had proudly displayed what they caught so we know that they mostly just caught mice.

Quote:

I don't think they caught any native birds and my theory is that native birds don't spend a lot of time on the ground where they can be caught.

Plenty of native birds did do that and are now extinct because of cats.


Quote:

The cats I had proudly displayed what they caught so we know that they mostly just caught mice.

Or could it be that your family trained them to show mice and not other animals? Would you even notice a pair of lizard legs?

freediver wrote on Jan 5^th, 2011 at 9:14pm:

Quote: Gee freediver, I didnt realise you were such a favourite of lizards I'm not, but I do respect the need to conserve biodiversity and I am realistic about the nature of cats. I just don't confuse biodiversity for the 10 or so backyard species that I like and can identify. [quote]I guess its time to lock the dogs up as well since they eat them too.

Which do you think eats more? I know dogs make more of a fuss about catching (or at least chasing) lizards, but I can guarantee you your cat kills far more.


Quote:

I just hope you apply the same car to our wildlife when you speak out against road users since vehicles would do more damage to the ecolife than my cat could ever hope

So instead of you controlling your cat, everyone else should stop driving? Sounds like a good way of avoiding taking any responsibility for your own behaviour.[/quote]

Just merely highlighting a gross misrepresentation in your claim about my cat.  While the great white hunter takes the odd lizard, my car in the ten years I did heavy commuting to work wiped out so much wildlife it was sad.  Cars by design are wildlife killers.  I cant go crook at my cat for the odd lizard and grasshoppers during a plaugue when my car has wiped out thousands of animals and reptiles can I.  Only two weeks ago I ran over a baby turtle.  I was sad it happened but I didnt lock up the car and not drive it again.

Yes I know for a fact that they caught lizards. And I agree that lizards don't get the same sympathy as other native animals because they arn't cute and furry.
I agree that feral cats are a real problem and so are domestic cats that are kept near native bushland.
In the middle of suburbia however I don't really see them being that damaging. The damage has already been done by us humans.  

Not one person has mentioned how cats get rid of rats & mice.

I saw a doco on TV once that said something along these lines:

"modern human civilisation would not have flourished without cats
because we would have been overrun with rats & mice & bubonic plague.
Indeed the bubonic plague happened after cats were considered
devils by the church & destroyed.
The rats had a field day & millions died from the bubonic plague
carried inside the fleas on the rats.
It nearly wiped out Europe."

cats should be trained to kill Indian minor birds as they are now in plague proportions and killing off other native birds :(

Verge wrote on Jan 5^th, 2011 at 10:08pm:

freediver wrote on Jan 5th, 2011 at 9:14pm: Quote: Gee freediver, I didnt realise you were such a favourite of lizards I'm not, but I do respect the need to conserve biodiversity and I am realistic about the nature of cats. I just don't confuse biodiversity for the 10 or so backyard species that I like and can identify. [quote]I guess its time to lock the dogs up as well since they eat them too. Which do you think eats more? I know dogs make more of a fuss about catching (or at least chasing) lizards, but I can guarantee you your cat kills far more. [quote]I just hope you apply the same car to our wildlife when you speak out against road users since vehicles would do more damage to the ecolife than my cat could ever hope

So instead of you controlling your cat, everyone else should stop driving? Sounds like a good way of avoiding taking any responsibility for your own behaviour.[/quote]

Just merely highlighting a gross misrepresentation in your claim about my cat.  While the great white hunter takes the odd lizard, my car in the ten years I did heavy commuting to work wiped out so much wildlife it was sad.  Cars by design are wildlife killers.  I cant go crook at my cat for the odd lizard and grasshoppers during a plaugue when my car has wiped out thousands of animals and reptiles can I.  Only two weeks ago I ran over a baby turtle.  I was sad it happened but I didnt lock up the car and not drive it again.[/quote]

Perhaps you should lock up your car if you are that bad at driving. Hope you don't hit a kid one day.

Your cat would still have killed more animals than your car. Your cat will still be your cat if you take responsibility and stop it killing.


Quote:

In the middle of suburbia however I don't really see them being that damaging.

The middle of suburbia can actually be a refuge for some native animals. Suburbia tends to be on the most 'inherently productive' land - land that everywhere has been cleared for farming. There are usually creeks and streambeds everywhere. It can provide a some niche environments.

In any case, not all your neighbours will agree that suburbia is only for cats and dogs.


Quote:

cats should be trained to kill Indian minor birds as they are now in plague proportions and killing off other native birds

Unfortunately the introduced bird species tend to be better at avoiding cats than the local ones.

freediver wrote on Jan 5^th, 2011 at 10:43pm:

Verge wrote on Jan 5th, 2011 at 10:08pm: freediver wrote on Jan 5th, 2011 at 9:14pm: Quote: Gee freediver, I didnt realise you were such a favourite of lizards I'm not, but I do respect the need to conserve biodiversity and I am realistic about the nature of cats. I just don't confuse biodiversity for the 10 or so backyard species that I like and can identify. [quote]I guess its time to lock the dogs up as well since they eat them too. Which do you think eats more? I know dogs make more of a fuss about catching (or at least chasing) lizards, but I can guarantee you your cat kills far more. [quote]I just hope you apply the same car to our wildlife when you speak out against road users since vehicles would do more damage to the ecolife than my cat could ever hope So instead of you controlling your cat, everyone else should stop driving? Sounds like a good way of avoiding taking any responsibility for your own behaviour.

Just merely highlighting a gross misrepresentation in your claim about my cat.  While the great white hunter takes the odd lizard, my car in the ten years I did heavy commuting to work wiped out so much wildlife it was sad.  Cars by design are wildlife killers.  I cant go crook at my cat for the odd lizard and grasshoppers during a plaugue when my car has wiped out thousands of animals and reptiles can I.  Only two weeks ago I ran over a baby turtle.  I was sad it happened but I didnt lock up the car and not drive it again.[/quote]

Perhaps you should lock up your car if you are that bad at driving. Hope you don't hit a kid one day.

Your cat would still have killed more animals than your car. Your cat will still be your cat if you take responsibility and stop it killing.


Quote:

In the middle of suburbia however I don't really see them being that damaging.

The middle of suburbia can actually be a refuge for some native animals. Suburbia tends to be on the most 'inherently productive' land - land that everywhere has been cleared for farming. There are usually creeks and streambeds everywhere. It can provide a some niche environments.

In any case, not all your neighbours will agree that suburbia is only for cats and dogs.


Quote:

cats should be trained to kill Indian minor birds as they are now in plague proportions and killing off other native birds

Unfortunately the introduced bird species tend to be better at avoiding cats than the local ones.[/quote]

FD, I used to do open road driving, around 50,000kms a year in regional Oz, you are going to take out birds, lizards, kangaroos a plenty.  You should try driving around when its harvest season and there is grain on the sides of the road all the time (I admit its not as bad these days now grain sites turnaway overloaded trucks.  When they used to overload spilt grain used to be everywhere) it wasnt unusual to hit around 15 to 20 bird a day to and from work.

So no, Im not a bad driver, its the perils of driving in regional Australia.

I was nearly proved wrong yesterday afternoon though.  I went outside to call the cat, did the one call and whistle and nothing.  Did it again, nothing.  Repeated another three times and thought great, now the little poo defies me after I talked her up.  As I went inside I walked past our bedroom and heard her meow.  My wife, annoyed with me for leaving the walk in robe door open, shut it without actually looking inside.  She must have went in there for a sleep during the day since its dark and warm, and my wife locked her in.

In residential areas where people spray their gardens to be rid of bugs and such, my cat cleaning them up just saves me a job.  I have yet to see a mouse since we got her either.

Good how you mention mice.
Did anyone read what I wrote?



Quote:

I saw a doco on TV once that said something along these lines: "modern human civilisation would not have flourished without cats because we would have been overrun with rats & mice & bubonic plague. Indeed the bubonic plague happened after cats were considered devils by the church & destroyed. The rats had a field day & millions died from the bubonic plague carried inside the fleas on the rats. It nearly wiped out Europe."

I like cats. http://dingo.care2.com/c2c/emoticons/dunnof.gif

I like cats too.

2 cats down, 2 to go. I caught the mother cat last night.

The shelter has some nice black and white kittens with deep blue eyes.

I like turtles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMNry4PE93Y

I put the trap back out on Friday night and caught another one. It was the tortoiseshell kitten. Only the grey kitten left to go. It was meowing forlornly last night.

Apparently the neighbours have named them all.

freediver wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2011 at 7:35pm:

I called the council about disposing of some cats this morning. Apparently they will do it commercial property, but in residential areas you have to do it yourself. That means you have to hire a cat trap or pay someone to come out and set one. Does this seem reasonable to you? I think it just encourages people to not bother dealing with the problem. It's not like a feral cat will stick around one residential property. I have seen it at around half a dozen properties nearby. I have only seen it inside my yard since it had kittens. The council's policy forces people to take financial responsibility for a problem that someone else created. It also encourages people to take a simpler option, like hitting it over the head with a cricket bat. This is arguably more humane, though it is hard to change your mind if it turns out to be someone'e pet. Anyway, I just finished building myself a simple deadfall trap and have put some old tinned fish out beside it to get the cat used to it.

I think you need the old lady who swallowed the fly, who swallowed a spider to catch the fly.  I dunno why she swallowed that fly , perhaps she'll die?

Was there ever an old lady who swallowed a cat. ..by that I mean to catch the bat who swallowed the rat who gnawed holes in your mat?

8-)

freediver wrote on Jan 23^rd, 2011 at 8:54am:

I put the trap back out on Friday night and caught another one. It was the tortoiseshell kitten. Only the grey kitten left to go. It was meowing forlornly last night. Apparently the neighbours have named them all.

Are you taking them to the shelter once you catch them?

I will say I would rather see cats put down then see them become feral and pests.

Verge wrote on Jan 24^th, 2011 at 9:53am:

Are you taking them to the shelter once you catch them? I will say I would rather see cats put down then see them become feral and pests.

I've had an abandoned cat in my garden for a couple of months now. I've been feeding it because I just haven't had any other options open and he had been starved. I can't pick it up - nor will anyone else, although he's quite a sweet little thing. If he scratches or bites - it's too easy to get an infection.

I don't like the thought of any healthy animal being put down, but the cat in my garden is sick. The RSPCA ambulance will pick him up, but only if I can get him tame enough to come inside so I can lock him in a room. Then they'll pick him up. It's a long process.

He'll be put down unfortunately - along with the other 200,000 abandoned dogs and cats euthanised annually. The RSPCA has no choice as the long term confinement of animals is cruel regardless of them being in good health.

What can you do with cats though? They are so destructive. I found a dead possum in my garden the other day and could only think this cat killed it.

If there's a choice between wildlife and stray cats and dogs - wildlife has to come first.

Yes I drop them at the shelter. I could not be certain that the mother cat was not someone's pet. Apparently they can go a bit wierd when they give birth. Also my trap is not made well enough to allow me to do it myself, though I expect it would be more humane once you take the time involved and car trip into account.

Mantra, if you are going to that much trouble you should make a trap, like I did. If you are prepared to sit there and wait, get a milk crate or something a bit heavier, prop one side up with a stick, and put food under it. Tie a string around the stick you can pull it out at the right moment. Then put a few bricks on it and call the RSPCA, or have a lid handy that you can slide under and secure tightly. Make sure the cat doesn't escape as you may have trouble the second time. It's a great activity for kids.

mellie wrote on Jan 23^rd, 2011 at 9:14am:

freediver wrote on Jan 3rd, 2011 at 7:35pm: I called the council about disposing of some cats this morning. Apparently they will do it commercial property, but in residential areas you have to do it yourself. That means you have to hire a cat trap or pay someone to come out and set one. Does this seem reasonable to you? I think it just encourages people to not bother dealing with the problem. It's not like a feral cat will stick around one residential property. I have seen it at around half a dozen properties nearby. I have only seen it inside my yard since it had kittens. The council's policy forces people to take financial responsibility for a problem that someone else created. It also encourages people to take a simpler option, like hitting it over the head with a cricket bat. This is arguably more humane, though it is hard to change your mind if it turns out to be someone'e pet. Anyway, I just finished building myself a simple deadfall trap and have put some old tinned fish out beside it to get the cat used to it. I think you need the old lady who swallowed the fly, who swallowed a spider to catch the fly.  I dunno why she swallowed that fly , perhaps she'll die? Was there ever an old lady who swallowed a cat. ..by that I mean to catch the bat who swallowed the rat who gnawed holes in your mat? 8-)

Halve the dosage and get me a kilo.

freediver wrote on Jan 24^th, 2011 at 9:58pm:

Mantra, if you are going to that much trouble you should make a trap, like I did. If you are prepared to sit there and wait, get a milk crate or something a bit heavier, prop one side up with a stick, and put food under it. Tie a string around the stick you can pull it out at the right moment. Then put a few bricks on it and call the RSPCA, or have a lid handy that you can slide under and secure tightly. Make sure the cat doesn't escape as you may have trouble the second time. It's a great activity for kids.

The cat would get too distressed if it was trapped - it's a yowler and the sound of it's screeching would get to me. You have to also book the pickup - so it could remain trapped for a day or so in the heat.

I'm trying the most humane approach and started yesterday by letting it in for 5 minutes. He immediately went over and sprayed on my curtains. It was like letting a skunk into the house.


Quote:

It also encourages people to take a simpler option, like hitting it over the head with a cricket bat. This is arguably more humane, though it is hard to change your mind if it turns out to be someone'e pet.

Hitting an animal over the head is the humane option when you consider the stress of them being trapped, dragged to a strange place for a week then euthanised, but a cat is too big for that.

I used to be able to purchase ether from the chemist, although it's illegal to sell. Unfortunately it's rarely stocked any more, but it's a quick painless method of putting small injured animals down. Vets don't use it either, regardless of the stress and pain caused by a large needle.

If people cared for their cats, they would keep them inside or in a run. It's the cat who suffers when others have to dispose of it. Too many cats aren't microchipped or desexed - yet their owners profess to love them.

Quote:

I'm trying the most humane approach and started yesterday by letting it in for 5 minutes. He immediately went over and sprayed on my curtains. It was like letting a skunk into the house.

You are way to kind to that cat mantra.


Quote:

but a cat is too big for that

What would be the 'ideal' size? I would have thought of a cat as ideal. Any smaller and you risk mishitting.


Quote:

I used to be able to purchase ether from the chemist, although it's illegal to sell. Unfortunately it's rarely stocked any more, but it's a quick painless method of putting small injured animals down. Vets don't use it either, regardless of the stress and pain caused by a large needle.

Interesting. Is that what they use in movies with a cloth?

freediver wrote on Jan 25^th, 2011 at 10:55pm:

What would be the 'ideal' size? I would have thought of a cat as ideal. Any smaller and you risk mishitting.

They have to be suffering without hope before I've done it, but you just wrap the bird/guinea pig/baby mice in a soft cloth on the ground - feel for the back of their neck and give it one quick hit with a rolling pin. I prefer the ether method though.

Cats would be too strong and put up a fight.


Quote:

I Interesting. Is that what they use in movies with a cloth?

Yes.  :o

This Topic was moved here from General Board by freediver.

jame-e wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2011 at 9:02pm:

Kat wrote on Jan 3rd, 2011 at 8:37pm: Ferals I have no argies with, but, as freediver said, how would you feel if it turned out to be the neighbours' kid's pet. Not that bad if it was caught over night without a bell and/or id tags. I couldn't believe the reaction i got from some off my family when i said one of their neighbours was justified when he warned of traps. He had seen 'cats' kill native birds in his backyard... Fair enough i say.

He's talking absolute bullsh*t. "Native birds" ~ my arse!

Sparrows, introduced pigeons, Indian Mynas, Bulbuls (not native to Australia), blackbirds, thrushes ... etc... all immigrants.

If a cat grabbed a white or black cockatoo it would be shredded within half a minute.

Galahs are so plentiful it's not a problem if a few get culled.

********

I bought my cat-trap ages ago from the local hardware store. (Made in India ~ $60). I've caught several cats harmlessly - to be re-homed or put down by my local vet at no cost to me.

Very simple. Very basic. No violence. No cruelty.

Only ever had to set the trap for one night each cat. Warm barbecue chicken smells for miles and works every time.

I once caught a feral that was both the most evil-looking cat, and the most beautiful I've ever seen. Long black haired mane and piercing yellow eyes. When he looked straight into my eyes I felt a chill go down my back. The purrfect killing machine.

I knew by the looks of it that it was way beyond any prospect of being domesticated.

Sir lastnail wrote on Jan 5^th, 2011 at 10:39pm:

cats should be trained to kill Indian minor birds as they are now in plague proportions and killing off other native birds :(

You're quite right. When I bought my property 22 years ago, Indian Myna birds were a real rarity around here.

And now they're in plague proportions. Aggressive little buggers who strut about like they own the place.

I'm thinking of buying a blunderbuss. For my neighbour's chickens.

Well okay ~ for the Indian Myna birds too.  8-) 

So Herbert believes cats can't kill native birds?

freediver wrote on Jun 6^th, 2013 at 7:24pm:

So Herbert believes cats can't kill native birds?

There must be another 'Herbert' registered here, because I've never said cats can't kill native birds.

It's not the killing of native birds that is the worry.

The killing of native birds is overwhelmingly due to imported birds occupying their nesting places and feeding off their resources, and humans expanding into bushlands. Cats are WAY down the list of culprits responsible for the extermination of Australia's native bird population.

Again, in the 22 years I've had cats on my property they only killed exotic birds that are not native to Australia ~ and in doing that they have rendered a service to the native species.

So cats kill the foreign birds who have evolved to live with the constant threat of cats, and not the native birds who haven't? And you know this because you see every single animal your cats kill?

freediver wrote on Jun 6^th, 2013 at 9:26pm:

So cats kill the foreign birds who have evolved to live with the constant threat of cats, and not the native birds who haven't? And you know this because you see every single animal your cats kill?

Actually, yes.

And here I might have a credibility problem with you. Cats behave in a totally different way towards you if you live alone with them, and they regard you as the 'den mother'.

(Others here may confirm this).

Every 'kill' my cats make ~ they bring to me, whether it's a sparrow or a skink. It's part of their instinctive 'moral' ethic to show me their booty ... but then they usually run like hell if I try to snatch this off them.

Upon waking in the morning, my two male cats (not the female) won't eat out of the biscuit bowl until they've 'touched base' with me first. They'll come and nudge me for a brief petting ~ and only then will they go to eat out of the bowl. It seems to be a 'getting your permission first' thing... maybe to save themselves from getting beaten up for presuming to have 'first bite' before me ~ the 'alpha-male'.

They all follow me around the property like dogs ~ (despite having full bellies). So far as they're concerned, I'm 'Top Cat' ~ the leader of the gang.

Cats in family situations are a totally different animal. 

freediver wrote on Jun 6^th, 2013 at 9:26pm:

So cats kill the foreign birds who have evolved to live with the constant threat of cats, and not the native birds who haven't? And you know this because you see every single animal your cats kill?

Nature eventually sorts itself out so that what is left lives in harmony and balance.

Freediver ~ it's time you learnt to love the ferals. I'm sending you a bumper sticker for your car...

I LOVE FERAL CATS ~ AND SO DOES JESUS!

;D ;D :P

Quote:

Cats behave in a totally different way towards you if you live alone with them, and they regard you as the 'den mother'. (Others here may confirm this). Every 'kill' my cats make ~ they bring to me, whether it's a sparrow or a skink. It's part of their instinctive 'moral' ethic to show me their booty ... but then they usually run like hell if I try to snatch this off them.

This is very true and it does apply to cats who have an owner who cares for them and keeps a careful watch over them.

The cats I had for many years were always dropping little dead mice on my doorstep. To my knowledge they caught no birds apart from a little love bird, which unfortunately had escaped from my aviary a couple of days before. A quick chop to the back of the neck made him release it.

The first thing the little cat I recently adopted did was go under the house and drag out a rotting, maggoty rat carcass and bring it to me. She spends most of her time there now chasing baby rats.

The pity of it is - too many people don't care about their cats and they are left to wander when they're hungry or neglected - particularly young renters who move on and leave the cat behind.

I have seen many a shredded bird in my yard during the period I didn't have cats. Some I blame on the sea hawks - others are killed by local domestic cats.

Dogs do almost as much damage to lizards, birds and other small animals if they get the opportunity.

I'm still not overly enthusiastic about cats, but having one that I can keep an eye on does keep other cats out.

mantra wrote on Jun 7^th, 2013 at 8:03am:

A quick chop to the back of the neck made him release it.

;D


mantra wrote on Jun 7^th, 2013 at 8:03am:

She spends most of her time there now chasing baby rats.

;D ;D

Ideally, domestic cats should live where at least one person is at home all the time.

For a year I had a problem with a neighbour's cat that kept coming over to beat up the two cats that I had at that time (I still have them). This cat was neglected, bored, and de-socialised. It had become almost as aggressive as a feral because no one was at home during working hours.

It was costing me heaps at the vets in abscess bills.

And then a miracle happened.

Out of absolutely nowhere this enormous black male 'Bombay' breed cat turned up on my property as a traumatised cat that hid under the house for a week - where I fed it, accompanied by my two little cats.

Result? It crept into the bedroom one day when I had the backdoor open. I left it there, undisturbed, to give it time to relax.

During the following days it beat the sh*t out of the neighbour's cat every time it came sneaking into the backyard to beat up Gizmo and Muffin.

I now haven't even seen the neighbour's cat for over a year ...

Meanwhile, Sooty thinks the sun shines out of my ... um ... (to be continued).  8-)

 

Quote:

They all follow me around the property like dogs

Mantra...


Quote:

My old murdered tom cat used to do similar. If I took the dogs for a long walk he'd follow us. He loved walking to the local shop and he'd wait outside for me. He thought was a dog.

Wow. That's special.

I once saw a segment on 'A Current Affairs' in which a very elderly man who lived alone was being moved to an Aged Care facility. He stood there crying his eyes out when someone came to take his cat away. The Home didn't allow for animals.

If I ever become a millionaire I'll make certain to build an Old People's Home where they can live with their cats, dogs, and canaries.

Herbert - you've accidentally edited my post with your comments. It's an easy enough mistake - I've done it myself more than once.


Quote:

If I ever become a millionaire I'll make certain to build an Old People's Home where they can live with their cats, dogs, and canaries.

You see these sad scenarios all the time, particularly with dogs. A relative or friend begrudgingly takes on the dog or cat after a death and then the animal runs away or is seriously neglected.

Quote:

And here I might have a credibility problem with you.

;D It's funny because it's true.


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Nature eventually sorts itself out so that what is left lives in harmony and balance.

Of course - but only after the cats have wiped out all the vulnerable native species.

mantra wrote on Jun 7^th, 2013 at 8:46am:

Herbert - you've accidentally edited my post with your comments. It's an easy enough mistake - I've done it myself more than once.

Huh? How is it possible for me to access your post with your avatar there?

If Freediver wasn't out in the bush right now bounty hunting feral cats I would report this to him immediately.  8-)

Herbert


Quote:

During the following days it beat the sh*t out of the neighbour's cat every time it came sneaking into the backyard to beat up Gizmo and Muffin. I now haven't even seen the neighbour's cat for over a year ... Meanwhile, Sooty thinks the sun shines out of my ... um ...

Cats are extremely territorial. Surprisingly this small, gentle female adoptee does exactly the same thing. She stands up to all of the neighbourhood cats and comes off the winner every time.

It's probably because their earlier life has been so difficult. When they finally have a place to call home - they're not going to share it with strangers.

Mantra...
Quote:

As a moderator - you can go into people's posts and edit swearing or abuse and also leave little comments. Usually it's helpful if you put them in a colour so the poster knows what's happening.

Oh. :-/

freediver wrote on Jun 7^th, 2013 at 8:52am:

Quote: And here I might have a credibility problem with you. ;D It's funny because it's true. [quote]Nature eventually sorts itself out so that what is left lives in harmony and balance.

Of course - but only after the cats have wiped out all the vulnerable native species.[/quote]

None have been lost so far ...

And was it cats that killed the Tasmanian Tigers? ... and has it been cats that have nearly brought the Tasmanian Devils to extinction?

And how about the extinction of native birds on some of Australia's little offshore islands where imported rats off the old galleons ate all the eggs .... ?

The solution to the mainland feral cat problem is simple...

Tear down the Dingo Fence that stretches for thousands of miles up and down the continent.

Let the dingoes hunt in packs and decimate the feral cat population.

(I should get an Australian of the Year Award for this piece of brilliance).

8-)

Is this what you mean by 'balance'?

http://www.ozpolitic.com/polanimal/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=11500&sid=9cae4aa535cd79e306decf6554ca9874


Quote:

None have been lost so far ...

Plenty have. Are you really unaware of what is happening?

mantra wrote on Jun 7^th, 2013 at 8:58am:

Mantra... Quote: As a moderator - you can go into people's posts and edit swearing or abuse and also leave little comments. Usually it's helpful if you put them in a colour so the poster knows what's happening. Oh. :-/

I've done it again. I give up.

freediver wrote on Jun 7^th, 2013 at 9:08am:

Is this what you mean by 'balance'? http://www.ozpolitic.com/polanimal/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=11500&sid=9cae4aa535cd79e306decf6554ca9874 Quote: None have been lost so far ... Plenty have. Are you really unaware of what is happening?

WHAT's 'happening'.. ?

It's NATURE that's 'happening'. It's all following a NATURAL course that was always inevitable.

No big deal. And those cats have been running around the Top End since a thousand years ago when fishing boats from Indonesia would make landfall to shelter from storms at sea.

Dear o dear ... the hysteria over a few lost native rats, lizards and dung beetles!

If they're so bloody sacred, why aren't they in zoos all over the world for protection, preservation, and breeding for the future?

Sacred bugs!

Every country in the world has stories of extinct animals. Get over it!

Lord Herbert wrote on Jun 7^th, 2013 at 9:08am:

mantra wrote on Jun 7th, 2013 at 8:58am: Mantra... Quote: As a moderator - you can go into people's posts and edit swearing or abuse and also leave little comments. Usually it's helpful if you put them in a colour so the poster knows what's happening. Oh. :-/ I've done it again. I give up.

Haha. You're hitting the "edit" button instead of the "quote"button.

Quote:

Every country in the world has stories of extinct animals. Get over it!

Sums up the attitude very nicely. Thanks Herbert.

Snappy tom mixed with rat poison. Works a treat. If your cat does not come onto my property then there is no issue.

freediver wrote on Jun 19^th, 2013 at 9:35pm:

Quote: Every country in the world has stories of extinct animals. Get over it! Sums up the attitude very nicely. Thanks Herbert.

It's an attitude borne of accepting a reality that can never be changed. In these cases I simply move on. I don't become maudlin and filled with guilt and regret.

Our own politicians of all parties also don't give a damn. It would need them only to sign into law that all domestic cats must be de-sexed ... not just the females, and any cats found not de-sexed would incur draconian penalties upon the owners.

But the pollies have done absolutely nothing to address the problem of feral cats.

There's no bounty ... there's no bating ... there's no law to scare the shyte out of cat owners who can't be bothered to have their moggies de-sexed.

It's like trying to paddle away from a 20 foot tsunami wave approaching the beach. I prefer to just relax and enjoy the ride.

The dice are weighted overwhelmingly on the side of these outback pussy-cats.

***********

All it would need is for the federal government to give our Chinese community franchise rights over Australia's feral cats so they can trap them as an industry for export to China's restaurants and road-side eateries.

8-)

ian wrote on Jun 19^th, 2013 at 10:20pm:

Snappy tom mixed with rat poison. Works a treat. If your cat does not come onto my property then there is no issue.

I am not particularly a cat lover, but I guarantee that if I lost one of my animals by somebody like you poisoning them and I was aware of who it was, they would digest that sh1t as quickly as I could ram it down their throat.

Socrates wrote on Jun 20^th, 2013 at 9:52am:

ian wrote on Jun 19th, 2013 at 10:20pm: Snappy tom mixed with rat poison. Works a treat. If your cat does not come onto my property then there is no issue. I am not particularly a cat lover, but I guarantee that if I lost one of my animals by somebody like you poisoning them and I was aware of who it was, they would digest that sh1t as quickly as I could ram it down their throat.

brave words. But thats all they are, words. Any cat (or dog) which comes onto my property is heading for oblivion. I dont tolerate human or animal predators in my vincinity.

Leave the poor pussy cats alone.

ian wrote on Jun 20^th, 2013 at 9:56am:

Any cat ...  which comes onto my property is heading for oblivion.

That's a very immature attitude.

Do you ever intrude upon your neighbours' comfort and enjoyment of their property by such means as loud music, commercial activity, air conditioning running outside of council-prescribed hours, or noisy ball games that are more suited to the local park for the racket the neighbours have to put up with?

Got a barking dog? A cage full of screeching parrots in the backyard? A stinking noisy truck that you park outside in the residential street?

These are all WAY more disrupting, intrusive, and anti-social 'trespassing' upon your neighbour's comfort and enjoyment than a quiet cat having a peaceful sniff around your backyard.

It might be time for you to grow up and be a responsible adult. It's not a sign of toughness to target a cat for killing on your property. It's just a pathetic excuse to feel a sense of power over a defenceless creature.

It's pathetic. It's juvenile. It's delinquent and stupid.

As social human beings who live packed together in suburban neighbourhoods we all have a covenant with one another to behave reasonably and with a civilised care for one another ~ and what this means is that we practice a certain degree of tolerance for each others idiosyncrasies and pet-ownership.

I didnt say i lived in a suburban environment, Regardless of which I disagree. Like I said, I do not tolerate animal or human predators on my property. Loud music is completly irrelevant.

You don't see the connection between a cat on your property being a matter of annoyance to you, and you playing loud music enough to intrude upon the comfort and enjoyment of your neighbours?

Unfortunately there's simply no point in my continuing with someone whose character development is so immature and so focused on his own narcissistic little world of selfish convenience.

   

Backyard Cat-Killer...
Quote:

I dont play loud music. Why would I ? That would annoy the neighbours.

What about the rest?

Except for a very rare few, I have always had selfish pigs for neighbours.

I can't wait for the introduction of private Gated Communities as they have in America and South Africa.

I would buy a house in the one that advertises that no inconsiderate arseholes may apply for residence.

That means cat-killers too.

Loud music players.

Bouncing basketballs on concrete driveways for hours on end.

Whole weekends ruined by having to listen to the incessant screaming of small children in a neighbour's pool.

Dogs barking almost incessantly from boredom and anxiety for not having been properly socialised.

Trucks parked in quiet residential streets ~ totally ruining the domestic ambience of the neighbourhood.

etc.

ian wrote on Jun 19^th, 2013 at 10:20pm:

Snappy tom mixed with rat poison. Works a treat. If your cat does not come onto my property then there is no issue.

I'm not sure what state you live in, but in NSW cats are allowed to wander. They are very lax laws, but years ago when they were tougher and cats were caught and euthanised, too many owners lodged complaints.

I've been upset at stray cats coming onto my property also, but would never think to inflict such a torturous death on them by using rat poison.

You are fortunate that you are anonymous here, because your actions are illegal and could result in a gaol sentence.

Have you thought of setting traps for these animals instead and then taking them to the nearest vet or pound to have them euthanised?

Knew a fella once who buried a heap of kittens in the ground with their heads poking up and ran over then with a lawn mower.

Bit like instant fertilizer.

Another notice went up in our street on the telegraph poles.

"Lost Cat. Two Years Old". photo, and etc.

All these 'Lost Cat' notices mean nothing more than that their cat has been killed by a neighbour. 99% guarantee.

Cats don't get lost if their owners feed them.

Cat killers are usually lower-working class, suffer from poor self-esteem, are grossly immature, poorly educated, borderline-retard, have victimhood mentalities bubbling just beneath the surface, are too immature to be capable of empathy, and are full of righteousness about themselves.

Come to think of it, there's an awful lot of these losers registered as members here.  8-)   

 

Mate shot this cat a few years ago. He was sick of finding cat foot prints all over his car.

So he sees this cat under the car, gets the .22 out, gets on the ground, and the cat came up purring and rubbing its head on the end of the barrel.

Turned out to be a pretty easy shot.

;D

Lord Herbert wrote on Jun 21^st, 2013 at 3:19pm:

Another notice went up in our street on the telegraph poles. "Lost Cat. Two Years Old". photo, and etc. All these 'Lost Cat' notices mean nothing more than that their cat has been killed by a neighbour. 99% guarantee. Cats don't get lost if their owners feed them. Cat killers are usually lower-working class, suffer from poor self-esteem, are grossly immature, poorly educated, borderline-retard, have victimhood mentalities bubbling just beneath the surface, are too immature to be capable of empathy, and are full of righteousness about themselves. Come to think of it, there's an awful lot of these losers registered as members here.  8-)

We had an old cat that belonged to the group of flats I live in.

This hairy piece of crap cat used to come over at night and belt the poor old bastard up.

One night I was out the front having a smoke and here’s this cat walking towards me on the foot path.

I stomped my foot and hissed at it………and it took of…..straight under a passing car – bumpity bump!!!

;D ;D

Lord Herbert wrote on Jun 21^st, 2013 at 3:19pm:

Cat killers are usually

people that hate cats. :)

Lord Herbert wrote on Jun 21^st, 2013 at 3:19pm:

Cat killers are usually lower-working class, suffer from poor self-esteem, are grossly immature, poorly educated, borderline-retard, have victimhood mentalities bubbling just beneath the surface, are too immature to be capable of empathy, and are full of righteousness about themselves.

They are proud to be cat killers and enjoy making the death of an animal as slow and painful as possible. It is sickening.

Whether people believe in karma or not - it always comes back to bite them when they least expect it.


Quote:

Come to think of it, there's an awful lot of these losers registered as members here

I don't want to denigrate anyone in particular, but there are some members who appear to lack any humanity but get a thrill out of being sadistic.

Animal cruelty goes hand in hand with cruelty to children and females usually. Many abusers are males and bullies - yet are cowards when another male stands up to them.

Cats are 'Pests' above and beyond the 'cute n cuddly' needs of the lonely.

Unlike Dogs, free to roam, destroy native fauna, keep dogs barking at night and costing silly owners $$ in cat crap.

KILL CATS!

It_is_the_Darkness wrote on Jun 21^st, 2013 at 4:57pm:

KILL CATS!

Humanely.

At my local vets there's a whole wall covered in personal notices asking if anyone has found their lost dog or cat.

The saddest notices are those that promise a huge reward, with a note saying their little daughter is missing 'Cinderella' the pussy-cat very badly etc.

Cats are Value Added domestic creatures.

They start off as just ... 'a cat'. Furry thing on four legs. No name. No history with a family. Just your basic raw material.

And then it gets taken into a household, and it's behavioral 'modification' begins. It learns things that it's ok to do, and things it mustn't do.

It also develops its own personality and unique behaviour patterns. I've never had two cats that acted the same.

With each 'communication' between the cat and yourself and the family, it becomes increasingly a Value Added member of the household.

It becomes personal. There's empathy and understanding with each other. The cat works its way into your affections, and becomes a valuable part of the furniture in your psychology and your contentment with life.

 

mantra wrote on Jun 21^st, 2013 at 3:49pm:

Lord Herbert wrote on Jun 21st, 2013 at 3:19pm: Cat killers are usually lower-working class, suffer from poor self-esteem, are grossly immature, poorly educated, borderline-retard, have victimhood mentalities bubbling just beneath the surface, are too immature to be capable of empathy, and are full of righteousness about themselves. They are proud to be cat killers and enjoy making the death of an animal as slow and painful as possible. It is sickening. Whether people believe in karma or not - it always comes back to bite them when they least expect it. Quote: Come to think of it, there's an awful lot of these losers registered as members here I don't want to denigrate anyone in particular, but there are some members who appear to lack any humanity but get a thrill out of being sadistic. Animal cruelty goes hand in hand with cruelty to children and females usually. Many abusers are males and bullies - yet are cowards when another male stands up to them.

Animal cruelty by children is a fairly accurate indicator of personalities that mature into people who have limited empathy with their fellow humans - they graduate into the Dahmers and Milats of the world if left untreated.

Every classroom in this country should be encouraged to keep some type of dependant animal. The care and continual upkeep of such menageries is both instructive and formative.

If you can't be trusted with a pet at 10, you can't be trusted with a child at 20.

Totally agree MANTRA.
Totally agree. ;)

...as for lil Sarah with the photo of her lost kitty Cinderella?
Well there are more 'appropriate' pets to fall in love with innocently, than cats these days.

What I find sad also are couples who are wealthy but prefer to spend money on more 'manageble' PETS than have kids.
People who have money and treat kids like PETS (like Celibrities).

Women who forsake having kids for whatever reason, usually something they won't discuss.
Then try to compensate with animals down the track and treat them like 'children'. The small white fluffy dog is a dead giveaway. ::)

Lord Herbert wrote on Jun 20^th, 2013 at 8:03am:

freediver wrote on Jun 19th, 2013 at 9:35pm: Quote: Every country in the world has stories of extinct animals. Get over it! Sums up the attitude very nicely. Thanks Herbert. It's an attitude borne of accepting a reality that can never be changed. In these cases I simply move on. I don't become maudlin and filled with guilt and regret. Our own politicians of all parties also don't give a damn. It would need them only to sign into law that all domestic cats must be de-sexed ... not just the females, and any cats found not de-sexed would incur draconian penalties upon the owners. But the pollies have done absolutely nothing to address the problem of feral cats. There's no bounty ... there's no bating ... there's no law to scare the shyte out of cat owners who can't be bothered to have their moggies de-sexed. It's like trying to paddle away from a 20 foot tsunami wave approaching the beach. I prefer to just relax and enjoy the ride. The dice are weighted overwhelmingly on the side of these outback pussy-cats. *********** All it would need is for the federal government to give our Chinese community franchise rights over Australia's feral cats so they can trap them as an industry for export to China's restaurants and road-side eateries. 8-)

But you can change the outcome. You don't need to eradicate feral cats to save the remaining native species. All the hopeless cases are already gone. The rest just need us to keep cat numbers down by killing them at every opportunity.

I like your ideas. But we don't need to give the Chinese franchise rights. We already slaughter more than enough cats to supply a market, if it became legal.

freediver wrote on Jun 22^nd, 2013 at 11:19am:

I like your ideas. But we don't need to give the Chinese franchise rights. We already slaughter more than enough cats to supply a market, if it became legal.

Two birds with one stone was what I was suggesting.

The steady eradication of our ferals while at the same time generating several million dollars in revenue from the cat-food rstaurant  industry in China.

Very few Chinese actually cook at home. Street restaurants are so cheap and convenient it's not worth them doing a lot of cooking at home.

My first ever boss in Australia was a bushie from Moree who used to make a living trapping rabbits, skinning them, and selling them for transport to the cities.

Not only is there a food-protein industry here, but also a beautiful cat-fur industry to feed the fashion markets all over the world.

I remember about 15 years ago the Current Affairs program did a jump on a Chinese guy down at Sydney's Mascot airport as he was organising the shipment of about 50 small dogs to China.

They caught him red-handed. All stolen live dogs headed for the South East Asian restaurant industry.

Lord Herbert wrote on Jun 22^nd, 2013 at 1:58pm:

Very few Chinese actually cook at home. Street restaurants are so cheap and convenient it's not worth them doing a lot of cooking at home.

The Chinese don't just use cats for food - they use their fur for their exported toys and they are skinned alive. As human beings there is no need for us to cause suffering to any animal deliberately. There are plenty of methods for a quick, painless kill.

Cats aren't cruel deliberately. It is a base instinct and not all cats torture small animals, but so many people feel the need to torture them more so than any other animal?

mantra wrote on Jun 24^th, 2013 at 10:10am:

Lord Herbert wrote on Jun 22nd, 2013 at 1:58pm: Very few Chinese actually cook at home. Street restaurants are so cheap and convenient it's not worth them doing a lot of cooking at home. The Chinese don't just use cats for food - they use their fur for their exported toys and they are skinned alive. As human beings there is no need for us to cause suffering to any animal deliberately. There are plenty of methods for a quick, painless kill. Cats aren't cruel deliberately. It is a base instinct and not all cats torture small animals, but so many people feel the need to torture them more so than any other animal?

Exactly.

I'm not seriously suggesting that feral cats be exported live to China, any more than I support live sheep and cattle being exported to the Middle East or Indonesia where that part of the brain which functions as empathy and a conscience is entirely missing.

The money you "cat lovers" spend on your pets feeding and what not could feed 10 starving kids in any 3rd world country you could name. Whats that about empathy again? Oh, Im sorry they have brown skin, thier lives are obviously worth a lot less than your self entitlement to a pet you think has a personality.  ::)

ian wrote on Jun 24^th, 2013 at 10:59am:

The money you "cat lovers" spend on your pets feeding and what not could feed 10 starving kids in any 3rd world country you could name. Whats that about empathy again? Oh, Im sorry they have brown skin, thier lives are obviously worth a lot less than your self entitlement to a pet you think has a personality.

This is true, but how do we feed the starving children from third world countries? For a start most of the despotic leaders of these nations want cash - not food and the money is rarely distributed to those who need it.

I don't think cats have much of a personality, but the  ones who are cared for adapt to their owner's needs. I didn't particularly want another cat, but I was talked into it. Within 12 months of adopting this feline, she adapted to my lifestyle instinctively. She stays away from the birds and lizards, but she's permitted to catch small rodents and she hasn't disappointed me yet.

ian wrote on Jun 24^th, 2013 at 10:59am:

The money you "cat lovers" spend on your pets feeding and what not could feed 10 starving kids in any 3rd world country you could name.

Correct!

If I thought the 'starving African kids' situation was only a temporary situation due to natural causes, I would gladly make some donations.

However, the situation is interminable for as long as the billions that are given each year to the African nations through Western Foreign Aid is not allowed to trickle down to save their own children from starvation.

It would make no difference if I sold my house and property and sent the entire proceeds to 'help the starving children'. If billions each year makes no difference, then me living on a park bench would make no difference either. 

And then again, the UN is sponsoring doctors to treat millions in Africa for malaria ~ which in turn is going to increase the population by several million a year ~ adding further to the problem of 'Africa's starving children'.



ian wrote on Jun 24^th, 2013 at 10:59am:

Whats that about empathy again?

It's having the capacity to sympathise with another person's situation ~ which I do. But I'm not a sentimental fool either for others to profit from.


ian wrote on Jun 24^th, 2013 at 10:59am:

Oh, Im sorry they have brown skin,

;D Apology accepted.


ian wrote on Jun 24^th, 2013 at 10:59am:

thier lives are obviously worth a lot less than your self entitlement to a pet you think has a personality.  ::)

.... billions of dollars each year in Foreign Aid ... and millions of dollars each year from private charities ... and yet ....

Nice try Ian, but my guilt meter hasn't twitched off the start pin.

***

And yes, my cats have personality ...

link

Ah, justification and projection to cover the obvious hypocrisy. Sorry mate, not working. Hiow many children do you sponsor?

I decide where my money goes, not you or anybody else. If I want to spend it on pets, it's none of your smacking business.

You feel good buddy, paying the massive salaries of the big wigs managing these charities.

Socrates wrote on Jun 24^th, 2013 at 12:20pm:

I decide where my money goes, not you or anybody else. If I want to spend it on pets, it's none of your smacking business. You feel good buddy, paying the massive salaries of the big wigs managing these charities.

Its not necassary to donate to charities to change some of these peoples lives for the better. But thats your justification to assauge your guilt, I can see that.

I have no guilt whatsoever, you on the other-hand must have; you're the one making all the assumptions and doling out the unwanted advice.

"assuage" ....... Do you mean justify? At least spell it correctly!

Get a dictionary chowderhead.

ian wrote on Jun 24^th, 2013 at 12:35pm:

Get a dictionary chowderhead.

as·suage 
/əˈswāj/
Verb
Make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense: "the letter assuaged the fears of most members".
Satisfy (an appetite or desire): "an opportunity occurred to assuage her desire for knowledge".
Synonyms
soothe - appease - allay - pacify - mitigate - calm

I think it's you who should check your spelling ignoramus. Also that misspelled word is totally unnecessary "Chowderhead".

Who cares about typos, I have fingers like suassages, mistype all the time. You got the meaning anyway. You should change you name there, doesnt really suit you. Try something like "Forrest" instead. Anyway, youre boring me now so Ive finished paying with you masterminds for a while. Im off to get paid an obscene amount of money for doing something simple.

'Charity Begins at Home'.

(My three cats are sitting here and nodding wisely at this).

Something as simple and cheap as a fish-and-rice diet would save the children from starvation. It would end it overnight.

Billions in Foreign Aid and millions in charity and yet STILL there's not enough money to buy dried fish and rice?

Give ... me .... a break.

When I was a boy in the 50's my mother told me to eat up ALL of my brussels sprouts, swede, parsnip, spinach, turnips, and broccoli because there were starving children in Africa.

I went to bed every night KNOWING I had helped some starving kid in Africa. I could hear my stomach rumbling with gratitude.

ian wrote on Jun 24^th, 2013 at 12:49pm:

Who cares about typos, I have fingers like suassages, mistype all the time. You got the meaning anyway. You should change you name there, doesnt really suit you. Try something like "Forrest" instead. Anyway, youre boring me now so Ive finished paying with you masterminds for a while. Im off to get paid an obscene amount of money for doing something simple.

What else would you be able to do other than something "simple"?

See ya later "suassages" ....... ;D  ;D ;D

Now don't bugger-up that "simple" job and lose that obscene amount of money.......

ian wrote on Jun 24^th, 2013 at 12:49pm:

Im off to get paid an obscene amount of money for doing something simple.

You're not working for a Male Escort agency are you?  8-)

Off to Comelot eh? :D

ian wrote on Jun 24^th, 2013 at 10:59am:

The money you "cat lovers" spend on your pets feeding and what not could feed 10 starving kids in any 3rd world country you could name. Whats that about empathy again? Oh, Im sorry they have brown skin, thier lives are obviously worth a lot less than your self entitlement to a pet you think has a personality.  ::)

Yeah, but I desexed my cat so that the problem of lots of offspring to feed wouldn't arise...

Don't you just hate the way some people put the dunny paper on the wall roller!





http://sphotos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/934951_504529269619684_1135291256_n.jpg

Ok, thats funny. And it looks like my Staffy who has a dislike for cats.

ian wrote on Jul 2^nd, 2013 at 10:33pm:

Ok, thats funny. And it looks like my Staffy who has a dislike for cats.

Speaking of Staffordshire Terriers. My neighbour has the friendliest dog you could ever wish to meet, and it's a  Staffy.

This male tries to lick my face off every time I stand on a couple of blocks and lean down over the Colorbond fence. I've never seen a dog so frantically eager to lick me to death.

They have a cat that walks around the backyard completely undisturbed by the dog.

Staffies are sooks, although they're described as being related to pit bulls.  I had a couple of cats who had grown up with 2 large dogs and were fearless and wouldn't hesitate to chase stray dogs off the property. 

Dogs only chase cats because they run. When a cat has no fear, dogs will back right down - or even run, sometimes with the cat in pursuit.

mantra wrote on Jul 4^th, 2013 at 9:14pm:

Staffies are sooks, although they're described as being related to pit bulls.  I had a couple of cats who had grown up with 2 large dogs and were fearless and wouldn't hesitate to chase stray dogs off the property.  Dogs only chase cats because they run. When a cat has no fear, dogs will back right down - or even run, sometimes with the cat in pursuit.

Funny you should say that.

Only the other day I was in the front yard, and my new neighbour's large dog suddenly appeared and stopped and looked at me.

And then from the corner of my eye I saw my cat Muffin ... belly down to the ground .. stalking towards this brute. And suddenly Muffin lunged forward and did a leap in the air ... (well out of reach of any snapping jaws).

And then the dog ran off.  ;D

It might have been a different story if the neighbour's other dog - a rat-catcher terrier type of dog had been there instead.

***

The manically friendly staffie who lives the other side of my backyard fence has a head on him that could 'Rip ya Bloody Arm Off!' (Aunty Jack).

Massively broad head with a wide mouth dripping with drool and studded with an awesome set of ivories.

Lord Herbert wrote on Jul 5^th, 2013 at 8:22am:

And then from the corner of my eye I saw my cat Muffin ... belly down to the ground .. stalking towards this brute. And suddenly Muffin lunged forward and did a leap in the air ... (well out of reach of any snapping jaws). And then the dog ran off.  Grin

Don't you wish you had a camera handy sometimes?


Quote:

The manically friendly staffie who lives the other side of my backyard fence has a head on him that could 'Rip ya Bloody Arm Off!' (Aunty Jack). Massively broad head with a wide mouth dripping with drool and studded with an awesome set of ivories.

I've had a bit of contact with staffies over the decades, but you don't see too many of them these days. Maybe because people believe they are savage. I've always found them overly friendly, non aggressive and extremely hyperactive, but it's difficult to keep them fenced. They love to wander.

I prefer big lolloping hairy mixed breeds who can't squeeze through tiny spaces.

Before Sooty escaped from his abusive home and took refuge under my house, one of the neighbour's schizo cats used to come over and scare the bejesus out of my Gizmo and Muffin in the back and front yard.

This continued for about a year ,,, and then Sooty arrived. Big black male with a broad head like a Staffie. Even I was intimidated. That head with all those sharp teeth could have "Ripped me Bloody Arm Off!"

But Sooty has turned out to be a lot more psychologically damaged than I had first thought. It's why he sticks to me like glue.

He suffers from fairly severe post-traumatic stress disorder.

I very strongly suspect that as a kitten he was well loved and well looked after. And then he went to a second home ~ either stolen, or picked up at a pound as lost.

And that's when he suffered cruelty and abuse. I think someone used to poke a lit cigarette or lighter at his hind-quarters. There's nothing physically wrong there, but most times ~ not always ~ he'll go crazy if you just touch him gently around the stump of the tail.

He's a big cat now, and all evidence of singed fur has long disappeared.

Another thing is he is terrified of walking through the house. He tries as much as possible to make his way to the backdoor by leaping from anything that keeps him above the floor. If there's no more furniture for him to leap from, then he'll hit the floor running in a terrified panic.

Needless to say, he sleeps hard-up against me every night. Poor little bugger. I think he was once somebody's plaything, and his reaction to acts of cruelty kept some evil person or persons thinking it was hilariously funny.

mantra wrote on Jul 5^th, 2013 at 4:56pm:

Maybe because people believe they are savage

only stupid people ... staffies make great pets.

John Smith wrote on Jul 5^th, 2013 at 6:16pm:

mantra wrote on Jul 5th, 2013 at 4:56pm: Maybe because people believe they are savage only stupid people ... staffies make great pets.

I think a lot of people must get them mixed up with the American staffordshire. Australian staffies are very cute, but extremely energetic. They need a home where they're going to get a lot of exercise and attention. If that's not provided - then if there's an escape route - they'll stray.

Lord Herbert wrote on Jul 5^th, 2013 at 6:08pm:

But Sooty has turned out to be a lot more psychologically damaged than I had first thought. It's why he sticks to me like glue. He suffers from fairly severe post-traumatic stress disorder. I very strongly suspect that as a kitten he was well loved and well looked after. And then he went to a second home ~ either stolen, or picked up at a pound as lost. And that's when he suffered cruelty and abuse. I think someone used to poke a lit cigarette or lighter at his hind-quarters. There's nothing physically wrong there, but most times ~ not always ~ he'll go crazy if you just touch him gently around the stump of the tail. He's a big cat now, and all evidence of singed fur has long disappeared. Another thing is he is terrified of walking through the house. He tries as much as possible to make his way to the backdoor by leaping from anything that keeps him above the floor. If there's no more furniture for him to leap from, then he'll hit the floor running in a terrified panic. Needless to say, he sleeps hard-up against me every night. Poor little bugger. I think he was once somebody's plaything, and his reaction to acts of cruelty kept some evil person or persons thinking it was hilariously funny.

Lately I've had to turn my back on animal cruelty after spending many decades losing sleep, plotting how to rescue animals, looking after them and usually keeping them. There's too much of it around and it seems to be getting worse.

There is a big difference between getting a kitten from a loving home and raising it. My first two cats who lived till a ripe old age were spoilt from the moment they were born and had a great life. The latest edition - an adult cat - Sia - hate the name, but it's supposed to be my daughter's cat, looked like a young kitten when she arrived on my doorstep. She was so thin - malnourished and dehydrated that she couldn't have weighed more than half a kilo. She vomited up a stomach full of skink tails on my kitchen floor which were the sole contents of her tummy. She had a microchip, which of course had a disconnected phone number.

Her behaviour indicated that she'd been kept locked in a small space. I suspect someone got bored with her and dumped her on my doorstep.

I didn't want anymore cats and ended up taking her to the RSPCA after a couple of weeks, which was the wrong thing to do. It was too traumatic for her. My daughter's nagging got to me - so we ended up buying her back a few weeks later. A year later and she's sleek, plump and placid - but very aloof. Thankfully she's a homebody and doesn't wander and at least stops baby rodents from entering the house in exchange for her expensive diet.

Great story, Mantra.

Herbert it sounds like the cat used to live with an obese and aggressive dog.

freediver wrote on Jul 7^th, 2013 at 9:47am:

Herbert it sounds like the cat used to live with an obese and aggressive dog.

Of all the cats I've had over the past 22 years, this big black male is the most doting upon me. I don't think he can believe his luck. Someone had made his life a hell by enjoying scaring him out of his wits.

In just the past 5 years my neighbourhood has been invaded by Pacific Islanders. A hundred villas a year have been built in this area, and it wouldn't surprise me if Sooty was a refugee from some Pacific Islander home around here.

Not all cultures are the same.

There's strength in diversity.

We are One but we are Many.

Celebrate our Differences.

Proudly Multicultural because we're not all singing from the same page. The greater the difference from our own moral heritage ~ the prouder we are to host this antipathy to our own values.




 

Lord Herbert wrote on Jul 5^th, 2013 at 7:14pm:

Great story, Mantra.

Thanks Herbert - although this cat would have to be one of the less interesting animals I've owned. She's not even grateful that I rescued her. It would be nice to have an affectionate animal - so you're lucky Sooty is so insecure.


Quote:

In just the past 5 years my neighbourhood has been invaded by Pacific Islanders. A hundred villas a year have been built in this area, and it wouldn't surprise me if Sooty was a refugee from some Pacific Islander home around here. Not all cultures are the same. There's strength in diversity. We are One but we are Many. Celebrate our Differences. Proudly Multicultural because we're not all singing from the same page. The greater the difference from our own moral heritage ~ the prouder we are to host this antipathy to our own values.

There are a lot of Pacific Islanders in my area also. Some cultures only look at animals as food and haven't been raised to feel affection towards them.

It's not just people from developing nations who are cruel. The Americans with their obsession for hunting and trapping are barbaric. Aside from the old English gentry - who thankfully are dying out, what other nation of people decorate their homes with animal heads. In Africa they're breeding lions who live to adulthood in small cages specifically so the rich yanks can put a bullet in them and take the head home as a trophy.

We've started doing the same here with crocodiles to cater to their gluttony.

There's extreme cruelty everywhere even in the civilised western nations.

mantra wrote on Jul 7^th, 2013 at 6:09pm:

.. It would be nice to have an affectionate animal - so you're lucky Sooty is so insecure.

;D

I don't think Sooty will ever get over his paranoia, but overall he's a lot more settled than he was at first.

A big surprise to me has been how he accepted my own two cats as 'family'. About a week after he finally came out from under the house, a cat from across the road that's been visiting me for years came strolling into the backyard.

And that's when this new cat 'Sooty' put on a display of aggression like I've never seen before in real life or on film. He made this extraordinary noise that at first I wondered where it came from. It was a full-bodied roaring sound, with spittle flying. His whole body visibly vibrated.

Oscar has been Top Cat in these parts for almost his whole 18 years, but this was something way beyond anything he'd seen or heard before. He shot up a tree and stayed there until dark.

If I could have got Sooty's performance on film, it would have been of genuine interest to zoologists and whoever. I was actually a bit worried for myself for a couple of days. Did you ever see the movie 'An American werewolf in Paris'? That's Sooty when he's a little upset about something.  ;D ;D

But! He has never laid a single claw on me for all the time I've had him here. Every day he hops up on the table with wheels I have here, and eyeballs me only inches from my face with those enormous, golden orb eyes of his that are straight from the forests of primordial pre-history ~ and I'm damn glad he's on my side ...   


mantra wrote on Jul 7^th, 2013 at 6:09pm:

There are a lot of Pacific Islanders in my area also. Some cultures only look at animals as food and haven't been raised to feel affection towards them.

I was wrong to generalise in such a way. On the few occasions that the news has brought stories of cats being set alight, it's been Anglo youths who were the culprits.


mantra wrote on Jul 7^th, 2013 at 6:09pm:

It's not just people from developing nations who are cruel. The Americans with their obsession for hunting and trapping are barbaric. Aside from the old English gentry - who thankfully are dying out, what other nation of people decorate their homes with animal heads. In Africa they're breeding lions who live to adulthood in small cages specifically so the rich yanks can put a bullet in them and take the head home as a trophy. We've started doing the same here with crocodiles to cater to their gluttony. There's extreme cruelty everywhere even in the civilised western nations.

I agree. I think the culture which sees men go out into the woods to shoot deer and whatever else, so they can take photos and hang the heads on their walls ~ is pathetic. I keep getting into trouble with my rightwing compatriots for holding to this attitude.

I say "Grow up! ~ and take a camera, not a gun".

Hmmmm, why is it that Bullfighting is still going on

I hate that

miketrees wrote on Jul 7^th, 2013 at 8:42pm:

Hmmmm, why is it that Bullfighting is still going on I hate that

Didn't Spain recently announce it was banning it? I'll check with Google later.

As a kid I spent a couple of summer holidays in the south of France with my cousins whose parents owned a vineyard. They would take me to a small town where there would be an annual bull fighting festival all day long. 

What it consisted of was the local youths jumping over the backs of charging cows.  ;D It was dangerous. They were brave kids. Everyone had a lot of fun and a lot of laughs ~ and at the end of the day the cows were bedded down in lush hay until the next festival in a years time.

SO what were these arseholes doing setting traps for deers in the middle of dense rain forests?

Shall I guess?

They sell deer penises to the Chinese medicine bullshit artists for a small fortune.

Leave them up the tree.

I believe tigers can climb trees, can't they?  8-) Darwin's Natural Selection in action.

Lord Herbert wrote on Jul 8^th, 2013 at 9:48am:

SO what were these arseholes doing setting traps for deers in the middle of dense rain forests? Shall I guess? They sell deer penises to the Chinese medicine bullshit artists for a small fortune. Leave them up the tree. I believe tigers can climb trees, can't they?  Cool Darwin's Natural Selection in action.

They'll be rescued eventually. Even if they do get eaten - there will be another dozen or so trappers to replace them.

We'll be seeing similar in NSW in a few months. O'Farrell seems to rely on the Shooters Party to get his controversial legislation through.

Maybe a couple of them will be gored by wild boar?


Quote:

Our national parks will be ravaged by amateur hunters - shooting at anything which moves. The only way to stop this potential devastation will be for a visitor to be shot. A national park should be a safe haven and peaceful place for all visitors (and the animals who live there!), not a personal hunting ground for a small minority who choose to kill animals for 'sport'. Despite claims, allowing amateur shooters into our national parks will not provide any real conservation benefit - this is just 'recreational' hunting dressed up as 'pest' animal control. The proposal was originally cooked up by the NSW Game Council — a controversial taxpayer-funded group headed by shooters and soon to be abolished after a review found it lacked accountability and paid too little attention to public safety. Surely this should mean that this controversial and unpopular plan should be scrapped too. If you live in NSW, please use the form below to send an urgent message to Premier Barry O'Farrell and your Coalition MP, urging them to repeal the dangerous laws allowing amateur hunters in national parks. If you live outside NSW, please send an email to Premier Barry O'Farrell directly.

http://www.animalsaustralia.org/take_action/stop-shooting-in-nsw-national-parks

I don't mind if there is a real case for culling of kangaroos, deers, pigs, foxes, rabbits, feral cats, brumbies, camels, abos, crocodiles, American tourists, Muslims, flying foxes, dingoes, homosexuals, university students, sharks, snakes, bush rats and so on.

8-)

Qld sucks when it comes to the enviroment & wildlife, but at least we are winning the 'Cat' race.
It has been illegal for several years for any cat to leave their owners property. All cats must be de-sexed, microchipped and registered. If a cat strays out of it's yard it may be 'arrested' & impounded.
Personally I don't understand how a human can declare their love for a cat and then let it out side at all, to risk being run over, getting Feline AIDS, bashed up ect. To me this is  NOT a sign of LOVE or RESPECT.
I fellow who builds (personally designed to peoples needs & house situation 'Happy Cat Enclosures') make me a Koala Joey & Mac Joey area so Powerful Owls, Hawks ect can't get to the little ones, but they can still be outside. 

A big welcome from me for your first post here.

Your heart's in the right place and I agree with most of what you've said.

As for letting your cats outside, this issue will always divide the cat-owning community like nothing else.

If I was utterly selfish with my three cats, I would never let them out. I would have them locked in the house for my own selfish convenience, 24/7.

I decided long ago not to selfishly keep my cats in ignorance of the joys of being a cat in the backyard and around the rest of the property. I've let them vote with their feet ... and it works out that it's about 50/50 for them in the garden and the house.

I have cat-flaps in the front and backdoor through which they come and go at their will. At night they're locked in the house.

This arrangement means they have the best of both worlds ~ the indoor security and the playground on the outside.

Needless to say my cats are specially injected against feline AIDS beside the normal annual shots.

Koala-Kanga-Mumma wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2013 at 8:30pm:

Qld sucks when it comes to the enviroment & wildlife, but at least we are winning the 'Cat' race. It has been illegal for several years for any cat to leave their owners property. All cats must be de-sexed, microchipped and registered. If a cat strays out of it's yard it may be 'arrested' & impounded. Personally I don't understand how a human can declare their love for a cat and then let it out side at all, to risk being run over, getting Feline AIDS, bashed up ect. To me this is  NOT a sign of LOVE or RESPECT. I fellow who builds (personally designed to peoples needs & house situation 'Happy Cat Enclosures') make me a Koala Joey & Mac Joey area so Powerful Owls, Hawks ect can't get to the little ones, but they can still be outside.

Welcome to Ozpolitic Koala-Kanga-Mumma.

I was nagged into adopting a cat a year ago. I don't love her, but I like her. I let her outside usually when she demands it, because she's extremely intelligent and most of the time obedient. I check on her a dozen times a day and she's always close, even if she's out of sight. She makes a quick appearance to reassure me, then she's gone again.

She has her freedom because I can sense that in her earlier life she was confined to a small space and I know she was starved. In her own selfish cat way - she tries to show me that she appreciates the comfortable life I've given her.

It is extremely cruel to keep cats inside all the time. Some people even de-claw them so they don't mess the furniture up.

She might just get run over one day, or poisoned or trapped by a cruel neighbour, but for the moment she appears to be content and happy. She's a lucky cat though - she found her way to my front door. Even if she's into her last life, I believe it will be a long one.

mantra wrote on Jul 24^th, 2013 at 6:36am:

She might just get run over one day, or poisoned or trapped by a cruel neighbour, but for the moment she appears to be content and happy. She's a lucky cat though - she found her way to my front door. Even if she's into her last life, I believe it will be a long one.

That's my philosophy too.

It's more risky to their health outside of the house, but the compensation is a much happier and fuller enjoyment of their cat-lives.