I’m sorry, but it isn’t really believable that a single species could possibly have as monumental an effect on the environment as the one you describe. A friend just came back from a visit to Israel where the majority of cats are actually feral and she didn’t notice any extensive destruction of the wildlife and the landscape (which, mind you, is mostly man-created and therefore quite sensitive).
The justification of *our* right to regularly kill cats on the grounds that *they* are predatory is even less convincing (I guess you consider death by injection or gas of millions of cats a “prettier sight” than a cat catching birds to eat.)
Apart from that, there isn’t much in your posting explaining why it’s necessary to systematically kill cats, much less why this does not raise moral or humanitarian questions. All you do is just try to give a sense of why you don’t find cats cute. You don’t need to give any justification for that.
As for your question whether we must let them live just because they are alive, the answer is simply yes unless there is a serious reason forcing us to do otherwise. According to our values (at least the Judeo-Christian ones) all life is sacred and one must have good reasons to take it away. (For instance, with the Cane Toad to answer your question, I might have no other option if it threatens me and my family. There is no such danger from stray cats.)
Anyways, one must realize that a decision to kill is a serious matter. I didn’t see any such seriousness in the message to which I originally replied.
I suspect that the main idea behind your arguments is that you just don’t like cats and that you are afraid of anything not completely under your control in your property and its surroundings. That’s fine but from that to trying systematically to eliminate stray cats is a big step.
In any case, you might want to try to find out why your emotions on this issue are so intense. I don’t think the topic warrants such intensity.
Quote:
Originally posted by Rod Out back
"mf197421" wrote in message
...
I haven't been troubled by squirrels as yet but I occasionally set
traps
to catch stray cats which are then put to sleep by a local authority.
--
Chris Bee
I find this message upsetting. There is nothing illegal in the actions
described in it, but, rather, what is upseting is the casual tone in
which putting cats to death is presented as a solution to the "bother"
they cause. After all, it's living beings, able to feel pain, to attach
themselves to people etc., we are talking about.
From this standpoint, I was particularly dismayed by the systematic
nature of the reader's practice to "occasionally put out traps.." I'd
have hoped that all the horrors of last century would have taught us to
respect and value all life, or, at the very least, to think seriously
about the necessity of killing a living being before taking such a step.
--
mf197421
------------------------------------------------------------------------
posted via www.GardenBanter.co.uk
What I find of great concern is how lightly you take the precious native
wildlife that a cat eats! Any thoughts to the countless birds, lizards and
small furry animals that are eaten every day by cats?? Cats are one of our
worst predatory killers.
We have made a concerted effort here (an outback Australian property) to rid
our countryside of cats & foxes. Within 6 months of commencing this program
(10-80 baiting, & shooting), we saw a steadily growing number of nocturnal
lizards (broad-banded sand swimmer), marsupial mice(dunnarts) and legless
lizards. In addition, there are some species of bird that seem to be in
greater numbers, and we had been in our worst drought in 100 years.
It has become apparent that feral cats & foxes have been keeping some native
animal populations very close to non-existant in this area.
Have you ever looked at the contents of a cats stomach; even a domestic one?
Probably not; I am betting. You will find an awfull lot of your wildlife
dissappears down its gullet. Cats are one of natures most successfull
predators, and they dont stop because they are getting fed every day at
home! We had 2 cats here a few years ago, and despite 2 meals a day and dry
feed on hand 24/7(I kid you not), they would still go and catch birds,
lizards, dunnarts, and whatever they could find. Since their respective
passings, the wildlife has breathed a collective sigh of relief.
I dont have a problem with cats as such, but 99% of cat owners feel that it
is their moggy's god-given right to prowl around and catch & kill whatever
it finds.
And no doubt you think I am just so horrid for being prepared to kill those
animals that threaten our native wildlife; simply because they are alive???.
Think about their prey! Some of it is far more precious than a cat!
From my side, I believe your attitude is something close to environmental
vandalism. Your approach means that every animal has the right to exist,
regardless of the circumstances as to how it got there. The problem is that
many ecosystems would dissappear overnight if you follow this philosophy. I
dont believe an animal should suffer cruelty, and the poster you took
offence to indicated they take steps to minimise the suffering to the
animal. This is (in my opinion) about as thoughtful and conscientious an
approach to the problem of cats that you can get. More people should be
doing the same.
Unfortunately, I dont have anything to offer the squirrel repellant request.
However, 10-80 works a treat on cats...
Sorry to all about the rant; this head-in-the-sand approach makes me
cranky...
Cheers,
Rod.......Out Back [/b]
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