I've been following this thread for a while and I have a question. How do
you expect owners to "control" cats? This is by no means meant to be an
argument, but simply a question.
My cat is 14 years old but still climbs my trees and catches birds. (which
I have no objection, we have loads nesting round our house and garden and it
only serves to keep this population down). He goes into other gardens, but
we've had no complains, most of them feed him anyway! He attacks any cats
that attempts to come into our garden (they learn pretty quickly) and he
doesn't cause hassle to anyone. Am I a responsible owner?
Sorry, just wondered how to control my cat more efficiently!
Charlie.
"Larry Stoter" wrote in message
. co.uk...
Little Badger wrote:
Larry
I'm a very keen gardener and have been gardening since I was 11 years
old! I
also own a cat that I love very much!
I am also a volunteer for my local PDSA charity shop!
I would notice that my cat was missing within hours of coming home from
work!
My cat is with me always ( he's at my feet now)!
Why do people like you hate cats so much? Can't you put up with another
animal (as free as a cat) entering your domain or is all you and
yourself
what you think about all the time?
I don't hate cats - quite like them, in fact.
I do dislike cat 'owners' who can't be bothered to control their animals
and who believe their pet has a right to wander around the
neighbourhood. My objections to cats in my garden a
1. It is my garden and I haven't given permission for a cat to enter.
Why should I, as I don't want it? Unfortunately, because of a
peculiarity of UK law, I don't have any legal means of removing a cat
owned by a neighbour. If a dog, rat or person uses my garden as a
toilet, I have various options open to me to resolve the problem.
2. I delight in having many free animals coming into my garden and
actively encourage them. These are true, wild animals - insects,
amphibians, birds, small mammals, etc. Many local cats attempt to kill
them - cats which are not truly wild but are provided with food and
shelter. In doing so, their owners are giving these efficient predators
a huge competitive advantage against truly free and wild animals.
3. Cats defaecate and urinate in my vegatables, which I find unpleasant
and a potential health risk.
4. Cats dig up seeds and seedlings.
5. Cats are a reservoir of toxoplasma gondii - this parasitic worm is
known to cause miscarriages in humans. There is also evidence that it
can lead to more subtle neurological problems in humans. Certainly, it
changes the behaviour of small mammals in such a way as to make them
much easier for cats to catch. If it does this to mice, it would not be
surprising that it also affected human behaviour. I believe there is a
government committee currently examining this issue.
What I would like to see is:
a) A legal requirement on cat owners to control their animals, as is the
case with other domestic animals and pets, such as dogs. This to include
fines for those who don't and the ability for neighbours to take civil
action against cat owners.
b) For me to be able to trap any cat (not just strays) which enters my
property and hand it over to an appropriate organisation. The animal
should, of course, be legally protected against ill treatment.
c) A legal requirement for all dogs and cats to be neutered unless they
are owned specifically for breeding purposes. In which case, owners to
be licensed to keep intact animals, subject to inspection and fined if
their animals are allowed to stray from their property.
And thank you to those cat owners who do take proper responsability for
their pets.
--
Larry Stoter
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