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ORIGINAL: JstAnotherSub

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ORIGINAL: DesFIP

They still decimate songbirds, owned or unowned. And yes, studies do show that the greatest threat to bird populations are cats. So if your neighbor feeds the birds, and you let your cat out to prey on them, don't be surprised if they get fed up with your cat and do something permanent about it.

The few folks I know who have cats that do go out have bells on them, for that reason.  They can still get their stalking in, but the birds get away.

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ORIGINAL: NuevaVida

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ORIGINAL: JstAnotherSub

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ORIGINAL: DesFIP

They still decimate songbirds, owned or unowned. And yes, studies do show that the greatest threat to bird populations are cats. So if your neighbor feeds the birds, and you let your cat out to prey on them, don't be surprised if they get fed up with your cat and do something permanent about it.

The few folks I know who have cats that do go out have bells on them, for that reason.  They can still get their stalking in, but the birds get away.

Doesn't prevent people who are resentful about cats from harming the cats.

My cat gets his kicks stalking the little fake mice I give him.  And when he's done, he bats 'em under the refrigerator.  At the end of every week, I pull a dozen mice out from under there.

I don't need to put his life in jeopardy just so he can get his stalking yaya's out. 

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It seems like once a month around here, someone sends a letter to the editor whining about some "mean driver" that ran over fluffy and didnt stop to help pay vet bills or offer condolences or whatever.

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ORIGINAL: AlwaysLisa

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Feral cats usually avoid human contact, unless starving. They hide.. and are nocturnal. they are much less likely to attack a human, or bite a human, than a dog is.

The feral cats around here didn't read that manual. 

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ORIGINAL: Phoenixpower
Just curious about your views or personal experiences as cat owner or as annoyed neighbour or even experiences if you know a friend or neighbour who was annoyed about neighbours pets.

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ORIGINAL: LillyBoPeep

i don't really think cats should be out roaming loose. they can bite just like dogs can, spread disease just like does can, and of course, shit all over your yard and tear up your trash like dogs can. it has always annoyed me that they get a special pass to do this just just because "they're cats." they don't have any more of a need to roam than a dog does, but, as a dog owner, you can't justify letting your dog roam free at night by saying "he's a dog, he needs to roam," you're expected to get a leash on him and take him out, and clean up after him when he's out.

the worst animal attack of my life came from a cat that was out roaming around the apartment we lived in at the time. my mom had bought me a bag of caramels and the cat decided to take it. it bit up my hands and scratched me in the face (i was 5 at the time). my mom whacked it with her purse until it went away, but i ended up getting so sick with something called "cat scratch fever," that i had to have surgery to remove a lymph node that literally EXPLODED from trying to process all the infection in my system.

cats don't need to be out at night, it's some weird cat-owner entitlement. cats don't need to shit in people's yards. cats CAN learn to walk on leashes, i know people who have taught their cats to do so. i know people who have taught rabbits and pet rats to walk on leashes.

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ORIGINAL: LadyConstanze

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ORIGINAL: LillyBoPeep

i don't really think cats should be out roaming loose. they can bite just like dogs can, spread disease just like does can, and of course, shit all over your yard and tear up your trash like dogs can. it has always annoyed me that they get a special pass to do this just just because "they're cats." they don't have any more of a need to roam than a dog does, but, as a dog owner, you can't justify letting your dog roam free at night by saying "he's a dog, he needs to roam," you're expected to get a leash on him and take him out, and clean up after him when he's out.

the worst animal attack of my life came from a cat that was out roaming around the apartment we lived in at the time. my mom had bought me a bag of caramels and the cat decided to take it. it bit up my hands and scratched me in the face (i was 5 at the time). my mom whacked it with her purse until it went away, but i ended up getting so sick with something called "cat scratch fever," that i had to have surgery to remove a lymph node that literally EXPLODED from trying to process all the infection in my system.

cats don't need to be out at night, it's some weird cat-owner entitlement. cats don't need to shit in people's yards. cats CAN learn to walk on leashes, i know people who have taught their cats to do so. i know people who have taught rabbits and pet rats to walk on leashes.

Oh seriously, when was the last time a cat attacked and bit somebody? When was the last time you saw a dog climbing trees or roofs? You do understand the difference between a pack animal (dog, you are the pack leader they walk with you) and a cat? A cat on a leash is cruel, yes my pet rat could be trained to walk on a leash, but since he's living inside anyway, why would I want to do that? Anybody dragging a cat on a leash around without a valid reason, I'd let the person know what I think about them.

I'm surprised since the feral cats in your area are so vicious and ready to attack, that the papers aren't full of it.

How about you start your rant about wild birds? You know the ones who shit on your windows or shit on your car, shouldn't they be all on leashes?

I had house cats before, they never had been outside and it was fine for them, my 2 cats now came from somewhere where they were used to going outside, it would be like prison for them to keep them in the house, sorry, they are not criminals, I am not going to lock them in because some weird cat hater decides they feel offended by a cat sitting outside... Also neutered cats don't tend to spray a lot, a kitty litter right next to the cat flap does the trick, most cats prefer a clean kitty litter to digging up soil where their paws get dirty, when it's hatching season in the evening the cat flap is one way, meaning they can get in but not out at night.

When buying the house, I knew I would have those 2 cats, so I made sure to only look at houses that are not near main roads, so they can go out. They are also quite shy with strangers, so I doubt they'll launch wild attacks, though if somebody should have them in a corner and tries to pick them up against their will, I hope they do rip the person's hand off.

Sorry, but just because some maniac gets offended by a cat doing what a cat does, mine are not going to suffer from it. What's next? Children will only be allowed to play very quietly because somebody might think they are disturbing them... Seriously, people who dislike animals, I have a problem with them.

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ORIGINAL: AlwaysLisa

http://www.mercer.edu/psychology/Faculty_Staff/Wright_JC/downloadable_articles/Reported%20Cat%20Bites%20in%20Dallas-Characteristics%20of%20the%20Cats,%20the%20Victims,%20and%20the%20Attack%20Events.pdf

This is just one city.  I was surprised at the number of reported injuries.   Most were bites or scratches on the hands, and most by female strays.  

I am not one of those fanatical types, I understand people and animals must coexist peacefully, or the animals suffer.   However, if you are of the mindset that cats must roam free to be happy, then perhaps living on acreage, away from society, is the perfect place to be.  If just one child gets injured for attempting to pet a stray cat, it's one child too many.   We live among others, and in doing so, must respect their rights to happiness while striving to reach our own.  

I battle PETA on a regular basis.  They come to dog shows, slipping anti freeze into drinking containers, or opening up enclosure doors, often times setting dogs loose for a quick death on the nearby highway.   All in the name of "dogs must roam free, or they are better off dead".   Letting cats have free range, is in my mind, just as cruel.  We domesticated them, at one time they were all as feral as weasels.  (And still viewed as vermin in some countries).  We moved them into apartments, condo's and suburbia, trained them to use a litterbox and eat meat from a tin.  They are our responsibility.  Would you turn a child loose in the neighborhood to relieve himself where he wished, knock over trash cans looking for food and risk death by several methods?   To say cats are unhappy indoors, is a misnomer.   I can point you to at least 20 examples of healthy, happy cats, who never step over the threshold. 

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ORIGINAL: NuevaVida

Now...healthy boy 

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ORIGINAL: ChatteParfaitt

OH MY GAWD !!

He is beyond gorgeous. What a lucky sweet kitty he is !!

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ORIGINAL: Phoenixpower

Just curious about your views or personal experiences as cat owner or as annoyed neighbour or even experiences if you know a friend or neighbour who was annoyed about neighbours pets.