In defence of cats

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#1198051 15-Dec-2014 20:19

My Fox Terrier will kill anything she regards as prey - birds, hedgehogs, rabbits, rats, mice etc etc. It's not just a cat thing.

It's part of life and to be honest the presence of domestic animals is more important to me than a few wild birds. I also have no problem with humans changing their environment to suit - I hold no truck with this 'preserve everything in aspic' approach we seem to have adopted.

Lets have wolves on the south island. And bears. And beavers. All much more interesting to look at than some birds. And tastier.

Fred99

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#1198053 15-Dec-2014 20:23

How your cat is making you crazy

Highly recommended reading for all cat lovers.

Edit to add a copy of the photo of the researcher.

afe66

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#1198059 15-Dec-2014 20:28

Other opinions are available.

The cats vrs other animals is an argument, the non cat owner will never win.

I put out bird food and the native birds gathering bring me as much pleasure as your cats do to you but, I get very angry at the neighbouring cats sitting near the feeder and trying to kill the natives.

OK you can have your cats on your property but why shouldn't I be able to shoot them on mine.

If I was a farmer and your dog was on my property killing animals, no one would deny my right to shoot them.

The native birds on my property are just as important to me as your cat is to you, so the simple answer would be keep your cat out of my garden.

Garith Morgans comment about the RSPCA should be looking after other animals than just cats/dogs rang true to me.

A.

Sidestep

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#1198061 15-Dec-2014 20:31

Cats make wonderful pets and companions.

There's definitely a place for them in New Zealand.
That place is inside a caring owner's house, or out within their yard.

The massive feral cat problem is caused by uncaring owners who dump kittens and or unspayed/neutered adult cats and leave them to fend for themselves.

I live in rural New Zealand, and have have to deal with feral cats (along with possums, stoats, rabbits etc).

Cats are harder to deal with than the other feral animals, as they need to be live trapped, then checked for tatoos or chips – or any domestic traits before we euthanase them.

I hate to kill any animal for no reason, and it's wholly the fault of humans that these often starving, sick and diseased animals are out here instead of being sleek, happy and loved in a cat owners home.

So give your cats a cuddle, then think about donating to your local SPCA or Humane society - both are organisations that subsidise the desexing and rehoming of cats in need.

Geektastic

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#1198063 15-Dec-2014 20:33

afe66: Other opinions are available.

The cats vrs other animals is an argument, the non cat owner will never win.

I put out bird food and the native birds gathering bring me as much pleasure as your cats do to you but, I get very angry at the neighbouring cats sitting near the feeder and trying to kill the natives.

OK you can have your cats on your property but why shouldn't I be able to shoot them on mine.

If I was a farmer and your dog was on my property killing animals, no one would deny my right to shoot them.

The native birds on my property are just as important to me as your cat is to you, so the simple answer would be keep your cat out of my garden.

Garith Morgans comment about the RSPCA should be looking after other animals than just cats.

A.

We have oodles of birds - Tui, wax eyes, quail, magpies, ducks, blackbirds, grey warblers, swallows, hawks, wood pigeons, starlings, fantails and rosellas to name a few - but also cats from around and also my dogs. The hawks probably get more than the cats or the dogs. They killed all 9 of our ducklings last year within a week.

Out here in the cunnryzide cats without collars are generally shot on sight as assumed to be feral.

Rikkitic

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#1198087 15-Dec-2014 21:15

DarthKermit:

Thank you for your kind words. Blackie has been gone for 37 days as of today. I still feel so bad about him. Every time I go out to visit his grave in the garden, I have a little sob.

I'm so looking forward to getting our two new kittens in a few weeks. It's not about replacing the late cat, but giving a home and love to two animals who need this.

My partner was the one who encouraged me to go ahead and get some new kittens. By the time we get them, it will be two months since Blackie left this world, so it should be a bit easier by then.

How long did you have Boots for? I'd love to see a pic or two of him when you're ready to upload them.

There are so many wonderful pictures of Boots it is hard to choose. This is one I really like from when he was a kitten. He died around the time he would have turned 7. I don’t know exactly when he was born, but he died just before noon on Wednesday 19 September 2012. He was always a very healthy cat with a beautiful coat, but he suddenly got very sick, almost from one day to the next. I’m still not sure what he had. I spent thousands having him treated but even the vets at Massey animal hospital couldn’t help him. I finally brought him home to die. I had to keep him artificially fed and hydrated and full of pain killers. I did my best for two days but then realised I was just hurting him and I couldn’t bear it so I took him to the vet to be euthanised. By then he was already gone. There was no trace of him left, just a miserable ball of suffering. He died in my arms. Others were with me but this is the first time I have talked about it with anyone else.

We brought him home and buried him in the yard and planted flowers and an apple tree on his grave. This year the tree has suddenly spurted into growth and it was filled with blossoms and now little apples. It is the first fruit.

For 18 months I sat by the grave every morning and evening, talking to him and telling him about my day. Then I didn’t feel the need to do it any more. I still visit him from time to time, just to say hello.

I know exactly what you mean about that special bond. Boots was the best friend I ever had. Writing this still chokes me up. Not long ago it would have had me bawling. Losing Boots was like losing a child. Only someone who has been there can know what it is like. It is an awful thing to have to go through. Like I said, I share your pain.

So tell me about Blackie, if you feel like it.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

Rikkitic

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#1198100 15-Dec-2014 21:28

Fred99: How your cat is making you crazy

I have heard about the toxoplasmiosis thing and maybe it is true. I have no way of knowing. It is certainly interesting but it doesn't change my opinion about cats or the pleasure I get from letting them sleep in my bed, under the covers. Let's see now, what in the environment can make us crazy? Red meat? Plastic packaging and containers? Cell phones? Food additives? Air and water pollution? Genetic engineering? Mercury in seafood? New Zealand broadcast televison? Compared to all that I don't think a few parasites are going to bother me much.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

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alasta

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#1198102 15-Dec-2014 21:30

Rikkitic: I know exactly what you mean about that special bond. Boots was the best friend I ever had. Writing this still chokes me up. Not long ago it would have had me bawling. Losing Boots was like losing a child.

I feel the same way about cats - actually my life would be very, very lonely without them. If anyone has a problem with my cat on their property then please come and have a civilised conversation about it. I'm a reasonable person and I respect that some people don't like having cats roaming their properties, but they need to respect my need to have cats in my life.

Rikkitic

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#1198108 15-Dec-2014 21:37

afe66: Other opinions are available.

The cats vrs other animals is an argument, the non cat owner will never win.

I put out bird food and the native birds gathering bring me as much pleasure as your cats do to you but, I get very angry at the neighbouring cats sitting near the feeder and trying to kill the natives.

OK you can have your cats on your property but why shouldn't I be able to shoot them on mine.

If I was a farmer and your dog was on my property killing animals, no one would deny my right to shoot them.

The native birds on my property are just as important to me as your cat is to you, so the simple answer would be keep your cat out of my garden.

Garith Morgans comment about the RSPCA should be looking after other animals than just cats/dogs rang true to me.

A.

This is a valid point and you are certainly entitled to feel angry though I find it sad that your answer is to shoot a living thing. Surely there are other ways to keep the cats away. Fortunately where I live there are no problems with neighbours. Our property is large and the cats don't wander far. But I accept the point that your birds matter to you just as much as my cats do to me and why not? I like most creatures.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

Rikkitic

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#1198113 15-Dec-2014 21:53

Sidestep: Cats make wonderful pets and companions.

There's definitely a place for them in New Zealand.
That place is inside a caring owner's house, or out within their yard.

The massive feral cat problem is caused by uncaring owners who dump kittens and or unspayed/neutered adult cats and leave them to fend for themselves.

I live in rural New Zealand, and have have to deal with feral cats (along with possums, stoats, rabbits etc).

Cats are harder to deal with than the other feral animals, as they need to be live trapped, then checked for tatoos or chips – or any domestic traits before we euthanase them.

I hate to kill any animal for no reason, and it's wholly the fault of humans that these often starving, sick and diseased animals are out here instead of being sleek, happy and loved in a cat owners home.

So give your cats a cuddle, then think about donating to your local SPCA or Humane society - both are organisations that subsidise the desexing and rehoming of cats in need.

This is really one of the points I was trying to make when I started this thread. Idiot people, not cats, have created the cat problem. Why should the cats have to suffer as a result? It must be possible to improve controls and increase penalties for those who dump cats. My cats are now all feral in origin. I have adopted them, domesticated them, had them desexed, and I keep them well-fed. That doesn't come cheap and they live better than I do. There are no starving, sick or diseased animals here. They are all sleek, happy and loved.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

TLD

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#1198114 15-Dec-2014 21:55

Rikkitic:
Brumfondl: Cat is short for Dog Food. That is all.

I don't suppose you saw the news clip a while back where the hero cat saved the young boy by wiping the floor with the much bigger dog. Who is whose food is a matter of debate but of course you are entitled to your opinion.

Yes I remember that. Amazing stuff!

Trevor Dennis
Rapaura (near Blenheim)

Mark

1653 posts

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#1198121 15-Dec-2014 22:00

afe66: Other opinions are available.

The cats vrs other animals is an argument, the non cat owner will never win.

I put out bird food and the native birds gathering bring me as much pleasure as your cats do to you but, I get very angry at the neighbouring cats sitting near the feeder and trying to kill the natives.

OK you can have your cats on your property but why shouldn't I be able to shoot them on mine.

If I was a farmer and your dog was on my property killing animals, no one would deny my right to shoot them.

The native birds on my property are just as important to me as your cat is to you, so the simple answer would be keep your cat out of my garden.

Garith Morgans comment about the RSPCA should be looking after other animals than just cats/dogs rang true to me.

A.

Well I guess if you did start shooting cats you'd probably get arrested for discharging a firearm in a built up area (assuming you are a townie type), then the neighbours might get wind of you doing it and you'd probably get the snot kicked out of you on a regular basis all the while being branded a cruel idiot ... try it and see!

Or you could try moving your bird feeder to a safer location for the birds.

DarthKermit

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#1198150 15-Dec-2014 22:36

Rikkitic: There are so many wonderful pictures of Boots it is hard to choose. This is one I really like from when he was a kitten. He died around the time he would have turned 7. I don’t know exactly when he was born, but he died just before noon on Wednesday 19 September 2012. He was always a very healthy cat with a beautiful coat, but he suddenly got very sick, almost from one day to the next. I’m still not sure what he had. I spent thousands having him treated but even the vets at Massey animal hospital couldn’t help him. I finally brought him home to die. I had to keep him artificially fed and hydrated and full of pain killers. I did my best for two days but then realised I was just hurting him and I couldn’t bear it so I took him to the vet to be euthanised. By then he was already gone. There was no trace of him left, just a miserable ball of suffering. He died in my arms. Others were with me but this is the first time I have talked about it with anyone else.

We brought him home and buried him in the yard and planted flowers and an apple tree on his grave. This year the tree has suddenly spurted into growth and it was filled with blossoms and now little apples. It is the first fruit.

For 18 months I sat by the grave every morning and evening, talking to him and telling him about my day. Then I didn’t feel the need to do it any more. I still visit him from time to time, just to say hello.

I know exactly what you mean about that special bond. Boots was the best friend I ever had. Writing this still chokes me up. Not long ago it would have had me bawling. Losing Boots was like losing a child. Only someone who has been there can know what it is like. It is an awful thing to have to go through. Like I said, I share your pain.

So tell me about Blackie, if you feel like it.

Awwww, that's so sad! Poor Boots, only seven years isn't a very long life for a cat. I was lucky to have my boy from 30 Nov 2000 to 8 Nov 2014.

Did you get an autopsy done on Boots? I know it's not nice to think of them being cut open, but it's a good way for the vets to learn more about diseases and stuff.

What would you like me to tell you about Blackie? I have written quite a bit in my pets pic thread. Anything else you'd like to know about him?

Whatifthespacekeyhadneverbeeninvented?

Fred99

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#1198151 15-Dec-2014 22:36

Rikkitic:
Fred99: How your cat is making you crazy

I have heard about the toxoplasmiosis thing and maybe it is true. I have no way of knowing. It is certainly interesting but it doesn't change my opinion about cats or the pleasure I get from letting them sleep in my bed, under the covers. Let's see now, what in the environment can make us crazy? Red meat? Plastic packaging and containers? Cell phones? Food additives? Air and water pollution? Genetic engineering? Mercury in seafood? New Zealand broadcast televison? Compared to all that I don't think a few parasites are going to bother me much.

You should read the article. It's fascinating from a scientific POV - that co-evolution could result in a commensalist relationship between a primary host and parasite allowing the parasite to complete a life-cycle, and the primary host to enjoy some easy hunting.
I'm not sure how your list of other "things which make you crazy" compare really. Not that I'd like to be poisoned by mercury, but having an infection with parasites forming cysts in your brain, and that having evolved as means for the parasite to affect the behaviour / control the mind of the (secondary) host - potentially you - is quite freaky and rather disturbing IMO.

gzt

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#1198167 15-Dec-2014 23:16

It's very interesting. My understanding is toxo is only active for a few weeks around the kitten stage - and that is the danger time where transfer may occur to humans, particularly small humans.

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