March 10, 2005

• Of course, some people wouldn't rule out a revenge killing
• yeah, really stomper. don't shoot the cats? why not, they're shooting us! kidding, kidding. my kitties hotsy and asta would shoot me if they found me joking about this, thank god they don't read. yet. i don't think.
• I love my cats more than anything, but if a gang of feral cats were causing major problems, then I'd want to do something about it. As long as people's pets weren't mixed up with them and it was done in a humane manner. Lots of wild cats do, after all, have a sometimes detrimental effect on the local wildlife.
• But if anyone started hunting 'domestic' cats, then I'd find them and kill them myself. Just to make my position clear.
• how about feral children, there were three of them loose in the resturant I was at on Sunday... I really believe this is more of a problem than kats!
• Well, I love cats, but feral cats are a) big environmental problem and b) unable to be rehabilitated. Chemical castration would be a finer option but people in america are too stupid to do anything but shoot at stuff so what you gonna do?
• Many links to resources on the subject can be found here [scroll to bottom]
• Well, I think there's something to be said about removal of actual, truly feral cats - as much as I like cats, seriously, there are too many and the environment can't handle it. However, if this was allowed, how long do you think it would be (and I'm talking milliseconds here) before some jackass shot a "feral" cat that was wearing a collar? Neighbors you don't like, just out of meanness, etc., it will happen and someone will end up with a dead pet and very little they can do about it. Capture and castration is a much better option. As of right now, the local animal control in Michigan will remove feral cats if they are captured. I think this is probably the safest decision, as a "feral" cat that is captured and held has a chance at being rescued by the owner, whereas a dead cat is dead either way. It's not that much of a hassle when you weigh it against the potential loss of a beloved pet. Anyway, anyone who wants to shoot an animal had better be prepared to eat it, in my opinion. Hunting an animal just to have the "fun" of killing it is asinine, and the act of doing so makes responsible hunters look bad by association.
• This is ridiculously easy to use for nasty purposes; "...as any domestic type cat which is not under the owner's direct control, or whose owner has not placed a collar on such cat showing it to be their property." My neighbour hates my cat; my cat ditches his collar, goes outside, and my neighbour, who, with his small game license routinely shoots rabbits and gophers, then shoots my cat in my yard. Or, he catches my cat, removes the collar and shoots it. I see lawsuits galore. This will never pass.
• You're kidding.. these are the people who voted for George W. Bush. Shooting kittens is next on the agenda.
• Hey buddy, are you wearing a collar? 'Cos my trigger finger is gittin MIGHTY itchy and we're all outta hamsters.
• Rather have the native birds and leave rodent control up to the owls and foxes. Domestic cats are NOT native to North America. If ye care about wildlife, don't allow your domestic pets to run loose and hunt. Now I'm going to say something that's not going to be popular but which is, for all that, true. Cats that are pets are every bit as destructive to birds and small game as feral cats. And possibly more so, since pet cats are usually well fed at home and are therefore in far better phydical condition to hunt than some malnourished, parasite-infested, and anemic feral animal with a litter of kittens to nurse even while she has to feed herself.
• Many, many, many organizations trap, spay/neuter, and even house feral cats. One org I know of has "Catnip Gardens", an area behind a vet's office that houses between 30 & 40 feral cats. They also do the trap & release thing. Shooting feral cats is a very bad idea and will lead to major abuse of that law. I agree with bees that pet cats can be as or more distructive than ferals.
• I was ready to rant on about this until I read caution live frogs' and moneyjane's comment. They nail it: this is rapidly going to end up less about eliminating feral animals and more about shooting the neighbor's cats for shits and grins or to pay off old scores. And yes, domestic cats can bring down surprisingly big game. When I lived in England, my parents brought in an outdoor cat. I've seen her with small game birds in her mouth. That doesn't mean a law allowing people to shoot cats is a good idea. It will create more problems than it solves. /mommy to three indoor-only cats who don't eat any birds.
• moneyjane -- I am not a Canadian legal expert, but I doubt that anyone is allowed to shoot anything in your yard.
• /waits for a pussy joke
• Hey Nostril...you came back!! Yay!!
• I think all pussy is "fair game." (Didn't want to keep you waiting too long.)
• *waves to Nostril breaking into wild jig*
• I always think spaying & neutering are better options than killing. I'm also very grateful to the feral cats who live in the parking lot next to my house for keeping this place rodent-free (and for letting me look at kitties all day even if I can't have one).
• Anyway, anyone who wants to shoot an animal had better be prepared to eat it, in my opinion. My ex used to say that of shooting people.
• Apparently, the feral cat problem is quite the hot topic according to this National Geographic article. Seems that cat groups, bird groups, wildlife biologists, and animal societies all have strong opinions on how to deal with these cats. However, I don't see any of these groups or organizations advocating turning the problem over to the general public. That, in my (sometimes-misguided) opinion, would be asinine. Heya, Nostril! Good to have you back grumbling 'round these parts.
• I am not a Canadian legal expert, but I doubt that anyone is allowed to shoot anything in your yard. Why, yank my truss and call me Slappy! Works for moose! Actually, I think it's illegal as well, but it won't stop some drunk-ass neighbour with a mean, mean cat-hatin' heart and an itchy trigger finger. For that, you need to shoot back.
• General shooting is just silly, since bullets go stray. I could see allowing people to shoot ferals on their land, in places rural enough that "their land" more-or-less means that stray bullets aren't a big problem. Catching and sterilizing is fine, but that's gonna cost a lot more than catching and euthanizing, and take a lot longer.
• Yet another reason for indoor kitties. No dead birds, no pissed neighbours, no dead cats.
• I have no idea what your truss is, but I am rather certain that I might want to yank it.
• Ok, please, someone, comaup with a pussy joke for Nostril. I don't know any (of either variety) , and promise to keep my eyes shut if you post one.
• Well, that was badly done.
• A man walks into a pub with an Ostrich and a Pussy Cat. He walks up the the bar and says "Beer for me, beer for the ostrich, whisky for the cat". They find a table, sit down and drink their drinks. Next it's the ostrich's round. He walks up to the bar and says "Beer for me, beer for the man, whisky for the cat". He takes the drinks back to the table and they drink them. When it's the Cat's turn to buy, he tells them to "Fuck off!" So the man goes back to the bar and says "Beer for me, beer for the ostrich and whisky for the cat". The Barman is curious about this and said "I notice that you and the ostrich have both bought a round but the cat hasn't. Why is this?". The man replied, "I helped a little old lady across the road, and she turned out to be my Fairy Godmother. She granted me one wish". "What did you wish for?" said the Barman. "I wished for a long legged bird with a tight pussy!"
• Don't y'all be a-pointing that thang at my pussy! They's gonna be one heck of a mess if it goes off, and I ain't a-gonna clean it up.
• fish tick wins
• I love islander and fish tick! And, I lied about keeping my eyes closed.
• Welcome back, Nostril! (We still haven't found your socks.)
• Sorry about the socks, Nostril, my love, but accept this with our best wishes.
• Hunt or be hunted: Cats The sidebar suggests a much edgier version of the musical.
• Fear stalks the streets of Sydenham