Posioning cats (no I'm not) - Page 4

marisa · 06-12-04, 05:12 PM

Rebecca- Maybe the thread should not have gone in the direction it did but NO ONE specifically said it was your sisters fault, especially after you explained the cat is an indoor cat but escaped.

But you mention this in your original post: "That's so mean. I just don't understand"

So our replies are explaining A. why your cat might have gotten into posion. B. Why someone is killing the neighborhood strays in your area and C. While totally 100% wrong, why someone would start posioning cats. So you understand. It SUCKS what happened to your sisters cat, but then it also can be used to open peoples eyes to the very real problem North America has today with strays.

Marisa

Rebecca · 06-12-04, 07:23 PM

Marisa:
I ment I just don't understand why people are so mean in general type thing. Being fed up with a cat spraying and that does not explain why they would be so mean. It was kinda just a question like why is the world so violent?? I didn't really want an answer. I know no one said specifically that it was her fault but post saying "it's the owners fault for their cat getting out and spraying in windows" (just a example) Implies that they think it was her fault. I know my posts might sound rude ( I don't mean to be) but I'm a little touchy when it comes to family (people or animals). I also understand that it may have started out answering that question but it has taken on a different angle from that.

M_surinamensis · 06-13-04, 10:42 AM

You know... I did say it was your sister's fault and I stick by it.

There's a responsibility on the part of an owner to act in a manner which keeps their animal from becoming a danger or succumbing to a danger and your sister was negligent in this duty. It was a mistake, they happen... but it was HER mistake and it's upon HER head the guilt and culpability must lie.

Incidentally I would and have said similar things to anyone who has less than ideal practices with ANY animal. Snake got loose? Who's fault is it for not making sure the enclosure was secure? Lizard died? Well you shouldn't have been a F!@#$%in' idiot and caused malnutrition.

Your story about your nephew crying himself to sleep every night is very touching and loaded with human interest heart tugging but it does not change the fact that the owner of the animal was negligent in some small facet of their care and their animal suffered for it. It's easy to blame the evil neighbor who may or may not be doing this deliberately... How about putting the blame where it really belongs though? On the one who let the cat outside where it came into contact with something poisonous.

WRX · 06-13-04, 02:50 PM

My cats are both outdoor cats. They were both strays, and will not stay indoors. They apperared on my deck one day, and now, 10 years later, are happy and healthy, although one getting pretty frail with age.
That aside, I realize they are in danger of raccons, traffic, dogs, etc. BUT....if someone is harming them on purpose, be it poison or physically harming them, that person is putting him / her self in danger of eating a fist.
Does one shoot a pigeon for crapping on thier car, or even more close to home, do you shoot the nieghbors dog after you step in his crap?
Get over it.

BT

TheRedDragon · 06-14-04, 06:41 PM

That is so sad that such inhumane things are done to animals. I hope they find out who did that to your sister's cat and give the creep what they deserve.

snakebite33 · 07-14-04, 03:07 PM

Oh god, I am so sorry to hear about your sisters cat. I have a cat of my own, and if she were poisoned...
I probably wouldn't want to do anything but pray for her health and good will. If I were able to, I would probaby seek out her poisoner and badly injure him.

Artemis · 07-15-04, 03:25 AM

YAY- my 2 cents time. Ive been watching this one for a while, as my neighborhood is absolutely OVERRUN with feral cats, yet I have 3 housecats that are my little buddies- Im gonna be one of those dotty cat ladies once I hit age 80.

Bottom line- DONT POISON CATS- not only is it against the basic animal cruelty law, but if you poison someone's pet cat that happens to be in your yard (there are no leash laws for cats here, nor in most places- only dogs) then they could sue the HEC out of you for vet bills, or worse if you killed their beloved pet.

Options?? Well- what IVE been doing is gathering up the MALE feral cats in the neighborhood and waiting for the St. Francis of Assisi SPAY AND NEUTER bus that comes around about once a month- you can take animals there and drop them off to be spayed or neutered for about 5 bucks a piece. I cant promise none of them are pets of people- but if you neuter a male he still has a little something down there usually- and more than likely their owners (if they have any) wouldnt even be able to tell.

Also- you can scoop up any animal on your property and take it to the pound or shelter if you have one in your area. They will care for and find homes for the cat if they are a no-kill shelter, or at least euthenize it humanely if it comes down to that.

This year I have already had more kittens than I know what to do with. The neighbors feel sorry for them and put food out for them so they stick around- but no one is actually willing to take claim them as a pet, which would mean spending money for shots, etc.

I don't condone the intentional killing of any animal simply because its presence is annoying me. And I know just how annoying having cats spray all around your yard, house and deck is.

What really scares me though is the fact that these cats traipse around unvaccinated near all the kids in the neighborhood. Little kids love to try and "pet the kitty." Fortunately most of the ferals wont let people get close to them.

I say, if you want something done right, do it yourself. If you need these cats to go away- scoop em up and have em spayed/neutered and re-release, or take them to a shelter. It isnt right to kill them because their natural behavior is annoying to you- and it may not be anyones cat that is in your yard, it might be a feral.

Also- way early in this post one person who said they worked in a Vet clinic or something mentioned a Cat Repellant???

Anyone know anything about that??? Id sprinkle some in my yard!

Art

concept3 · 07-15-04, 05:24 PM

its not natural because they should not be here

Artemis · 07-15-04, 06:04 PM

?? Im sorry- how should they "not be here." I have ants in my house, too. But complaining they "shouldn't be there" doesnt really help with my problem much now does it. I didnt say their presence was natural (though some could argue that it also is) I said that their behavior was.

concept3 · 07-15-04, 07:20 PM

well, they call them feril because they were introduced. They have devistating effects on all bird species, frogs, snakes, and anything smaller than them. They are a pest. Just because their are no leash laws doesnt mean its ok to let them run free. And if you think its ok one day you will get a rude awakening

Artemis · 07-16-04, 12:01 AM

No no dont misunderstand. Whether or not its "ok" is totally irrelevant is my point. Its too late for that- they have already been, as you said, Introduced. They are there whether they should be or not. So rather than wasting time arguing about the fact that its a problem, which ofcourse it is, not just for indigenous animal species, but for people too, we should work on a solution.

Im still waiting to hear about this cat repellant!

Art

Artemis · 07-16-04, 12:01 AM

No no dont misunderstand. Whether or not its "ok" is totally irrelevant is my point. Its too late for that- they have already been, as you said, Introduced. They are there whether they should be or not. So rather than wasting time arguing about the fact that its a problem, which ofcourse it is, not just for indigenous animal species, but for people too, we should work on a solution.

Im still waiting to hear about this cat repellant!

Art

M_surinamensis · 07-16-04, 05:48 AM

Extermination is a reasonable and realistic solution to the problem. While I said earlier and still firmly believe that poisoning is not a responsible method of doing so, because of the potential to kill species other than the intended target and I do not encourage animal cruelty- housecats are a bane everywhere they have been introduced. A foul, invasive, destructive species that propogates quickly and obliterates native wildlife. When a feral population has been established as a breeding group, it is not particularly effective to take one cat, have it neutered and then... what, release it again? Many need to be either contained and euthanized or, if initial capture is difficult (it usually is), they need to be actively euthanized whereever they are encountered.

Your house pet is your house pet... keep it in your house and it'll be fine. Let it loose to terrorize the surrounding area and there is nobody to blame but yourself if it ends up poisoned, hit by a car(unintentionally I hope), captured and euthanized by the local vet or shot as the menace that it is.

Toirtis · 07-16-04, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Artemis
Bottom line- DONT POISON CATS- not only is it against the basic animal cruelty law, but if you poison someone's pet cat that happens to be in your yard (there are no leash laws for cats here, nor in most places- only dogs) then they could sue the HEC out of you for vet bills, or worse if you killed their beloved pet.

True...despite the fact that there may b laws in place prohibiting wandering cats (as there are here), deliberately exposing a cat that enters your property to a toxic substance could cost you dearly (as it did a chap who mixed tuna with antifreeze here...$5000 plus legal fees).

Artemis · 07-16-04, 09:48 PM

M suri-

Now I love my kitties that live in my house- and I hardly would call them a vile destructive species. Its not all THAT tragic. As a cat lover and enthusiast, I am kinda insulted by you saying that housecats are a bane. And mine do stay inside, but there are still responsible pet owners who vaccinate and sterilize any animal they allow outside, and Im ok with that.

As a herper- you would be tickled if you found snakes in your yard, whereas most people who had that would call the snakes a bane and run to the garage to get something to whack their heads off with (also not cool in my book.)

And yes, unfortunately extermination is part of the solution. In my neighborhood I scoop up all the ferals (male and female) that I can get and take them to the SN wagon. The only reason I feel comfortable doing so is that I have talked to my neighbors and know I am not having surgery performed on their pets, so im not worried about getting sued. The reason I suggested males for fed up people is because it is unlikey that their owners (if they have any) will realize this has happened.

Extermination can be performed humanely at shelters and pounds, as well.

While spaying and neutering a few cats may not solve the problem completely, as you are right, it would be veritably impossible to get ALL of them, it will reduce the number of breeding animals, and still HELP with the problem, even if not a foolproof solution. And yes, you can re-release them. I usually keep them in my spare carriers for a couple of days so they can heal up post op, and then i let them back out. I cant keep all these cats, but I am at least actively trying to improve the problem instead of simply spitting out complaints about the "menace" cats.

Extermination may indeed be warranted- but leave that to the shelters and pounds. If you take the cat to them, even if it is euthanized, it wont be in your neighborhood anymore. and hopefully- they can find a home for it.