Posted on 05/25/2007 5:47:11 PM PDT by JRochelle
Scientists investigating the unpleasant problem of what the cat drags in believe they have found a way to curb felines' predatory urges. A study by conservationists has revealed that the number of birds, rodents and other creatures captured by cats fell dramatically if the pets were fitted with brightly coloured, clip-on bibs that hindered their ability to stalk and pounce.
Cats fitted with the bibs were seemingly still able to eat, run and groom themselves, but were rendered less of a threat to other wildlife, the researchers found.
(Excerpt) Read more at environment.guardian.co.uk ...
I have 4 cats and other humans thought all of them were disposable. Cats are much more abused than songbirds. I live in a rural area and have fools dumping their cats here on a regular basis.
I am not blinded. Your cat’s natural instinct might be to hunt. I agree with you. But it is not natural for it to be in your local habitat. You have introduced a non-native predator. That is unnatural. Don’t let your love for your cat blind you to the facts.
Whatever people do to their cats, such as abuse them or whatever, has nothing to do with this. That is a totally separate argument. I too have the “dumpers” at my place. I despise them with a passion. I do the kindest thing possible for all cats and dogs dumped at my place.
Tell that to the bobcats, they need a laugh.
You have introduced a non-native predator.
Btw, where IS native to cats if they are non-native here? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm?
Your cat’s natural instinct might be to hunt.But it is not natural for it to be in your local habitat.
It can't be both natural and unnatural. So, where IS it natural for them to hunt? Are you certain that you're on the right website?
A domestic cat is not a bobcat. Don’t be absurd please.
The domestic cat traces back to countries other than this fine one. I would prefer that they either be kept indoors or left where they came from. They are definitely not native to your habitat.
Oh come on. Don’t be absurd. It IS natural for them to hunt. It is not natural for them to be hunting in your local habitat as they are a non-native species there. Learn to discern between what is natural for your cat and what is natural for your local habitat.
Pardon me? I did not see anything in the Terms of Service about cats when I signed up. My conservative credentials will stand up to anyone’s here. Unless I was mistaken and this is not a conservative site? Why don’t you petition the owner to add a section to the ToS about having to agree with the cat lovers. Then you might have a case.
A cat is a cat is a cat. They all hunt.
They are definitely not native to your habitat.
A cat is a cat is a cat and native to my habitat. Bobcats are only a little larger.
Don’t be absurd. It IS natural for them to hunt. It is not natural for them to be hunting in your local habitat as they are a non-native species there. Learn to discern between what is natural for your cat and what is natural for your local habitat.
You are the one being absurd. There are cats that are indigenous to the US. The common domestic cat is only a little smaller. Differentiate between specie if that's what you mean but it doesn't make a difference. You do realise that there are also non-native birds? What should we do with them? They don't belong here by your reasoning.
I did not see anything in the Terms of Service about cats when I signed up.
My comment had nothing to do with cats.
My conservative credentials will stand up to anyone’s here.
Bingo.
I like the fact that my neighbor’s cats keep the rodent population low.
No point in wasting further time arguing with each other. You have a nice day.
I will as long as leftys aren't trying to control everything including natural animal behaviour.
Ummm... the only continents that do not have native cats are Antarctica and Australia....
So, just where is it that you live?
"Wild cats are native to all continents other than Australia and Antarctica, although feral cats have become apex predators in the Australian Outback where they are menaces to wildlife."
ping
By the way, any ideas about how I can keep collars on my Houdini of a cat? He deliberately hooks it on something in order to pull it off - I’m afraid to tighten it too tightly, because he WILL end up hanging himself.
That the best you can do after I extended an olive branch? That’s petty.
I may be a lot of things, but I sure ain’t a lefty. I am probably to the right of 95% of the Republican party, which is the party I am registered with.
Chill a bit and go play with your cats. Just keep them off my property.
Let's see here. There are those pesky, filthy Starlings that were gifted to us by some Europeans.. Maybe we should import some European cats to control them...
I opt for a massive importation of Norwegian Forest Cats... (I wonder if they will control the local coyote population too... ;-)
Never mind... no sense in starting another argument... when y’all get some basic wildlife education maybe we can debate intelligently.
I am a trapper, a hunter, a fisherman, a naturalist, a pet owner, and I butcher my own meat. But I don’t need the rich knowledge that comes with those activities to know that a domestic cat is NOT native to any United States habitat.
The failure of narrow minded cat lovers to recognize that fact does not change the facts.
Many on this thread are dealing in feelings rather than fact. I prefer fact when it comes to issues like this. Of course, that’s normal for conservatives like me. I tend to think of the liberals as being the ones who ignore facts in place of feelings. I guess that trait is not exclusive to liberals.
Olive branch? You ran because you're trying to control an animals natural instinct and even you know that's wrong.
I am probably to the right of 95% of the Republican party, which is the party I am registered with.
If you only knew how often we hear that here.
Chill a bit and go play with your cats. Just keep them off my property.
That's pretty funny. Controlcontrolcontrol! Wish I could tell the darn imported european birds that have become pests to stay away but...............they're ANIMALS acting on INSTINCT. I don't try to control an animals natural instinct.
“You do realise that there are also non-native birds? What should we do with them?”
Like those filthy starlings? And those despicable English sparrows?
Make you a deal. You train your cats to prey exclusively on those nasty birds and I will support them running wild all day long, even if the domestic cat is a non-native species.
Control over my personal property is a conservative value my friend. I make zero apologies for that.
I only defended my conservative values because they were challenged on a false premise. Not my problem if that bothers you.
I am done with you. You have problems that will not be solved here on this forum.
Have a nice day.
My cat doesn't eat birds. There are too many mice, voles, rabbits, rats etc. Food on the ground is abundant and and he keeps it out of my house. For all your claimed knowledge in post 77, you don't know much about rural life.
There's a big difference between that and trying to control nature.
I only defended my conservative values because they were challenged on a false premise.
We'll see.
I am done with you. You have problems that will not be solved here on this forum.
Like trying to control animal behaviour?
Out of my 35 1/2 years of life, 6 months were spent in a small town, 5 years on 2 small rural acreages, and the rest either on a farm or surrounded by farms.
Oh well...
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