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 ...
You're the same age as my oldest son. ;)
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.
Anyway, if that's true, you have to know if it wasn't for my cat, I'd be over-run with critters. He can't keep up and we still get them indoors in the fall.
Seems that I pointed out to you that cats are native to every continent but two... While we're on the subject of wildlife education that you, with your superior liberal-like attitude tossed in there (you being the only expert of course, right?) in a later post you mention English Sparrows. They are not Sparrows. They are weaver finches.
Everybody thinks he "knows" the English sparrow. Yet this bird -- common as dirt, unloved and neglected -- is more of a world citizen than most birds and less studied than many rarer birds. It has so few distinctive markings that it is hard to describe, particularly the female, and may fool even skilled bird fans. It is of average size, average shape, average color, and has an average chirp. Furthermore, it is not a sparrow but one of the weaver finches a group of birds that build nests with openings in the side. Moreover, they are not particularly English, being native to Europe, Asia and North Africa, it is the " sparrow" mentioned in the Bible.
When my Felis Catus presents me with a small morsel, which is usually some rodentcreature, I praise him profusely. I've never seen him bring me a bird. But then, interloping bird species such as the starling and the house weaver finch, misnamed 'English Sparrow' do more damage to local song bird populations than my cat.
And then there's my landlord who doesn't do anything about the starlings living above the porch or the "sparrow" horde nesting in the eaves, but ripped down the robin's nest that was under the deck and wants me to take down my bird feeders...
Maybe someone will suggest that he be kept inside, and forced to wear a bib... ;-)
A brightly coloured bib on your landlord? Would it say "twit" on the front? Kind of like belling a cat? There's an idea. Instead of a ridiculous bib that looks unsafe, how about the old idea of bells? They worked for a hundred years. Seems people have forgotten good ideas that are "proven".
Now that does paint an interesting mental picture... If I had a photo of him I'm sure a trip through PaintShopPro could produce the desired wearing apparel... But I have neither a picture of him or the time tonight to do that... Thanks for the chuckle!
By the way, are you a Brit by any chance? (coloured, eh?)
At least you're not French, or you would have said 'I surrender'...
Um, no. It just looks odd spelled differently. Like something is missing. Are you Canadian eh? LOL
Already pung, thanks. But please keep pinging me to interesting stories!
I'd say you're out of luck - most collars these days are designed to breakaway if pulled, so he's found the key. Perhaps you could try a harness?
What in the Wide Wide World of FReeping kind of nonsense is this - not wanting cats to stalk and pounce!!!???
I'm sure that if you were to ask the present product of the American Educational System how to spell it, you would find a whole lot missing...
Are you Canadian eh?
No, but I drove up to the Great White North once... they have funny colored money up there. Umm... wait a minute... OUR money is getting to be funny colored... It's a plot, I tell you!
What are you talking about? Cats have been in the wild way before you were born. It is actually unnatural to keep them inside.
They do kill a lot of pretty birds!
I for one, hate cats.
Tight is the way to go. Make it as tight as possible without cutting off circulation. There should be no visible gap at all between the neck and collar. If you can squeeze three small or two large fingers under it with great difficulty, it’s plenty loose enough that it won’t affect circulation. When you hold the collar by the tags and try to rotate it around the cat’s neck, you should be feeling some resistance from the friction of the collar against the fur.
Use a little logic and reasoning next time OK? A fact in the hands of a person devoid of understanding is a dangerous thing. Consider that before you post more of your foolishness to me about cats.
That's okay. Most of the birds in my area are non-native (sparrows, pigeons, starlings...). So the cat helps even things out.
I already addressed that. I agree with you.
BTW...WELCOME to FR. You seem very young...how old are you?
Already answered in this thread.
Ever been banned?
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