Posted on 03/06/2005 8:32:04 PM PST by esryle
MADISON, Wis. Hunter Mark Smith welcomes wild birds onto his property, but if he sees a cat, he thinks the "invasive" animal should be considered fair game.
The 48-year-old firefighter from La Crosse has proposed that hunters in Wisconsin make free-roaming domestic cats an "unprotected species" that could be shot at will by anyone with a small-game license.
Hunters will vote on the proposal on April 11th during hearings for the Wisconsin Conservation Congress across the state.
Smith's proposal has horrified cat lovers, but some see it as a way of stopping cats from killing wild birds.
Department of Natural Resources attorney Tim Andryk says the vote would simply be an advisory recommendation to state lawmakers.
He says that to have open season on roaming cats, laws that relate to abuse of domestic animals may have to be amended.
I agree completely, but in this case the cats are prey and we are controlling them. Granted, bullets could be a little extreme, but have you ever tried to catch a cat that didn't want to be caught? It's funny that we love certain animals, love to eat some animals, and love to exterminate some too.
I once went to a restaurant in China where they had all kinds of "cute" cat pictures on the wall. Best meal I ever had.
Read my post again carefuly after your knee quits jerking and get back to me on that.
You want me to let my other pets loose?
mmmmmmm... bbq?
What are these people going to do when the rodent population explodes?
Birds aren't the only things cats get rid of...
I do find it interesting, however, that many of those who are so worried about how cats "kill for sport" don't have a problem with humans who "go hunting". The exact same animal instinct drives cats and humans to the hunt, and whether the prey is actually eaten is not the issue. People want to judge all feline hunters by the standard of the worst of them, the cat who kills but doesn't eat. But they aren't willing to judge human hunters the same way.
And, so what if the cat OR the human enjoys the hunt? The most important pursuits of survival are pleasurable. If the act of procreation wasn't fun, or if eating wasn't satisfying, the species would die out quickly.
And, isn't it interesting how cat owners will play with their cats by dangling strings, or rolling little objects near them, and gush about how cute it is when the cat crouches and pounces. But, they get all upset when the cat does the same thing to a mouse or bird. They encourage instinctive hunting behavior, but when the cat actually does the real thing, they throw a fit. No wonder so many cats are neurotic.
Cats stay around when they are being fed. A well fed cat will kill for fun.
I never said rats weren't a New York "problem". I said "infestation".
Do a Google search, and look at the old records for the city. Both cats and rats were a "problem". Once the cats were gone the rat population exploded.
I see this hunter doesn't want to control dog packs. I've seen these mutts take down full grown deer in the bush. And I've had run-ins with these snarling packs of Fidos where I needed to pull my sidearm and fire.
Bet you a dollar to a doughnut that this guy lets his mutts run free while taking a walk or hunting.
A plague of mice and rats on Mark Smith and all the cat haters who post supporting him.
(And may someone shoot his favorite hunting hound the next time it gets loose.)
This the fault of owners who don't neuter their pets.
My yard is a cat free zone. Marauding cats get stung.
If the authorities ever find out, your friend is going to meet up with the law.
....Killing someones pet is not funny....
A roaming cat is not a pet
People also say how happy their cats are indoors. Here's a clue....they aren't happy. The nature of a healthy cat is that of a predator. Sure, you can neuter and spay them, and god forbid declaw them, but being imprisoned in a house or apartment is antithesis to a cat's true nature.
Having said that, I've seen a few cats end up decorating a double yellow line. It's sad, but that's the way it goes. Feral cats are a nuisance, but feral dogs will kill you. I'm more concerned with dog packs running loose than cats running around eating flying rats (pigeons).
Some years ago, I had several feral cats on my property. So I fed them to gain their trust. One of them was heavy with kitten, so I trapped her- she had five kittens in my garage the next day. All five were hand raised, raised with my dog, and turned out to be the coolest kittens! All went to loving homes. The mother domesticated very easily when she realized what a queen she had become! The kittens cost $30, and that fee went to spaying the mom. After she recovered, I let her go. She didn't go far. She became the most awesome cat in the world. And I struggle with the approaching winter and what to do. The day I decided to introduce her to my indoor family of cats, she was hit by a car... crossing the street when I called her name. I was devestated. Sheena was such a great companion, and I take comfort in knowing that the little time she became part of my life was far better than what she would have had in the wild.
For the record, animals are my most liberal cause. And I'm proud of it!
About 19 years ago, we lived in Long Beach. Our neighborhood became infested with roof rats. You could see them running on the utility poles and wires. We also had a gopher problem. Every morning I'd get up, grab a shovel and dispose of all the dead varmints, courtesy of my two Russian Blue cats. Finally the county came out and put up poison bait. It solved the problem. You know it's a problem when a neighborhood full of cats can't get rid of them.
Then there was the mouse explosion up here in the desert. The calico cat would dive into the kitchen pantry closet, and went after them. She'd kick canned goods out with her hind legs. It was pretty funny seeing cans come shooting out of the cabinet :)
Saw a bumper sticker awhile back that said.."Cats..the other white meat"
Not to mention the Cretins that just dump cats/kittens along country roads.
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