Herding Cats, no shit!

[edcforme]

I love all animals. OK, that being said, I own a (licensed) dog, as well as snakes, lizards, and other non-traditional creatures. I like cats, I just choose not to own one. This attachment is the story that ran in our local paper on Monday

http://www.toledoblade.com/article/2...NEWS16/4190308

Most of you won't read it and that is fine. I did, and this is the editorial I have submitted. Please tell me what you think:

"On Monday, the Toledo Blade ran the story “Spay / neuter activists aim to herd cats”. I was intrigued, thinking “this will help to cut down the feral cat population, and they can find new homes for them”. Wrong. Once the cats are fixed, they are released in the area they were found. That makes no sense!
Since when are domestic cats on the list of native species? In truth, feral cats are invasive species known to kill native animals. The domestic cat is capable of spreading disease to wildlife and humans, and it is responsible for the extinction of many species of birds.
I have read where many feline associations have the mantra, “Trap-Neuter-Return / TNR”. They justify this by saying the cat removed will be replaced by another if not returned. Am I missing something here? They are not supposed to be living in the wild in the first place. So, you continue to trap. You give them an exam. And if they are healthy enough to be adopted, you try to do that. Should someone wish to adopt, you charge them a small fee, and they have a pet that is fixed. If the funds were used to remove the wild cats, fix the ones in people’s homes, and train new owners, this cycle would eventually end.
Chapter 505 of the Toledo Municipal Code deals with animals and fowl. These laws regulate the proper licensing and control of cats. I called the Dog Wardens office to ask why these ordinances are not enforced. I was told “there is no agency to enforce them”. Thus it is called the Dog not Dog and Cat Warden. Anyone need a job? How do we get a Lucas County Cat Warden?"

I truly believe a pet owner needs to be responsible, no matter what the animal is. The bull shit excuse that I hear from cat owners like "he just won't stay in the house" is weak. And to allow a cat to roam free without being fixed is totally insane. I do not understand the double standard faced by dog owners who must have license and leash and fenced in yard to run our dogs.

There, I feel better. Thanks

[Mike Stewart]

I thought you meant the real Cat Herding.

[RNST]

friken hilarious,

Copied and sent out already

[edcforme]

yeah, I forgot about that commercial. Come on, no takers on this?

[stoneman]

I'm not sure I get the whole, If we don't release it one will take it's place idea. Seems to me if new cats are going to find their way into the wild, returning captured ones is just doubling the problem. I mean they've won half the battle if they have the cats in their possession, releasing them back into the wild to reduce the number of cats in the wild is probably the most retarded ass-backwards logic I've ever heard.

[falcon125]

If they have a season on em I'll buy a license and help out the old fashioned way.

[SugarSkull]

If they have a season on em I'll buy a license and help out the old fashioned way.

Thought about that, but perhaps a young feller may notice and commence to killing the neighbor's pet.

The Maine Coon turned out well enough to re-domesticate. Let the cats run free, it's a waste of money go through the motions these nut bags want.

[falcon125]

I hear they taste like rabbit. But I dont know for sure. They are carnivours and I prefer herbivours, or vegitarians, even an occaisinial hippy, there pretty good if you smoke em for about 6 hours on low heat.

[hangtime]

living in a location where the local wildlife keeps the "stray" cat problem in check. Coyotes think cat are hors 'd' ouerves. They will climb the backyard fence and chase one all the way to the pet door. "Fluffy' learns pretty quick that their are worse things than staying in the house. Every week I see half a dozen different flyers posted around the neighborhood asking me to be on the lookout for a lost cat. Right. One of the funniest things I've ever seen in my life is a road runner chasing a cat along the top of a block wall. Kitty sees the nice birdy and thinks a stalk and pounce are in order. Mr. Road Runner who kills and eats rattlesnakes is thinking the same thing about kitty. On open ground the road runner will close distance on most housecats and climbing a tree or fence only puts the cat at a disadvantage. Cats are totally freaked out by the prospect of being CHASED by a bird so they tend to do stupid things like forget where home is. Bad idea. And don't forget the hawks. Cooper's and redtails both think all small animals belong to them exclusively and find domesticated ones not particularly wary and thus easy prey. TNR takes a back seat around here to CKE (capture, kill, eat).

[begreen61]

Like mine with alot of salt and a little pepper

[Katwyld]

I'm going to generally assume the original poster is serious (or at least partially serious) and give my take on it.

There are lots of cats in shelters already waiting to be adopted. Many of these cats are from stray cats in 'the neighborhood'. And there's no room for them.

The idea of fixing stray cats and returning them is that they are likely not going to get adopted anyway. So, put them back where they were, but unable to breed, and the problem will eventually take care of itself.

Their flaw, however, is the fact that people are inherently stupid and let their own cats roam the neighborhood and don't bother to get them spayed/neutered because 'they're an outside cat, who cares?' or 'why spend the money on the cat if it might end up dying outside anyway?' (yes, I've dealt with that same wonderful thought. I won't say who it was, I respect that person a lot and they have changed their mind on this now).

Licensing for cats is a wonderful idea... if enforced. The problem is, how? Too many people think of cats as 'disposable pets' or more 'wild' than dogs, and believe that it's 'cruel to keep them inside all the time'. Really? It's less cruel to let them go out, get hit by a car, attacked by dogs or neighborhood kids, sick from disease? Idiots. Seriously.

We have three cats. They are all fixed and they are all exclusively indoors. It's not hard at all keeping them inside. We have a sliding door that goes into a fenced yard. I have many times left that door open for more than a few seconds and then cats are sitting there, looking out. Why? Because they'd rather that then getting hosed down with water. Works wonders.

Unfortunately, this is the only thing they can come up with to help with the issue (and it happens all over, this catch, neuter, release) because euthanization has such a nasty connotation anymore. No one wants to actually help with the problem, but they're quick to raise a stink if they find out animals are being killed just because they don't have a home. 'No Kill Shelters!!!' is a common cry... and a wonderful idea as well... but not when the shelter has only so much room and no one wants to donate funds to help them.

[edcforme]

BRAVO Katwyld! You've fine tuned my thoughts and shared them wonderfully. I am very serious about this issue. My Mother and both sisters are "rescuers", and for years taken in, fixed, and found homes for stray cats. Unfortunately, not all cats can be placed and they all are multiple cat owners as well. They do a great service.
It just seems like a loosing battle because as you so nicely put it, a lot of people feel that cats are easily replaceable and can take care of them selves.
Is there anywhere in this country that the cats are truly regulated / licensed? Are there Cat Wardens? I really wish something could be done...................

[goldmanglass]

gandi said the best measure of a civilization is how they treat their animals. I love this country but we PROPERLY FUCKED up on that front.

My main beef is with people who breed animals for profit when there are already over a million pets put down everyday!! go to a shelter if you want a pet...

[Katwyld]

BRAVO Katwyld! You've fine tuned my thoughts and shared them wonderfully. I am very serious about this issue. My Mother and both sisters are "rescuers", and for years taken in, fixed, and found homes for stray cats. Unfortunately, not all cats can be placed and they all are multiple cat owners as well. They do a great service.
It just seems like a loosing battle because as you so nicely put it, a lot of people feel that cats are easily replaceable and can take care of them selves.
Is there anywhere in this country that the cats are truly regulated / licensed? Are there Cat Wardens? I really wish something could be done...................

Thank you. It is an area that's a little close to my heart. People tend to think of me as a 'bunny hugger', but I'm an animal lover that's a realist. not every animal can be saved. There isn't a home for all of them. Yay for no kill shelters, but leaving an animal in a cage for an extended period of time is not a life for them either. It will cause all kinds of mental issues that the new owner will then have to deal with.. and increases their chances of being returned to a shelter.

As far as your question, I don't know. There is obviously licensing... as far as it actually be followed and enforced... My dogs bark, my neighbors call the animal control people, they come to investigate and find out whether my dogs are licensed... cats don't have that same 'annoyance', and many people who let their cats wander don't provide them with a collar and tags. So, just like everything else, the good pet owners who license their cats aren't the problem, and how do you catch the ones that don't? Our next door neighbor feeds and sort of takes care of a stray cat, one who has had two litters in her shed. She's found homes for some of them, but there are now 3 cats hanging out over there. If ya ask her, though, she'll tell you their not her cats.

Which reminds me, I wanted to see if there's a 'catch, neuter and release' program here. I wanna take those three in. At least there will be a few less producing babies.

My main beef is with people who breed animals for profit when there are already over a million pets put down everyday!! go to a shelter if you want a pet...

Agreed to a point. There will always be breeders because there will always be people who want a purebred. We have two purebreds ourselves... one cat and one dog. Both were fixed, they are not going to continue the line. I have reasons for having done so... might not be good reasons in your mind, but they are in mine, and I wouldn't change it if I had it to do over again.

We also have 3 dogs and 2 cats that are rescues. Two of the dogs were right off the street rescues as was one of the cats. The other dog and cat were gotten from shelters.

A good, reputable breeder breeds only when they have homes for the dogs, does not breed constantly, and shouldn't make a lot of money off the puppies when care for the mother, shots and care for the babies are involved. Unfortunately, this is a bit rare.

And don't get me started on 'pet store dogs'. I will not shop at a store that sells purebred animals. They're not of good quality, they're from puppy mills (ALWAYS, I don't care what the employees try to say), and they all too often have health/neurological issues.

I will likely always have a standard poodle. I love the breed, everything about them. I will likely check with a purebred rescue organization next time and go that route, but with a purebred you do know to a degree what you're getting. We'll also always have a few mutts because we're big softies and can't help ourselves.

[JCummings]

"The idea of fixing stray cats and returning them is that they are likely not going to get adopted anyway. So, put them back where they were, but unable to breed, and the problem will eventually take care of itself."

No, It Won't. They will readily be replaced from the cats that have not been CNRed and others from irresponsible owners.

Feral cats are devastating the wild bird populations in this country and need to be markedly decreased in numbers. Worse yet, many cat owners actually have bird feeders and let their cats run around out side. Keep your cats inside, neuter them, and feed them cat food not birds.