Dealing with feral cats

[Court Jester]

Trap them. The local humane society will neuter them and they can be re released.

The only animals I trap are problem raccoons.... and I can assure they don't end up released. Have you ever tried to deal with a trapped wild animal other than a fish on a hook?

I see nothing wrong with culling feral animals which are BTW invasive species. How many cats, dogs, wild mustangs, and burros does North America need? What makes these invasive species so special?

 

[Court Jester]

Culling as you describe for which for many of the type of animals you list is not your right.

I have a right to defend my property, my crops, and my own domestic animals on my own property, so you are wrong.

You are, as with cats, taking the law into your own hands.

And isn't that what happens when the people who are responsible for managing these feral/invasive species when the fail to do their jobs?

Do you understand that what you do and what you propose is illegal? You do know what "illegal" means, don't you?

I don't do anything that is illegal, or immoral.

 

[Gateman_Wen]

The only animals I trap are problem raccoons.... and I can assure they don't end up released. Have you ever tried to deal with a trapped wild animal other than a fish on a hook?

I see nothing wrong with culling feral animals which are BTW invasive species. How many cats, dogs, wild mustangs, and burros does North America need? What makes these invasive species so special?

You asked, I answered. Don't like it?

Don't ask next time.

 

[trixare4kids]

Please do not write off all of these cats and kittens as feral. Some actually are lost or have been abandoned.

Years back when we lived at the coast, my husband used to feed the stray cats on his nightly walks. He's just one of those nice guys who loves animals.

Of course, some cats truly are feral and untrusting of humans, and full of disease and are beyond the point of rehabilitation. They need to be picked up by animal control, but some strays get a bad rap. They are not all feral. Some are simply unwanted, left to fend for themselves after their families up and moved, irresponsibly leaving their cats, young and old, to fend for themselves. Our Lily, a young cat at the time, fits into the latter group. She had a hard life out on the streets having to care for herself before she showed up in our yard half starving. We were a dog family, but our dog had just died, and this little 9-pound critter suddenly showed up to fill that deep void. This was about nine years ago when we rescued, or should I say, Lily rescued us. The best, and the most loving pet we've ever had the pleasure of caring for. Since that time, we rescued and brought a few cats to the shelters who could be rehabilitated and socialized, and were later put into loving homes.

My point. Please don't kill them...Some will learn to trust. Trap them, and bring them to a feral cat rescue and have them evaluated. They will neuter and spay and release them to live outside or put the cats who are longing for a trusting and loving forever home into no-kill shelters. That's the humane thing to do.

 

[The Stars Tremble]

Please do not write off all of these cats and kittens as feral. Some actually are lost or have been abandoned.

Years back when we lived at the coast, my husband used to feed the stray cats on his nightly walks. He's just one of those nice guys who loves animals.

Of course, some cats truly are feral and untrusting of humans, and full of disease and are beyond the point of rehabilitation. They need to be picked up by animal control, but some strays get a bad rap. They are not all feral. Some are simply unwanted, left to fend for themselves after their families up and moved, irresponsibly leaving their cats, young and old, to fend for themselves.

Well intentioned people should not enable that irresponsible behaviour. Anyone abandoning their pet just because their new lease says "no pets" should know for a fact that the cat will suffer in the wild, and be killed by humans if not by other cats, dogs or snakes.

Our Lily, a young cat at the time, fits into the latter group. She had a hard life out on the streets having to care for herself before she showed up in our yard half starving. We were a dog family, but our dog had just died, and this little 9-pound critter suddenly showed up to fill that deep void. This was about nine years ago when we rescued, or should I say, Lily rescued us. The best, and the most loving pet we've ever had the pleasure of caring for. Since that time, we rescued and brought a few cats to the shelters who could be rehabilitated and socialized, and were later put into loving homes.

Cats that approach a human home are not ferals. Ferals quite rightly fear humans.

My point. Please don't kill them...Some will learn to trust. Trap them, and bring them to a feral cat rescue and have them evaluated. They will neuter and spay and release them to live outside or put the cats who are longing for a trusting and loving forever home into no-kill shelters. That's the humane thing to do.

It's not humane for the smaller creatures who are practically defenceless against a cat. Placement in a human home or euthanasia should be the only options.

 

[The Stars Tremble]

The only animals I trap are problem raccoons.... and I can assure they don't end up released. Have you ever tried to deal with a trapped wild animal other than a fish on a hook?

I can see the temptation to throw the whole trap in a trough of water, but I urge you to investigate CO2 euthanasia. Basically you wrap the cage in plastic and run CO2 in with a hose. If you don't overdo it, this will render the cat (etc) unconscious (coughing is a sign you're overdoing it,) and you can then increase the concentration to finally kill the animal.

I see nothing wrong with culling feral animals which are BTW invasive species. How many cats, dogs, wild mustangs, and burros does North America need? What makes these invasive species so special?

The bigger animals can be kept within bounds, but cats and dogs cannot. And their future is starvation and disease anyway, when they've eliminated all their "food sources". Simply killing them is the most humane thing all round.

That said the biggest animal I've ever killed was a cat. I'm not sure I'd have the heart to kill a feral horse, plus I'd have to use a gun which I don't have.

 

[DiAnna]

OMG. This thread literally makes me sick. A discussion on how to kill animals simply because they are of no use to you? Dear God, give them to ME! I will care for them until my last breath, and my lawyer will care for them after that occurs. I have loved and lost animals over the decades of my life. I have two beautiful female cats left, a small, fiesty grey tabby, and a large 20+lb Tortie. I am working with lawyers to make certain that they are cared for after my death, and are kept together since they have been "siblings" their entire lives. It shatters me to see how many humans dismiss their "pets" as unimportant "animals" to be disentigrated when their owners are gone.

I don't know how to keep my kittie girls together after I'm gone, since they have spent their entire lives in this house, with each other. I'm looking for lawyers who will keep them together, but so far have not found anyone who give a fat flying fig about a couple of traumatized cats who have lost everyone they loved, and the home they have spent their life in. I simply do not know what to do for them, how to keep them happy and safe when I'm gone. They need to be together. No stupid lawyer has told me how I can handle this. I am still working to assure they will be with each other when I am no longer here; they have spent their entire lives, 14 years, here with us. I adore them, and want them to be safe and together when I am gone and can no longer care for them. Neeska and Maya must be kept together, please. I'm begging you.

 

[Court Jester]

Please do not write off all of these cats and kittens as feral. Some actually are lost or have been abandoned.

Actually there are no "lost cats" or lost small dogs here, due to the high number of coyotes.... and even cougars. These animals were feral cats that this woman was collecting from other places and then keeping them in her home.

Years back when we lived at the coast, my husband used to feed the stray cats on his nightly walks. He's just one of those nice guys who loves animals.

Feeding strays/ferals actually just causes more problems, as they continue to reproduce, and then eventually need to be culled.

My point. Please don't kill them...Some will learn to trust. Trap them, and bring them to a feral cat rescue and have them evaluated.

These cats were too sick and too far gone; they were very abused. Some were eating each other. Animal control had to destroy most of them. Had the owner not died, she would have been charged with felony animal abuse.

 

[Court Jester]

I can see the temptation to throw the whole trap in a trough of water, but I urge you to investigate CO2 euthanasia. Basically you wrap the cage in plastic and run CO2 in with a hose. If you don't overdo it, this will render the cat (etc) unconscious (coughing is a sign you're overdoing it,) and you can then increase the concentration to finally kill the animal.

I have only drowned raccoons which I have trapped. Cats (other than this recent incident) are not too much of a problem here. My grandfather used to drown barn cat litters when they overpopulated and the feed them to his hogs. But that was 50 years ago.

The bigger animals can be kept within bounds, but cats and dogs cannot. And their future is starvation and disease anyway, when they've eliminated all their "food sources". Simply killing them is the most humane thing all round.

Culling is necessary sometimes. Seen lots of culled wild horses being hauled away to make dog food. Not sure if the do the same with culled cats and dogs.

That said the biggest animal I've ever killed was a cat. I'm not sure I'd have the heart to kill a feral horse, plus I'd have to use a gun which I don't have.

It can get kind of messy shooting a horse from what I understand. My father said the thing to do is shoot straight into forehead, and then be sure to get out of the way before it falls on you. Then you have a really big hole to dig. Hopefully you have a back hoe.

 

[Court Jester]

OMG. This thread literally makes me sick. A discussion on how to kill animals simply because they are of no use to you?

This thread isn't about pets, it is about feral animals. Nobody should be killing another person's pets. That would be wrong.

Dear God, give them to ME! I will care for them until my last breath, and my lawyer will care for them after that occurs. I have loved and lost animals over the decades of my life. I have two beautiful female cats left, a small, fiesty grey tabby, and a large 20+lb Tortie. I am working with lawyers to make certain that they are cared for after my death, and are kept together since they have been "siblings" their entire lives. It shatters me to see how many humans dismiss their "pets" as unimportant "animals" to be disentigrated when their owners are gone.

I don't know how to keep my kittie girls together after I'm gone, since they have spent their entire lives in this house, with each other. I'm looking for lawyers who will keep them together, but so far have not found anyone who give a fat flying fig about a couple of traumatized cats who have lost everyone they loved, and the home they have spent their life in. I simply do not know what to do for them, how to keep them happy and safe when I'm gone. They need to be together. No stupid lawyer has told me how I can handle this. I am still working to assure they will be with each other when I am no longer here; they have spent their entire lives, 14 years, here with us. I adore them, and want them to be safe and together when I am gone and can no longer care for them. Neeska and Maya must be kept together, please. I'm begging you.

I'm not sure that cats actually know if they are siblings or not? I'm pretty sure that cats are not very intelligent animals owing to the fact that they have very small brains. When I took anatomy in college we dissected cats. They have a tiny, tiny brain I can report.

From the innerwebs:

In 2009, an experiment was conducted where cats could pull on a string to retrieve a treat under a plastic screen. When presented with one string, cats had no trouble getting the treats, but when presented with multiple strings, some of which were not connected to treats, the cats were unable to consistently choose the correct strings, leading to the conclusion that cats do not understand cause and effect in the same way that humans do.

 

[The Stars Tremble]

This thread isn't about pets, it is about feral animals. Nobody should be killing another person's pets. That would be wrong.



I'm not sure that cats actually know if they are siblings or not? I'm pretty sure that cats are not very intelligent animals owing to the fact that they have very small brains. When I took anatomy in college we dissected cats. They have a tiny, tiny brain I can report.

From the innerwebs:

In 2009, an experiment was conducted where cats could pull on a string to retrieve a treat under a plastic screen. When presented with one string, cats had no trouble getting the treats, but when presented with multiple strings, some of which were not connected to treats, the cats were unable to consistently choose the correct strings, leading to the conclusion that cats do not understand cause and effect in the same way that humans do.

It's probably more that they're using the 'hunt prey' part of their brain, because there's a reward, and it's telling them that the string which only worked once days ago is still worth trying. They're expecting intelligent evasion from the strings and it's not a very fair test of a cat's 'sense of cause and effect'. If those strings were mouse-holes the cat would be on a genius streak. It's not a very good study.

 

[American]

OMG. This thread literally makes me sick. A discussion on how to kill animals simply because they are of no use to you? Dear God, give them to ME! I will care for them until my last breath, and my lawyer will care for them after that occurs. I have loved and lost animals over the decades of my life. I have two beautiful female cats left, a small, fiesty grey tabby, and a large 20+lb Tortie. I am working with lawyers to make certain that they are cared for after my death, and are kept together since they have been "siblings" their entire lives. It shatters me to see how many humans dismiss their "pets" as unimportant "animals" to be disentigrated when their owners are gone.

I don't know how to keep my kittie girls together after I'm gone, since they have spent their entire lives in this house, with each other. I'm looking for lawyers who will keep them together, but so far have not found anyone who give a fat flying fig about a couple of traumatized cats who have lost everyone they loved, and the home they have spent their life in. I simply do not know what to do for them, how to keep them happy and safe when I'm gone. They need to be together. No stupid lawyer has told me how I can handle this. I am still working to assure they will be with each other when I am no longer here; they have spent their entire lives, 14 years, here with us. I adore them, and want them to be safe and together when I am gone and can no longer care for them. Neeska and Maya must be kept together, please. I'm begging you.

Are you saying that you're dying?

 

[DiAnna]

Are you saying that you're dying?

We are all dying in one way or another. I had just received some bad news, and had collapsed into a sobbing pity party.

My apologies to all for this self-indulgent pile of pap.

 

[bluesmoke]

OMG. This thread literally makes me sick. A discussion on how to kill animals simply because they are of no use to you? Dear God, give them to ME! I will care for them until my last breath, and my lawyer will care for them after that occurs. I have loved and lost animals over the decades of my life. I have two beautiful female cats left, a small, fiesty grey tabby, and a large 20+lb Tortie. I am working with lawyers to make certain that they are cared for after my death, and are kept together since they have been "siblings" their entire lives. It shatters me to see how many humans dismiss their "pets" as unimportant "animals" to be disentigrated when their owners are gone.

I don't know how to keep my kittie girls together after I'm gone, since they have spent their entire lives in this house, with each other. I'm looking for lawyers who will keep them together, but so far have not found anyone who give a fat flying fig about a couple of traumatized cats who have lost everyone they loved, and the home they have spent their life in. I simply do not know what to do for them, how to keep them happy and safe when I'm gone. They need to be together. No stupid lawyer has told me how I can handle this. I am still working to assure they will be with each other when I am no longer here; they have spent their entire lives, 14 years, here with us. I adore them, and want them to be safe and together when I am gone and can no longer care for them. Neeska and Maya must be kept together, please. I'm begging you.

While my sister, very close since childhood, was dying of lung cancer, I helped look for someone, orgs and whoever, would take in her 2 mini-Schnauzers, Chloe and India. She found someone herself who drove from Flagstaff through a storm to the CA coast to pick up the dogs. I've since kept in touch with the new "owner" to keep tabs on those dogs, one of which often played with my own mini, Layla, which dog my sister found for me through a rescue org. She had previously gotten me a rescue mini that was taken by a coyote, right underneath her nose, while walking through open space. She called be on the phone, sobbing, with the news. She was the toughest human being I've ever known. Unstoppable. Except by cancer. I wish you the best in finding a home for your girls (my sister called her dogs "the girls") and wish the best to you and yours.

 

[VanceMack]

Well you need feral dogs. Then feral pigs to hunt the dogs. Then feral bears ... and uh ... recreate a dinosaur?

Good for you! I hate feral cats. We created a huge problem in nature by miniaturizing the cat. All sorts of small mammals (also reptiles and birds) which wouldn't be troubled by a big cat, are vulnerable to our creation.

You say that like it is a joke....

Chicago releases 1,000 FERAL CATS to deal with surging rat problem

We live in a fairly rural area and animal control wont do anything about feral cats. Even if they are trapped they will neuter them and then return them to the same area. The theory holds that once you start messing with the population...the feral cat population will increase, whereas if you dont they will establish their own form of population control, including culling their own clowder.

Sometimes the best answer is a night scope and a good air rifle.

 

[VanceMack]

OMG. This thread literally makes me sick. A discussion on how to kill animals simply because they are of no use to you? Dear God, give them to ME! I will care for them until my last breath, and my lawyer will care for them after that occurs. I have loved and lost animals over the decades of my life. I have two beautiful female cats left, a small, fiesty grey tabby, and a large 20+lb Tortie. I am working with lawyers to make certain that they are cared for after my death, and are kept together since they have been "siblings" their entire lives. It shatters me to see how many humans dismiss their "pets" as unimportant "animals" to be disentigrated when their owners are gone.

I don't know how to keep my kittie girls together after I'm gone, since they have spent their entire lives in this house, with each other. I'm looking for lawyers who will keep them together, but so far have not found anyone who give a fat flying fig about a couple of traumatized cats who have lost everyone they loved, and the home they have spent their life in. I simply do not know what to do for them, how to keep them happy and safe when I'm gone. They need to be together. No stupid lawyer has told me how I can handle this. I am still working to assure they will be with each other when I am no longer here; they have spent their entire lives, 14 years, here with us. I adore them, and want them to be safe and together when I am gone and can no longer care for them. Neeska and Maya must be kept together, please. I'm begging you.

Feral cats are a danger to humans, to animal populations, even to domestic kittens. In a neighborhood populated with feral cats, your kittens are at risk of everything from being attacked to being subjected to disease.

 

[bluesmoke]

Do you have a specific question you would like to ask me? Or are you of the mind that invasive species introduced by humans which become feral and threaten native species is a good thing, or something which does not require human action to solve. Even when that action means the uncomfortable but necessary culling of animals which "look like" pets or farm animals, but are not?

I'm saying nothing you've introduced confirms any right of your having the authority to kill feral cats. Unless the law in your state allows you to do so, without authorization, you've admitted to breaking the law and give no indication you will stop. Unless you can show evidence you've the right to kill feral cats, and how you can prove that the cats you've killed are feral, then you've lost the debate, period. See you on another.

 

[bluesmoke]

Do you have a specific question you would like to ask me? Or are you of the mind that invasive species introduced by humans which become feral and threaten native species is a good thing, or something which does not require human action to solve. Even when that action means the uncomfortable but necessary culling of animals which "look like" pets or farm animals, but are not?

I'm saying nothing you've introduced confirms any right of your having the authority to kill feral cats. Unless the law in your state allows you to do so, without authorization, you've admitted to breaking the law and give no indication you will stop, incl the distinct possibility of killing pet cats. Unless you can show evidence you've the right to kill feral cats, and how you can prove that the cats you've killed are feral, then you've lost the debate, period. See you on another thread.

 

[bluesmoke]

No, not what I said, not even close.

What I said in reply to somebody who touted, "well, it's the law" was that not all laws are correct, some are arbitrary and misapplied, and some are even immoral. Other laws are simply just dumb.

The discussion BTW is about FERAL cats, and other INVASIVE species. In NO WAY am I suggesting that pets are in that category. And while as we all know (at least those of us who are adults understand) that there are times during exigent circumstances where viscous dogs which may be pet are sometimes killed by police or animal control when they are attacking people; I'm not in any way suggesting that anyone should harm or kill another person's pet---- so don't even go there with your accusations against me.


Again, and for the rationally impaired, I was saying that not all laws are correct. For 2 years I watched people loose their minds if a person walked into Costco not wearing a mask and were immeadiatly surrounded like the just walked in with and explosive device because they ignored "the mandate". And then while employees were scolding the maskless person, 20 other people walked in with their masks below their nose--- or even under their chins, and nobody said a damn word to them.

So my point is, laws/rules need to make sense, and when they don't, then naturally people will ignore them.


It is not illegal where I live to protect my property from feral and/or nuisance animals, especially varmints. You see, this is the difference when the property is zoned as agricultural as compared to simply residential. And even as my community is mostly now residential, it is technically still agricultural. I can keep horses, chickens, goats---or plant citrus and avocado trees on my property without any special permits. And in turn I have a LEGAL RIGHT to protect my investments by means which you probably are not allowed to do if you live in a strictly residential zoned area.
.

Still, right over your head.

Not all laws are either just or rational is the point.

You can run around the point to distract from the facts all you want. The fact is you are breaking the law and think it OK. Nothing you say gives you justification to kill cats. You've no evidence it's lawful for you to kill cats. See you on another thread.

 

[Court Jester]

You can run around the point to distract from the facts all you want. The fact is you are breaking the law and think it OK. Nothing you say gives you justification to kill cats. You've no evidence it's lawful for you to kill cats. See you on another thread.

Actually the laws allow anyone to protect themselves, their family, their crops, their pets, their livestock, and their property from any threat, damage, or harm from ANY animal. Especially in the situation we were recently having with a virtual mini plague of sick, diseased, stray (which were feral cats being hoarded by a cat hoarder) AFTER animal control FAILED to handle the problem. In my posts I alluded to the context, which was not about going out and hunting feral animals; although, there is some sound reasoning in doing that in many cases, as these feral animals are so often destroying indigenous species. In my case the police (including the local police chief) was disgusted by the failure of the animal control dept to have handled this situation, therefore he saw no criminality in homeowners who were forced to protect their own pets and property.

Animal control has since been SHAMED into handling the failure on their part, so now we just let them handle it.

 

[Court Jester]

I'm saying nothing you've introduced confirms any right of your having the authority to kill feral cats.

Already asked and answered. Read my post above.

Unless the law in your state allows you to do so, without authorization, you've admitted to breaking the law and give no indication you will stop, incl the distinct possibility of killing pet cats.

Any animal can be killed when there is reasonable justification to do so. Some years back my brother shot and killed an off leash pit-bull while he was out walking his own dog. The pit bull came toward him in a threatening way, and so he shot it.... he STOPPED the threat. Sheriff's responded. Made a report. Checked my brother's gun registration and his concealed carry permit, and that was the end of it. The "authority" is in the justification ANYONE may have to STOP a threat. You are not required to fill out a permit and wait for permission to defend yourself, your family, your pets, or your property.

Unless you can show evidence you've the right to kill feral cats, and how you can prove that the cats you've killed are feral, then you've lost the debate, period. See you on another thread.

I'm not debating my justification to do what I have needed to do. I am merely stating what I have needed to do. I don't need your permission, and you can have hurt and uneasy feelings about it all that you want to if that makes you happy. I have always lived my life by General George S. Patton's quote: "We herd sheep, we drive cattle, we lead people. Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way."

So, my advice would be for people is to keep their dogs and their cats on a leash when not confined to their own property. Especially if those animals are going to become a problem to me and mine. And beyond that, feral animals have to specific higher importance than native animals in my opinion. If animal control, Fish & Game, or BLM (Bureau of Land Management) is going to fail in their responsibilities..... well, then I guess it may become a "get out of my way" deal at some point.

 

[Court Jester]

You say that like it is a joke....

Chicago releases 1,000 FERAL CATS to deal with surging rat problem

We live in a fairly rural area and animal control wont do anything about feral cats. Even if they are trapped they will neuter them and then return them to the same area. The theory holds that once you start messing with the population...the feral cat population will increase, whereas if you dont they will establish their own form of population control, including culling their own clowder.

Sometimes the best answer is a night scope and a good air rifle.

I went through this with a family of problem raccoons doing damage to my home (lifting roof tiles attempting to get access to my attic). Not only were they lifting tiles and shingles, they would on a nightly basis defecate on the roof under the eves in the same location (look up raccoon latrine) which then becomes a health hazard as there are some really nasty viruses you can catch from animal feces of all types.

All that the local animal control could offer was coming out an attempting to trap the raccoons...well, if they had time---as they whine about lack of budget. And then after trapping the raccoons can only be relocated to a maximum of one mile from where they were trapped, which clearly solves nothing. The other option is to hire a professional pest service, and the cost of dealing with raccoons can be in the thousands of dollars when dealing with more than just one of two.

So, what then becomes the homeowner solution is to find the best way to deal with it themselves. Rifles are great, but you have to be awake all night to get them, therefore these are the better solution; they allow you to sleep through the night and then deal with the disposal in the morning. Speaking strictly about raccoons, these are not even possible to use on cats or canines due to them needing "hand like" paw to trigger the trap. Thus why they are called dog proof traps. Although you may sometimes end up with an opossum, and in a worst case scenrio a skunk. But by chance you snare a skunk, you will know it right away.

 

[Court Jester]

We are all dying in one way or another.

Everything is dying. It is natural and good when accepted as part of nature.

I had just received some bad news, and had collapsed into a sobbing pity party.

My apologies to all for this self-indulgent pile of pap.

Well.... my condolences.

 

[VanceMack]

We are all dying in one way or another. I had just received some bad news, and had collapsed into a sobbing pity party.

My apologies to all for this self-indulgent pile of pap.

I think you get a pass....you've had a rough little while.

 

[DiAnna]

Everything is dying. It is natural and good when accepted as part of nature.




Well.... my condolences.

I think you get a pass....you've had a rough little while.

Thank you both. Much appreciated.