Should cats be allowed to roam at large?

[skydawg]

Sure let them roam. Rather that than neighbours dogs constantly barking.

[omisimaw]

Crazyoleme from your own post it states that feral cats are the most abundant form of invasive species in the world.
Invasive species are not a natural part of the food chain so therefore bad for our enviroment.

And when a municipality tries to attend to the problem ie cats or rabbits locally the bleeding hearts all come out with their mouths to put a stop to the cull.
If they put their money and time where their mouths were they would see that it can be a win win to handle the situation humanely.
Species become invasive when they are allowed to grow in numbers above and beyond what the area can sustain. It is not that they are not a part of the food chain. All animals big and small fit in the food chain. What happens when it becomes invasive is that it attracts the predator (other member of that food chain) to also enter the invaded area and this can have devastating results on many animals who are in their own yards... it has happened here even to the point of a coyote taking a small dog on a leash on a public street as one example.
Rescue individuals spay, neuter, keep or adopt out. These groups need support be it financial or volunteer. The community does not need a bunch of vigilantes deeming every animal they see without an attachment by cage or rope to a human as being a nuisance and their problem to rid the world of.

[Fancy]

Allowing a pet cat to roam at large increases the likelihood of it running into problems. That's hardly looking after its welfare never mind annoying others that don't want cats in their yard. 60,000 cats put down every year in Canada largely because of irresponsible owners. Winnipeg looking into licencing cats (Calgary already has that program) and it won't be long before other areas follow suit. There is absolutely no reason to put a pet in jeopardy yet see so many dead cats on roadways and every time I hear coyotes howling I wonder who's pet ended up as dinner.

[omisimaw]

Sure let them roam. Rather that than neighbours dogs constantly barking.

Topic is about cats (as in stay on topic)
... not about dogs barking... but start a thread and I am sure you will have plenty of support on that issue in this Valley and on this forum

[Fancy]

Back to topic:
Build a cattery.

[omisimaw]

Allowing a pet cat to roam at large increases the likelihood of it running into problems. That's hardly looking after its welfare never mind annoying others that don't want cats in their yard. 60,000 cats put down every year in Canada largely because of irresponsible owners. Winnipeg looking into licencing cats (Calgary already has that program) and it won't be long before other areas follow suit. There is absolutely no reason to put a pet in jeopardy yet see so many dead cats on roadways and every time I hear coyotes howling I wonder who's pet ended up as dinner.

Allowing your child out on their bike increases the likelihood of it running into a problem too. But you train your child so train your pet the rules too!
Training your pets on indoor and outdoor rules is the responsible thing to do.
Renters with indoor cats and no motivation to clean after or train them are a real problem as well!

[omisimaw]

Back to topic:
Build a cattery.

One way, but why not train the cat on the area it is allowed to go and to come when called?
A cat off its property is no better or worse than a mutt roaming...

[Fancy]

Again, this isn't about children or dogs. But if you're trying to make comparisons then I don't know anyone stupid enough to let their child run in a forest knowing cougars and coyotes are around, nor let them run back and forth on a busy street.

[Fancy]

Pet cats should be contained on their own property - there are means to do that.

[skydawg]

yes i know its about cats which is why I said yes let them roam. Perhaps you should take your own advice Crazy

[Walking Wounded]

http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/an ... ted-states

http://io9.com/5979891/domestic-cats-ar ... ecosystems

http://io9.com/5977917/new-zealand-envi ... ts-as-pets
http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/ho ... 90001.html

Cats are invasive and damage the ecosystem period, they should ALWAYS be under their owners control.

[skydawg]

Yes cats are the ones destroying the planet. hahaha that is hilarious

[Poindexter]

If you ever rescue a cat make sure it was not an outdoor pet because there's no going back.

I mentioned on another post that we rescued a kitten that must have been allowed out by the previous owner because there's no stopping him. Took some advise from a post on a dif topic and tried an enclosure made out of chicken wire in the back yard. Only managed to get him in there once. Ever had a cat dig into your arm and start clawing it's way up towards your face? You literally can't pull them off once the eye's dilate and ears pin back. This is not the kind of cat you can pick up when he's not into it. We tried wrapping him in a towel and placing him in there but now he sees a towel and runs for it. Cats are great but really smart and stubborn. I wish he was like our other cat and didn't mind being a house cat but he's given us little choice. And it's not like he pays us back for this favour, the other day he brought a live quail into the house and let it go. Quail as it turns out moult feathers when stressed, house was covered in down by the time we caught it. So it's easier said than done and I'm not willing shed litres of blood or put him down because of a few birds and mice. We brought some wild cat mint home from a hike and planted them, hopefully he'll become a burn out and just want to hang around but until then - sorry neighbours.

[Walking Wounded]

Species become invasive when they are allowed to grow in numbers above and beyond what the area can sustain. It is not that they are not a part of the food chain. All animals big and small fit in the food chain. What happens when it becomes invasive is that it attracts the predator (other member of that food chain) to also enter the invaded area and this can have devastating results on many animals who are in their own yards... it has happened here even to the point of a coyote taking a small dog on a leash on a public street as one example.
Rescue individuals spay, neuter, keep or adopt out. These groups need support be it financial or volunteer. The community does not need a bunch of vigilantes deeming every animal they see without an attachment by cage or rope to a human as being a nuisance and their problem to rid the world of.

An invasive species is also one that was not native to the area. There were no small cats at all in north america until Europeans came here 300 or so years ago.

A more recent example of invasive species

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-c ... rnaby.html
N7

[omisimaw]

http://www.messybeast.com/cathistory.htm