damn it people, keep your kitties in!!

[mopinko]

i have to explain to a neighbor that i have never met that their kitty wandered into my yard, and my dogs did what dogs do when they get ahold of a cat.
fuck.

[woo me with science]

1. Uh oh.

:popcorn:

For the record, our cats are indoor/outdoor, and they wouldn't have it any other way.

[mopinko]

2. well, just try not to be upset when something bad happens.

i'm not a cat person, so i don't have that problem. but if i let my dogs roam and something bad happened, i would suck it up.
hope these guy do the same. argh.

[woo me with science]

8. Like everything in life,

it's a balance of risks. There are parents who wrap their kids in bubble wrap, too.

We live in a pretty quiet area with adjacent parkland. The cats are smart enough to have established their territory in that direction rather than up the residential street. They love the outdoors and can be as fierce as foxes when they need to.

We had to keep one of them inside after a surgery once. I thought the poor kitty would go insane with grief.

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[woo me with science]

18. That's sweet.

I love you, too. :grouphug:

[ceile]

22. Truly nasty thing to say.

[KamaAina]

35. Time for my afternoon snack break

:popcorn:

[XemaSab]

36. I hope those aren't warblers in that box

x(

[KamaAina]

37. No, just popcorn.

A big ol' tub of it with lots of butter. I'm gonna need it if this thread goes the way of most other cats vs. songbirds threads. :scared:

Idea: In Hawai'i, palm trees often sport metal bands around their trunks to keep the 'iole (Polynesian rat) from clawing up top and making nests in their crowns. Why not band a few trees and put bird feeders in their tops, creating a cat-free sanctuary for the birds?

[mopinko]

20. just save up to be nice to the person who has to

scrape your dead cat up and come find you. i think this family might have some kids, which is gonna make it extra fun.
they put this on me with their decisions. so try to realize what you might be putting on someone else. something bad is highly likely to happen eventually.

not trying to be cranky, just sayin.

[woo me with science]

21. Maybe we should keep all the squirrels inside, too. nt

[mopinko]

25. nobody's kids are gonna be crying about the squirrels, and

i don't have to track down the squirrel's owners.

i don't want to get into a pissing contest here. and i am not the bubble wrap sort, myself. i am just hoping that there isn't any finger pointing.

[woo me with science]

27. Nah, don't worry.

I have no hard feelings for what you've posted. I will affirm that some kids do cry about squirrels, though...and deer and raccoons. As I said, there's always risk, but we have weighed it and choose quality of life for our cats. It has been a good risk for our family cats for nearly 30 years now.

I knew this would be an explosive thread when you first posted - hence my rare posting of the popcorn icon. Kind of makes me think of going to the Olive Garden tonight!

[woo me with science]

29. delete. posted wrong place. nt

[woo me with science]

30. One more thing.

Mopinko, I should have said first off: I am very sorry you are facing this. My initial post was knee jerk because I saw a contentious issue about to brew, and I didn't zero in on the pain behind your post. I ended up starting the contentiousness. I am sorry for doing that. Sometimes I can be a loose cannon online, and this is one of those times. If I had it to do over again, I would not have made the post.

No, it's not your fault or your dogs' fault. I think when animals were more integrated into our communities, these sorts of incidents between cats and dogs were a lot rarer. The vast majority of cat and dog interactions don't come to this.

I am very sorry this happened to you and for making light in what was a serious thread. I still would never use this incident as an argument for keeping all cats inside all the time, but this was not the place to make that argument.

Sorry.

[mopinko]

32. i really appreciate that.

thanks.

[Lance_Boyle]

3. that is just not responsible pet ownership.

Why do cats owners not get this? Your pets are your responsibility. Letting them run wild onto other people's (and public) property is not acceptable.

[woo me with science]

5. I strongly disagree.

I have met some extremely neurotic cats who were confined to a small apartment for their entire lives. They never felt grass under their feet or the sun on their backs. They could not be walked like dogs, so they were essentially prisoners. Some of them were obese from sitting on a window sill all day. They were bored out of their minds. I felt very sorry for them.

IMO it depends entirely on the area whether letting cats out should be considered a risk not worth taking.

[Lance_Boyle]

7. You can disagree and anthropomorphize your cats all you want, but

it is still highly irresponsible to allow them off of your property unrestrained. You can take them outside on a leash, or you can restrict them to a confined outdoor space on your own property, but you cannot let them run wild onto other people's (or public) property. Not only can bad things happen to them, but they can do bad things, too.

It's not dependent upon the area - your pets are your responsibility. You are not at liberty to just let them roam wild in the community, regardless of community.

[Crystal Clarity]

11. Question about your last sentence

..."You are not at liberty to just let them roam wild in the community, regardless of the community"...

Says who, other then you? :shrug:

[woo me with science]

12. Well, actually I *am* at liberty to do that.

I hear you. I disagree. O8)

[Lance_Boyle]

13. Worded poorly on my part. You are 'at liberty' to let your pets roam free (within the bounds

of local law), but your pets will pay the price for that irresponsible choice in the event they destroy something or are destroyed by something. I believe most people value their pets more than to just toss them to the winds and say "world, have at them."

[woo me with science]

14. I knew this thread would end up being testy.

I love the "anthropomorphizing" comment to defend keeping cats in man-made enclosures FOR THEIR ENTIRE LIVES.

:rofl: :popcorn:

[Heidi]

17. "You are not at liberty to just let them roam wild in the community, regardless of community."

You are mistaken about that. It is very much dependent upon one's area and the standards and ordinances of one's community.

[Brickbat]

23. Sounds like that's a problem with the owners, then, for not stimulating their cats and keeping them

on a diet. All of which can be done without letting the cats outside.

[snooper2]

42. My cat Samy goes outside every day...He stays on our lot..

climbs the trees and plays on the roof...then sleeps on a chair in the back yard. Sometimes he'll sleep on the roof of the car and watch the kids walk home from school. Sometimes he likes to play with butterflies...

All the time...for years..



Samy says suck his tail :)

[zen_bohemian]

4. my cats are entirely indoor

We live on a busy street and I would feel terrible if my babies got out and got lost, or hit by a car, or met a dog. I wish we had a fence in the backyard, and then I would let them out if I was outside with them, but just cant afford one at this time.

[woo me with science]

6. Friends of ours in Philly

live in a very busy area and don't risk letting the cats free. However, they built a fantastic setup of cables in their back yard that allows the cats to get around out there without disappearing. The cats crave being outside.

This family also has a cat wheel...It's a hoot!

[supernova]

9. Is there an invisible fence for cats?

I know there is one for dogs, my brother uses it for his dogs.

My cats are mostly indoor, but I have one that simply MUST dart out the door when she has the chance. :eyes: She did it last night too. All she did was goof and run around in the yard. I let her until she was tuckered out, then she came when I called her. And I gotta tell you, it's no small feat to see a tortie cat in the dark on a shadowy lawn. LOL.

I would love to collar them with some kind of invisible fence if that exists so that they can enjoy the yard when they want. Everybody is clipped so I don't worry about them roaming.

[one_voice]

10. Oh no...

I'm so sorry you have to go through that. When I had my cat, he was an indoor cat; for the most part. Every now and again he'd sneak out, but he'd never go any further than the front patio. He just collapsed there and slept. When I was a teenager my cat got out and some idiots shot it with a bb gun, and did some other mean things. The injuries healed, but we were so careful not to let her get out again.

I have two dogs--big ones--and occasionally a cat will get in our yard, but they're usually faster than my dogs. Plus, my dogs have been around cats.

I feel very badly for both you and your neighbors. Good luck.

[XemaSab]

15. Whose fault is that?

Certainly not yours, and certainly not the dogs'.

[mopinko]

26. 2 of them are terriers, so they were just doing their jobs.

they are here to keep the varmints out of my property. the cat was on my property.
it is definitely the cat owners fault. i just hope they see it that way.

[Danger Mouse]

38. I have a neighborhood cat who comes into my yard and upsets my cat so much...

that she pisses all over the house. It really annoys me.

[Biker13]

19. This is a long running problem for me!

We have our large property fenced for our dogs. Several cats in the area are free roaming and love our yard! They dug up our garden using it for a toilet this year and destroyed what was a huge investment for us. They also love to sit on top of our fence and harass the dogs.

I have also had to give up feeding the birds because I'm so broken-hearted from picking up dead birds every morning. I'm at my wits end!

Biker's Old Lady

[Brickbat]

24. I'm so sorry you have to deal with that.

Cats belong inside, or in a yard they can't get out of.

[lukasahero]

28. So sorry you have this on your plate

I live in fear of the day my dog actually sees my neighbor's cat in our yard. She *will* give chase and either a) catch the cat (and likely kill it) or b) chase the cat into the street where it could get hit by a car. We have expressed our concern to them but the cat remains running free (and usually in our yard because we have trees and hence, birds). I chase it off whenever I see it but I know the day will come when I have to have the same conversation you are facing.

:hug:

[davsand]

31. Sorry to hear about it, Mo.

Hope the neighbors don't get nasty about it--this is tough on everyone.

FWIW, I think the SPCA and the Humane Society all suggest that cats are best kept as exclusively indoor pets:

http://www.spca.bc.ca/pet-care/care-behaviour/cats/


http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/cat_care/keep_your_cat_safe_at_home_hsuss_safe_cats_campaign/its_a_dangerous_world_out_there.html


I know that our local shelter will not let anyone adopt a cat unless that cat is to be an indoor animal, simply because they consider it a matter of safety for the animal.

I do not think anyone can blame you or your dogs for the accident.



Laura

[InvisibleTouch]

33. I worry about my neighbor's cat too.

I don't think he'd survive if my dogs got hold of him. Fortunately he seems to be a very savvy outdoor cat, and has never tried to get through my fence. He hangs around my front yard sometimes, so I always try to remember to back out of the driveway slowly. In cold weather, it's not unusual for cats to get under vehicles for the warmth.

If a cat did get into the yard amidst my dogs, I know that I and they are technically not at fault, but I would still feel terrible.

[alarimer]

34. Cats do not belong outside.

It is bad for the cats, especially but also on the wildlife. Dogs belong inside unless they are on a leash. I hate people who allow their dogs to run free on the beach. One large dog peed on my boyfriend while the asshole owner stood there and laughed. I told her to put her fucking dog on a leash or I would report him as a nuisance to animal control.

But domestic pets belong inside most of the time. Cats always (unless you can put them on a leash. Good luck with that).

[nolabear]

39. We had that happen with a neighbor's 14 y.o. poodle once.

It was just terrible. Our Bruno was a big Shepherd/Malamute mix, the sweetest guy on earth, but one day we were leaving and opened the front door and there stood the next door neighbor's elderly poodle. Bruno just jumped and the poor thing broke like a twig. They were very upset of course, and tried to threaten, but their hearts really weren't in it; we all felt just awful. Life is hard sometimes but it doesn't mean it's deviant.

I'm sorry for what you're going through.

[Kali]

40. risks of cat life

but I AM sorry you have to face people - even if it was their responsibility.

You are doing the right thing. The sneaky thing would involve a shovel :evilgrin:

[mopinko]

41. well, the kitty's name was bacchus. he owned 2 little girls.

aged 5 and 7. mom was very nice about it. didn't blame me at all.

seems like the kitty might have been trying to hide, and not thinking straight because he was ill. he had a vet's appointment yesterday. that sort of explains the whole thing. i couldn't figure out why a cat would enter a yard that smelled so much of dog.

but the real bottom line here is that if you have an outdoor kitty, please put a tag on it. those little girls would still be wondering what happened to their buddy without that.

[kimi]

43. Awful situation, I'm sorry

When I domesticate my cats, specially my formal ferals, I keep them all inside. It makes my house a bit of a mess at times, yes - I have to clean up cat puke, deal with scratched furniture and litter boxes. But the pain I've dealt with, with the ferals who I have not been able to bring inside, is really hard.

I live in a very populated area. Lots of cars, people with all kinds of weird s&*t going on, dogs roaming, some coyotes and all. I do feed a feral or two, but the one who comes around mostly has been coming around for years and knows the neighborhood inside and out, he's very self-protective, and neutered as well.

I firmly believe in keeping cats inside, I do believe that they can live fulfilled lives indoors. My big reformed tomcat is a testament to this, actually I have 3 of them, but the biggest and brightest - he's never even shown the slightest inclination to go back outdoors. I've picked up dead cats off of roads, out from under my deck - breaks my heart. If I could have done more for them, I would've. Some cats won't adjust.

But all of mine, now inside, except for the few ferals outside who I worry about all the time, seem absolutely content.

Eh, didn't mean to get so wordy. Again, I'm sorry you had to deal with this. Not your fault in any way, shape or form. Take comfort in that, really.