dancing cloud Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 Watching the news this morning, there was a suggestion that, as cats kill wildlife at night, there should be a curfew and they should have to stay inside all night. Really? OK, so I'm biased, having four of the furry fiends, but not one of them has ever brought me a bird. Loki brings mice (or bits of mouse ) and the other three bring nothing at all, as they are lazy wotsits and their night-time exercise consists only of a brief wander round the garden when the hens have gone to bed. Generally, keeping the mouse population down is seen as a good thing, and there are hawks, owls and even magpies that have killed many more small birds individually than my four cats have managed between them. The sensible guest indicated that a collar with a bell or electronic beep may work better, especially as these would work during the day as well, but there seemed little discussion about the sheer impracticality of a curfew. None of my cats can tell the time (except for feeding time ) and if they were out and about, they wouldn't be coming home just because it was curfew time, all of mine are chipped, but most cats are not, and just how does someone think they're going to physically catch a curfew-breaker to bring it to book? Ever tried catching a cat when it's outside (in the dark)? Didn't seem to me to be the best idea ever ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 I agree with you. I think a collar with a bell is the best as it gives the birds a chance to get away. That said, I need to get new ones for my two as they managed to 'lose' them Mine usually only bring in mice or rats, but when the boys were younger they'd bring in baby birds which I didn't like. Oh and the odd squirrel. I can't imagine how this would be enforced either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 I'm not really a cat person, but I do sympathise with all you cat keepers. How on earth would it be enforceable? Who are all these people who are going to be patrolling the streets and countryside handing out ASBOs to cats? Isn't this going to be hugely expensive? Much better to put a collar and bell/beeper on your cat to warn the wildlife of your cat's approach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted June 21, 2012 Author Share Posted June 21, 2012 The thought of some poor "cat warden" chasing errant stop-outs round gardens, over fences, through hedges, just to have the cat sit and jeer at them from the neighbour's garage roof, where they can't get at it My lovely bone-idle Puddy many years ago brought me a bat ! I have no idea how she caught it (it probably had to throw itself into her mouth and chew itself to death even then), but she was very proud of it . Still not seeing this as a vote-winner! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 I prefer to think of it as natural selection or population control.... both of my mogs are prolific hunters (night or day) and as such are weighted down with so much jangly bling to warn off prey that they look and sound like some yardie gangster. Any mouse or bird daft enough not to heed the warning and make an exit deserves to be caught in my book. I have to say that when I read the same article I checked the top of the page to see if it was April 1st. They must be out of their tiny minds Here's one of Biscuit honing his skills as a natural born killer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 Hes lovely DM - unusual colour - suits his name. Good to see in action Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 My cats wander in and out as they feel like it. Cats are naturally nocturnal I think it would be cruel to keep them in all night If I had any chance of keeping collars on my cats I'd put a bell on but one of them manages to go out, remove a collar and come home in less than 1/2 hr. The other cat takes a little longer but still very quickly so I just have them chipped now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 My cats have free use of the cat flap, the eldest has not caught anything for a few years. When she was younger she did kill my budgie who had escaped from the cage. Dave was a prolific hunter, mostly mice but occasionally birds, much to my horror. The two new kitties have also developed a hunting habit (mainly mice) so we always watch where we walk first thing in the morning In some ways I wish I'd got them used to being locked in overnight for safety's sake (Dave being killed on the busy road at the back of our house) but I think cats need to be out and exploring and unfortunately catching small furry and feathery things is in their nature. My three have collars on, Toby has a big bell on his collar but it doesn't seem to help. p.s. DM Biscuit looks so sweet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowberry Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 Biscuit is gorgeous! My cats tend to hunt during the day, mainly voles & mice but I've seen the odd bird. Ah, it's Summer, therefore silly season in the news! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 I prefer to think of it as natural selection or population control.... Ditto. Although I did ground Nancy for a day or so when she caught three baby starlings in two days. Poor things must've only just fledged. My garden is full of birds, and it's also where my three youngest cats spend much of their time playing. They all usually tend to come in with me when I get in from work around 9.30pm but with these warmer nights they're wanting to stat out for longer. The birds are probably better off today seeing as though after spending all night outside, she's been asleep since she had her breakfast at 6am Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 Mine almost never catch birds, and I am very grateful to have the mouse population controlled (not that they do, really - I have had real problems with mice including one getting into the beehive!). I couldn't impose a curfew - Welly likes to go for a wander in the night, although as often as not he will spend most of it on the bed, and he absolutely refuses to use a litter tray even when ill. I'd just get woken up in the small hours to let him out! I have hardly ever known mine catch birds at night, anyway - for obvious reasons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatieB Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 What a daft idea. I have four cats three of which are outside cats (their choice), one we see so rarely we havent managed to give him the latest round of flea and worm treatment and we definately dont see him at night. My cats catch everything as we live so rurally but rarely birds. Recently mice, rats, a rabbit and on tuesday a two foot grass snake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted June 22, 2012 Share Posted June 22, 2012 Cats are (on the whole) prolific hunters, it's just what they do, and I think it would be almost impossible to stop them. If they were kept in at night, they will hunt in the day instead. I don't like the havoc they can wreak on the local bird population, but then who am I to complain, my dog killed a fledgling a few days ago and ate a mouse today so it's not just cats that can be a problem. To be honest, I am of the opinion that there are simply too many cats around which is more of a problem than the behaviours of individual cats (if that makes sense), but of course people enjoy keeping cats, and in many cases multiple cats, so to be honest it's a problem that's never going to go away. So I think the only thing that can sensibly be done is to have them wear nice jingly jangly collars to at least try and limit the damage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 22, 2012 Share Posted June 22, 2012 It would also help if people would get their cats neutered instead of 'letting them have one litter', then being surprised when the cat gets pregnant again almost immediately and they have a dozen or so kittens t find homes for Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted June 22, 2012 Share Posted June 22, 2012 Completely agree DM, that is part of the reason for there being just too many cats around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillybettybabs Posted June 22, 2012 Share Posted June 22, 2012 Foggy isn't allowed out after 6pm for this reason and i don't think it's cruel on him at all - he is happy to spend his evening with his mum and hang around outside during the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted June 22, 2012 Share Posted June 22, 2012 Our old cat was very nocturnal and a very outdoor cat, the two we have now I think were house cats before we got them and they flinch at the the slightest noise outdoors. We keep them in at night because we had trouble with them crossing the main road at night and then not being able to get back when it got busier in the morning and Scamp also had a run in with a fox within a couple of weeks of getting her. The Cats protection encourage you to keep cats rehomed from then in at night. All cats are different, but they are just part of the food chain, so I don't really see what the fuss is about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillybettybabs Posted June 22, 2012 Share Posted June 22, 2012 We have a problem with some sort of wild cat around our village killing lambs, Pheasants and FR hens. The farmers and gamekeepers are out at night trying to shoot it and i know that mistakes have been made . I have seen it and it looks like a Scottish wild cat but i guess it isn't but it is huge! With Foggy being a tabby i do worry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 22, 2012 Share Posted June 22, 2012 I'd worry too, although he's only tiny better safe than sorry. Is OH out looking for this big cat? There are plenty of big cat sightings around here; recently at Great Tew and often around Minster Lovell. I never walk around Great Tew without the dogs... Ruby would take it on but Cyrus would be hiding behind me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillybettybabs Posted June 22, 2012 Share Posted June 22, 2012 When we first moved in there was big black cat sightings in our village, very long legs,pointy nose and ran differently to most big cats. They'd never seen a old fashioned working lab working the cover before. Good old Dylan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 22, 2012 Share Posted June 22, 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 LBB We have had big cat sightings round here too, although it seems to have gone quiet recently. Hubby reckons he has spotted one, also my Mum. On the other hand I have never seen so much as a pawprint! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 My two have free run day and night, as neither will use a litter tray since they discovered the big wide world. Both like hunting, and are doing great guns at keeping the mouse population down. Although Sabrina has taken it upon herself to train OH and I at hunting.... Live mice brought to bed at 3am is not appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vikki56 Posted June 26, 2012 Share Posted June 26, 2012 I'm pretty lucky with my cat Mabel (affectionately known as the witchcat, all she would need is a pointy hat) as she thinks its just much nicer indoors at night. Having said that however she is inclined to do her worship to the dawn dance along my windowsill at strange hours in the morning (it was 3.30 the other morning, still at least I was up for the chooks!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
