General Discussion

Ghost Dog

(16,881 posts)

88. I know of no European country where cats are considered vermin.

Sun Mar 23, 2014, 02:22 PM

Mar 2014

In fact in Europe the concept of 'outdoor cat' is almost unknown, since almost all cats will have free access to the outdoors. What would be unusual, and probably considered to be cruel, is the 'indoor cat' phenomenom (some even have claws pulled). This is very unnatural for a cat.

Small cats' potential prey, here in the old world, have evolved alongside small cats, are aware of the danger and are usually adept at avoidance strategies, although they will occasionally lose out. A well-fed domestic cat will not be trying too hard anyway, but will hunt for sport.

The decline in bird numbers in Europe can definitely be put down mainly to habitat damage (including by pesticides and herbicides) and loss (including urbanisation and industrialisation in general).

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The Evil of the Outdoor Cat [View all] XemaSab Mar 2014 OP

I've had cats for 30+ years LiberalElite Mar 2014 #1

I let my cat out in New England. She was a tough city kitty and the only offering she ever brought Warpy Mar 2014 #13

I'm living with 3 outdoor cats who now have to be inside Politicalboi Mar 2014 #2

I recall seeing some outdoor "pens" tied into a window in order for cats to spend some time outdoors adirondacker Mar 2014 #17

We have three cats who only go out under adult supervision curlyred Mar 2014 #57

Sounds like your cats have a wonderful life and caretakers:) adirondacker Mar 2014 #63

As far as the damage to wildlife goes, Are_grits_groceries Mar 2014 #3

^^^ This ^^^ alittlelark Mar 2014 #8

or the damage done by development. Gormy Cuss Mar 2014 #9

Actually, common lawn grass, fescue varieties pipoman Mar 2014 #10

We are in the process of doing the same... Earth_First Mar 2014 #27

When I moved into my current home in September of 2006, I was supremely delighted DebJ Mar 2014 #18

I've never heard that about dialysis! laundry_queen Mar 2014 #25

amen. Tuesday Afternoon Mar 2014 #31

Cats are part of the problem hueymahl Mar 2014 #117

Nice read, thanks. joshcryer Mar 2014 #4

It depends on the situation. Living in the country, they keep the mice and rats down. If I lived in uppityperson Mar 2014 #5

Country cats are nothing more than Great Horned Owl Treats Drahthaardogs Mar 2014 #41

The great horned owls on our farm haven't ever touched our barn cats in 26 years riderinthestorm Mar 2014 #46

Golden eagles and great horned owls took many of our cats as well as our neighbors. Drahthaardogs Mar 2014 #50

I own and operate a 40 horse farm on 80 acres surrounded by corporate-owned IL farmland. riderinthestorm Mar 2014 #51

That is a lot of activity on a little piece of ground Drahthaardogs Mar 2014 #58

They nest in the trees in our front paddock. We see and hear them daily. riderinthestorm Mar 2014 #60

Okay. Drahthaardogs Mar 2014 #62

I also grew up on a working farm backwoodsbob Mar 2014 #92

maybe it's a city thing NoGOPZone Mar 2014 #98

This message was self-deleted by its author PotatoChip Mar 2014 #107

Mine are 12-18 years old and quite healthy except 1 has flea skin allergies. uppityperson Mar 2014 #86

You gave Lucky her perfect life. oldandhappy Mar 2014 #6

The evil of human is something that should be looked at Arcanetrance Mar 2014 #7

We always have 3 to 10 feel cats pipoman Mar 2014 #11

then what about bobcats and cougars? what do we do about them? nt alp227 Mar 2014 #12

They`re native species NickB79 Mar 2014 #14

I've always thought, a cat is a cat. alp227 Mar 2014 #16

Most definitely NickB79 Mar 2014 #65

Don't feed them either. n/t lumberjack_jeff Mar 2014 #69

The denial on this thread is just sad NickB79 Mar 2014 #15

I'm not in denial. Are_grits_groceries Mar 2014 #21

+1 area51 Mar 2014 #28

that's why I have cats. keep the plague at bay. Voice for Peace Mar 2014 #80

It is just another chapter in "The Divide and Conquer" book of rules. n/t Tuesday Afternoon Mar 2014 #32

There have been many, many, many studies about the effects of cats on wildlife. Drahthaardogs Mar 2014 #42

I'm not arguing that they don't have a negative effect. Are_grits_groceries Mar 2014 #45

The pesticides you cite - is namely DDT Drahthaardogs Mar 2014 #49

I know of no European country where cats are considered vermin. Ghost Dog Mar 2014 #88

Yes you are! nt Logical Mar 2014 #56

So let me make sure I understand you. Because pesticides are bad, outdoor cats...... Logical Mar 2014 #59

Can we walk and chew gum at the same time? NickB79 Mar 2014 #64

and a Jadgterrier is a superior vermin killer to any cat every born Drahthaardogs Mar 2014 #71

We had a West Highland White Terrier. Mouser of the gods, she was NickB79 Mar 2014 #73

The canine kill shake is the most efficient killer I have ever seen Drahthaardogs Mar 2014 #74

This message was self-deleted by its author HangOnKids Mar 2014 #24

Addressing them all at the same time would be great. Gormy Cuss Mar 2014 #72

I'm down for a starling eradication program NickB79 Mar 2014 #84

I assume you forgot this... madinmaryland Mar 2014 #111

No, actually NickB79 Mar 2014 #112

Starlings were purposefully introduced alarimer Mar 2014 #119

The scale of the problem is almost beyond imagination. truebluegreen Mar 2014 #19

Richard Conniff sounds like a fine steward of our planet... countryjake Mar 2014 #20

Does Conniff contend that trap/neuter programs for ferals... Eleanors38 Mar 2014 #55

My cats have always gotten a reward for bringing home a dead bird... Ohio Joe Mar 2014 #22

The OP is so intense "The Evil of the outdoor cat" HangOnKids Mar 2014 #23

I think that's just the title of the original article. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Mar 2014 #102

This message was self-deleted by its author SidDithers Mar 2014 #113

Ha! That made me bust out laughing MelungeonWoman Mar 2014 #26

Wow, how classy of you. So someone killing cats is OK also? n-t Logical Mar 2014 #91

Yes... A cat hunting and a person killing others pets is the same thing Ohio Joe Mar 2014 #94

It is stupid to say cats killing birds is ok. How about dogs killing cats, ok with that? n-t Logical Mar 2014 #95

Billions of cats must be killed every year by stray dogs XemaSab Mar 2014 #99

'Wait... Let me keep grasping to find a way to make it ok to kill pets' Ohio Joe Mar 2014 #100

Fucking bird freaks are also why we can't have nice things. alphafemale Mar 2014 #105

I had a cat named Lucky. madaboutharry Mar 2014 #29

Ah, it's our bi-annual Le Taz Hot Mar 2014 #30

We have 2 outdoor cats AND B2G Mar 2014 #33

We do as well. Le Taz Hot Mar 2014 #34

I'm trying to picture my cat B2G Mar 2014 #35

I met a woman once whose cat specialized in hummingbirds. nt Bigmack Mar 2014 #66

That was one fast cat. nt B2G Mar 2014 #68

Not fast.... Bigmack Mar 2014 #115

We have a bird feeder & neighbors outdoor cats. Stopped feeding the birds after too much carnage. Bonx Mar 2014 #81

HEY reddread Mar 2014 #38

We call her Loco Loki for a reason. Le Taz Hot Mar 2014 #40

My daughter's female cat is also named Loki. Same reason. riderinthestorm Mar 2014 #48

our house backs up to 50 acres of park land elehhhhna Mar 2014 #36

The feral cat problem is a separate issue B2G Mar 2014 #37

They do a lot of damage XemaSab Mar 2014 #47

FFS, which is destroying birds more- over development or cats? It's like pointing to a raindrop KittyWampus Mar 2014 #39

i understand working cats in barns and all-but letting your fluffy kill songbirds is just wrong dembotoz Mar 2014 #43

Again, it's the feral population B2G Mar 2014 #44

we have a tv show for the hunting of feral pig--perhap a new one for feral cats dembotoz Mar 2014 #54

Feral cats often start off as "Fluffy" NickB79 Mar 2014 #85

Responsible pet owners spay and neuter B2G Mar 2014 #89

The your cat is an exception hueymahl Mar 2014 #118

An outdoor cat came along with the house I just bought. Orsino Mar 2014 #52

Handsome kitty! ForgoTheConsequence Mar 2014 #103

My kitty cat Zelda is 14 nilesobek Mar 2014 #53

My kitty who is now recently gone was with me for 12 years. We were in love with RKP5637 Mar 2014 #61

Coyotes are everywhere..? Bigmack Mar 2014 #67

Why do people who love their kids B2G Mar 2014 #70

Are there many large predators where you live? NickB79 Mar 2014 #75

There are all manner of dangers to children B2G Mar 2014 #76

Indeed, there are plenty of dangers to children outdoors NickB79 Mar 2014 #82

LOL, cats = children? Brilliant! n-t Logical Mar 2014 #97

Why is it okay for cats to poop in a box on the floor wheniwasincongress Mar 2014 #114

Oh fuck. Not another cat-hating post from you. Arugula Latte Mar 2014 #77

I took my cats camping in a trailer. Cleita Mar 2014 #78

the ridiculousness of obsessed birders.... mike_c Mar 2014 #79

I notice in my neighborhood that predator birds like hawks and kestrels Cleita Mar 2014 #83

The apathy of bird killers is sick! n-th Logical Mar 2014 #96

We have ground birds and outdoor cats. MissB Mar 2014 #87

My current cat is a strictly indoor cat. LWolf Mar 2014 #90

They make electronic doggy doors B2G Mar 2014 #93

Worth looking into, anyway. LWolf Mar 2014 #110

Can you find a neighborhood kid to come over right after school to let your dog out? Arugula Latte Mar 2014 #101

Rural... LWolf Mar 2014 #109

Okay. Next idea ... How about Arugula Latte Mar 2014 #116

Yearghh.. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Mar 2014 #104

Every one of my rescues LOVES being indoor-only. I couldn't blast them outside catbyte Mar 2014 #106

We have 5 indoor cats. 3catwoman3 Mar 2014 #108