#1 reason kitties should NEVER be outdoors

[Irulan]

What is it with people?

I've heard such things as
"it's in their nature to roam and hunt"

(and stalk my birds, crap in my yard, etc)

The stats on song bird loss due to domestic cat hunting are significant.

[zoom-zoom]

The stats on song bird loss due to domestic cat hunting are significant.

Isn't it Aus or NZ where it's illegal to allow pet cats outdoors, because of out-of-control breeding and decimation of endangered bird population...?

[missjean]

Poor little thing! I wonder how she first got herself stuck.
You did the very best you could, so don't feel bad.

I use to have lots of birds in my back yard, but last year 2 cats started showing up and now the birds stay away.

[GLC1968]

I'm sorry you had to go through that...poor kitty.

I will say that there are very good reasons that people let cats outdoors in rural areas including the expectation that they will chase the birds from eating the seeds we've planted and the berries and grapes that we grow. Without cats, we'd have a huge rodent problem in and around our property, our out-buildings (where we store feed) and our home. Our cat has a job to do and locking him in our house would not allow him to do it. That said, certain precautions should be taken with outdoor cats and not doing so is very irresponsible. Even though farm cats spend most, if not all, of their time outside, they should still be cared for like the family members that they are and I know a lot of rural residents don't bother. THAT annoys me.

I can't speak for urban or suburban areas.

[zoom-zoom]

Yeah, I think the farm setting is the exception to the rule. But the vast majority of cat owners don't live on farms and they are the ones responsible for the overpopulation.

[GLC1968]

Anyone who lets an un-fixed cat roam freely is totally irresponsible whether they live on a farm or not. There is absolutely no excuse for that at all.

Cats that get eaten by coyotes is a fact of life out here. Cats that reproduce willy-nilly should NOT be.

[zoom-zoom]

Anyone who lets an un-fixed cat roam freely is totally irresponsible whether they live on a farm or not. There is absolutely no excuse for that at all.

Cats that get eaten by coyotes is a fact of life out here. Cats that reproduce willy-nilly should NOT be.

+1 meeeeellion!