How do I get a cat to leave us alone?

[MrsPotatohead]

Oct 20, 2015 18:13:06 GMT -5 sushi said:

So, I read the first 10 pages. Forgive me, please, for not reading it all. I promise I'll be back for gifs.

Yes, cats seek out those who don't like them. Case in point; they apparently love me, so do toddlers. But I also secretly loved that my friend's cat snuggled me because I missed my dog snuggles. I still think he targeted me because I'm not a cat person. But he was very much a dog-cat, too.

Cat gifs are great. Not liking cats in real life is ok, too. I like dogs that want to hike with me! Show me a hiking cat.

There's nothing terribly wrong with not liking an outdoor cat. Allergies are first. But so are environmental issues. I had a roommate and also landlord with outdoor cats. It was bad; they kill local wildlife. Outdoor cats are bad for the environment, and they're bad for your own household with dogs and cats that are upset by seeing a feral cat. So I have to get upset about the NBD attitude of outdoor cats.

I don't understand why OP is criticized for not liking a feral cat in her yard. Can you imagine the reaction if it were a dog?!

you keep going back and forth confusing feral and outdoor cats, not the same. This is an outdoor neighbor's cat.

Also, dogs and cats are not the same, fyi.

[meshaliuknits]

Oct 20, 2015 18:13:06 GMT -5 sushi said:

 Show me a hiking cat.

Not it.

[elleblue]

[scottyderp]

It's not like feral cats walk on their hind legs, looking like Pinhead from Hellraiser in search of a blood meal. We're turning them into the next horror movie villian. Move over pale, dead, black-haired, soaking wet little girls with no faces.

[panbitch]

Oct 20, 2015 15:23:16 GMT -5 boxerdog said:

Hooo boy. I am way late but some of y'all are being deliberately obtuse in this thread. Cats are a non-native, invasive predator that humans brought to North America. And they kill songbirds, reptiles and amphibians, and other native wildlife.

pandorica I got you!

And FWIW there is plenty of good science to show that trap-neuter-release doesn't work to control populations. And there are ethical and legal issues with releasing a nonnative species back into the wild. It's the same as releasing a python in Florida.

Who the fuck is neutering and releasing pythons?

[elleblue]

Oct 20, 2015 18:19:49 GMT -5 MrsPotatohead said:

Also, dogs and cats are not the same, fyi.

[orangello]

Oct 20, 2015 18:13:06 GMT -5 sushi said:

So, I read the first 10 pages. Forgive me, please, for not reading it all. I promise I'll be back for gifs.

Yes, cats seek out those who don't like them. Case in point; they apparently love me, so do toddlers. But I also secretly loved that my friend's cat snuggled me because I missed my dog snuggles. I still think he targeted me because I'm not a cat person. But he was very much a dog-cat, too.

Cat gifs are great. Not liking cats in real life is ok, too. I like dogs that want to hike with me! .

There's nothing terribly wrong with not liking an outdoor cat. Allergies are first. But so are environmental issues. I had a roommate and also landlord with outdoor cats. It was bad; they kill local wildlife. Outdoor cats are bad for the environment, and they're bad for your own household with dogs and cats that are upset by seeing a feral cat. So I have to get upset about the NBD attitude of outdoor cats.

I don't understand why OP is criticized for not liking a feral cat in her yard. Can you imagine the reaction if it were a dog?!

C'mon...this guy is awesome!

instagram.com/pnwcathikes/

[atlas]

OP, there seems to be some confusion as to what type of cat is tormenting you; please indicate which is most similar to the "cat" in question:

House/outdoor cat:


Feral cat:


OR is it not actually a cat:

[tictac]

Oct 20, 2015 18:29:39 GMT -5 panbitch said:

Who the fuck is neutering and releasing pythons?

I was looking for a gif that said "You don't know my life!"

And then I found this.

Which is a billion times better.

You're welcome.

[waffletime]

Oct 20, 2015 18:36:35 GMT -5 tictac said:

Oct 20, 2015 18:29:39 GMT -5 panbitch said:

Who the fuck is neutering and releasing pythons?

I was looking for a gif that said "You don't know my life!"

And then I found this.

Which is a billion times better.

You're welcome.

Voldemort doesn't give a fuck about the local ecosystem.

[boxerdog]

Oct 20, 2015 18:29:39 GMT -5 panbitch said:

Oct 20, 2015 15:23:16 GMT -5 boxerdog said:

Hooo boy. I am way late but some of y'all are being deliberately obtuse in this thread. Cats are a non-native, invasive predator that humans brought to North America. And they kill songbirds, reptiles and amphibians, and other native wildlife.

pandorica I got you!

And FWIW there is plenty of good science to show that trap-neuter-release doesn't work to control populations. And there are ethical and legal issues with releasing a nonnative species back into the wild. It's the same as releasing a python in Florida.

Who the fuck is neutering and releasing pythons?

Well, plenty of people released them, which is how they got there in the first place.

The point was that in both instances, a non-native predator is being released into an ecosystem. It was an extreme example, but I was trying to make the point that cats are fairly voracious predators that people have no problem releasing in the wild, but obviously everyone agrees that pythons shouldn't be released.

[knx9211]

This thread is my everything. It just gives and gives and gives.

[jigsy]

Nagini was clearly not Native to England. Should have left her in Albania.



Neville is not into TNR for pythons.

[tictac]

Oct 20, 2015 18:38:56 GMT -5 waffletime said:

Voldemort doesn't give a fuck about the local ecosystem.

[atlas]

Oct 20, 2015 18:41:44 GMT -5 jigsy said:

Nagini was clearly not Native to England. Should have left her in Albania.



Neville is not into TNR for pythons.

Maybe that is how pandorica 's neighbors kill the animals they catch...beheading via hundreds year old sword.


Might be a bit too hipster though. 

[miso]

Every time the science people come in, I just hear the adults from Peanuts.

[jigsy]

Oct 20, 2015 18:45:04 GMT -5 toledo said:

Oct 20, 2015 18:29:39 GMT -5 panbitch said:

Who the fuck is neutering and releasing pythons?

I don't know about neutering, but...

Quoting, because Hammaconda should be seen as often as possible.

One day, Jon Hamm, one day....

[panbitch]

Oct 20, 2015 18:40:32 GMT -5 boxerdog said:

Oct 20, 2015 18:29:39 GMT -5 panbitch said:

Who the fuck is neutering and releasing pythons?

Well, plenty of people released them, which is how they got there in the first place.

The point was that in both instances, a non-native predator is being released into an ecosystem. It was an extreme example, but I was trying to make the point that cats are fairly voracious predators that people have no problem releasing in the wild, but obviously everyone agrees that pythons shouldn't be released.

You compared TNR to the python situation. There is no N or R in handling the pythons. Just a wildly unsuccessful T program. Nothing alike.

[panbitch]

Oct 20, 2015 18:49:56 GMT -5 mofongo said:

It's not like millions of feral cats were recently released into North America. However, I did my part today, I rode around and took out every cat I saw within a 5 mile radius.

What about pythons?

[MrsPotatohead]

I know there's all these studies about cats killing things (to convince people not to let their pet cats outside - not talking about feral cats here), but I just want to know, do we have a bird or mouse shortage? Is something endangered? Serious question (mostly).

[elleblue]

Oct 20, 2015 18:49:56 GMT -5 mofongo said:

It's not like millions of feral cats were recently released into North America. However, I did my part today, I rode around and took out every cat I saw within a 5 mile radius.

You monster! 

[elleblue]

Oct 20, 2015 18:52:59 GMT -5 mofongo said:

Oct 20, 2015 18:52:31 GMT -5 panbitch said:

What about pythons?

I think I hit a few garden snakes by mistake.

Don't lie. Your driver was totally loonylunalovegood! 

[boxerdog]

Oct 20, 2015 18:49:35 GMT -5 panbitch said:

Oct 20, 2015 18:40:32 GMT -5 boxerdog said:

Well, plenty of people released them, which is how they got there in the first place.

The point was that in both instances, a non-native predator is being released into an ecosystem. It was an extreme example, but I was trying to make the point that cats are fairly voracious predators that people have no problem releasing in the wild, but obviously everyone agrees that pythons shouldn't be released.

You compared TNR to the python situation. There is no N or R in handling the pythons. Just a wildly unsuccessful T program. Nothing alike.

You have it backwards. I was only talking about the releasing.

[boxerdog]

Oct 20, 2015 18:53:42 GMT -5 MrsPotatohead said:

I know there's all these studies about cats killing things (to convince people not to let their pet cats outside - not talking about feral cats here), but I just want to know, do we have a bird or mouse shortage? Is something endangered? Serious question (mostly).

news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/06/130621-threats-against-birds-cats-wind-turbines-climate-change-habitat-loss-science-united-states/

[flex]

I award this thread as "Best of October 2015"

[elleblue]

Oct 20, 2015 18:53:42 GMT -5 MrsPotatohead said:

I know there's all these studies about cats killing things (to convince people not to let their pet cats outside - not talking about feral cats here), but I just want to know, do we have a bird or mouse shortage? Is something endangered? Serious question (mostly).

Not necessarily endangered* but it does upset the balance and potentially creates shortages for their natural predators such as hawks, owls, etc. Cats kill for sport more than need, so yeah, it's best to keep your pet cats inside and not let them roam. 


*though it's likely there are bird species that are threatened

[boxerdog]

Oct 20, 2015 19:00:47 GMT -5 flex said:

I award this thread as "Best of October 2015"

YES! I feel honored. Even if it is at (partly) (mostly?) my expense.
(wilted)

[panbitch]

Oct 20, 2015 18:59:03 GMT -5 boxerdog said:

Oct 20, 2015 18:49:35 GMT -5 panbitch said:

You compared TNR to the python situation. There is no N or R in handling the pythons. Just a wildly unsuccessful T program. Nothing alike.

You have it backwards. I was only talking about the releasing.

R is for Release after trap and neuter which is not happening in pythons.

I'm pretty sure no one is advocating just setting a cat free as in what happens with pythons. Pretty sure you don't let Slick Willie out for the night and he comes hissing at the door in the morning.

[MrsPotatohead]

Oct 20, 2015 19:01:51 GMT -5 elleblue said:

Oct 20, 2015 18:53:42 GMT -5 MrsPotatohead said:

I know there's all these studies about cats killing things (to convince people not to let their pet cats outside - not talking about feral cats here), but I just want to know, do we have a bird or mouse shortage? Is something endangered? Serious question (mostly).

Not necessarily endangered* but it does upset the balance and potentially creates shortages for their natural predators such as hawks, owls, etc. Cats kill for sport more than need, so yeah, it's best to keep your pet cats inside and not let them roam. 


*though it's likely there are bird species that are threatened

ok, the only question I have about this and the article posted above is that this type of problem would seem far more serious in rural areas. Either taking away food from predators or decreasing a population (although the article said loss of habitat is a far bigger problem). I'm just trying to parse out the impact of a cat on a habitat in the middle of a city vs. rural area - I get bothered when generalizations are made and data is stretched further than it should to make a point (not saying you specifically are here, but that's why I'm asking).

[miso]