How do I get a cat to leave us alone?

[Totally not sofamonkey]

Oct 19, 2015 18:27:10 GMT -5 Ohhmm(bligo) said:

Overtaking the ecosystem by ninja stealth.

BAROOO!!!!!!

[pandorica]

Oct 19, 2015 18:26:14 GMT -5 mp said:

LOL to be fair ... It's a lot like non native plants. You can introduce them and then they fuckin' take over and kill other plants. The ecosystem didn't naturally adapt to include how to deal with those plants.

Cats are the same. They come in, have lots of babies, and destroy naturally occurring animal populations.

It's a serious problem and some people think killing them is the way to go. But like I mentioned, it's incredibly short sighted and doesn't address the root of the issue. It only makes the remaining population adjust and have more babies. It's science!

Spay and neuter allows the ecosystem to naturally evolve and support the remaining population rather than drastically changing.

Thank you. I feel like I'm going crazy here. Non native wildlife/plants are one of the biggest threats to ecosystems. This is like, my job. I know what I'm talking about.

I am interested in any literature you have about TNR. All the position papers from places like USFWS, Wildlife Society and Audubon argue for killing and against TNR.

[pandorica]

Oct 19, 2015 18:38:30 GMT -5 mp said:

Oct 19, 2015 18:32:44 GMT -5 pandorica said:

Thank you. I feel like I'm going crazy here. Non native wildlife/plants are one of the biggest threats to ecosystems. This is like, my job. I know what I'm talking about.

I am interested in any literature you have about TNR. All the position papers from places like USFWS, Wildlife Society and Audubon argue for killing and against TNR.

I dated a biology professor for like a hot second and it didn't end well, which is sad because he fights for TNR in LA now with his animal rights lawyer gf. They'd be a good pair to talk to!

Anyway, it's based on carrying capacity. I've heard it referenced in several talks now. The carrying capacity dictates how many animals an ecosystem can support. So if it supports 100 cats currently... And they're having averages of 2 per litter... If you cut it down to 20 cats, they may double their litter size. Nowhere in the history of ANYTHING have I seen a successful culling mission. Anywhere. You cant get all the animals and they start having more babies so within a few years you have the exact same issue.

Now, go and spay/neuter those animals ... You don't need to spay or neuter all of them to prevent birth. I think it's 70-80% is a good goal? Because one fixed cat can't reproduce with an unfixed cat ... So 100% isn't usually necessary. Then when they die off, boom. No mOre street animal populations.

(I founded a nonprofit for street animal welfare, fwiw. This topic is really important to me.)

I know, this is your thing! But I just see populations of feral cats eating the animals I work with, and I get upset

I don't think they change litter sizes though? I figured that was basic biology. Like, if you have a cat that has babies, it's going to have similar litter sizes, it won't continually have more, even if there's plenty of food etc. Now the number of babies that survive however... That could change. But I don't know that it would, there's plenty of food out there for them. Interesting concept though. Sorry about that ramble up there.

[pandorica]

Oct 19, 2015 18:32:17 GMT -5 kooshball said:

My shark cat is google famous. I find her picture with just searching on google.

RAWR

Where did you get that shark shirt?? Want.

[wampuscat]

I don't know... My cat is pretty creepy.

[pandorica]

Oct 19, 2015 19:01:46 GMT -5 @koko said:

Oct 19, 2015 18:32:44 GMT -5 pandorica said:

Thank you. I feel like I'm going crazy here. Non native wildlife/plants are one of the biggest threats to ecosystems. This is like, my job. I know what I'm talking about.

I am interested in any literature you have about TNR. All the position papers from places like USFWS, Wildlife Society and Audubon argue for killing and against TNR.

Maaaaaan, Dexter says FUCK your job.  

Not killing cats. The wildlife/ecosystem part

[agnes]

My cat can be pretty fucking creepy.

"Soon."

[alexithymia]

Oct 19, 2015 17:59:25 GMT -5 @courtneyloves said:

Oct 19, 2015 16:12:16 GMT -5 alexithymia said:

I don't know, guys. My fat lump of a cat IS really scary.

I just want to say I LOVE your kitty. Orange and white kitties are the best, aren't they?

She's a total bitch sometimes (like most cats), but, yes, she is still the best.

[pandorica]

Oct 19, 2015 22:17:49 GMT -5 mofongo said:

Oct 19, 2015 18:08:19 GMT -5 pandorica said:

They are not natural. They were introduced by humans.

What do you mean they were introduced by humans? I thought we domesticated them?

WHAT IN THE HELL IS HAPPENING IN HERE?

We domesticated them and then brought them to North America. They are not a native species here.

[specialk]

He's displaying his belly in a sign of aggression! 



Plotting together

[madamecleo]

Oct 20, 2015 5:46:11 GMT -5 pandorica said:

Oct 19, 2015 22:17:49 GMT -5 mofongo said:

What do you mean they were introduced by humans? I thought we domesticated them?

WHAT IN THE HELL IS HAPPENING IN HERE?

We domesticated them and then brought them to North America. They are not a native species here.

This is not the same as "they are not natural. They were introduced by humans." 

Cats are not man-made. Oh and also, I think they were even on the ark. Off to call Noah. 

[pandorica]

Oct 20, 2015 6:17:12 GMT -5 madamecleo said:

Oct 20, 2015 5:46:11 GMT -5 pandorica said:

We domesticated them and then brought them to North America. They are not a native species here.

This is not the same as "they are not natural. They were introduced by humans." 

Cats are not man-made. Oh and also, I think they were even on the ark. Off to call Noah. 

Um, actually it is they are not a natural part of ecosystems on this continent... And were introduced by humans.

[frkls]

i'm sitting in the resource room fighting off the church giggles over "fuck rabbits"

[flex]

Oct 20, 2015 5:46:11 GMT -5 pandorica said:

Oct 19, 2015 22:17:49 GMT -5 mofongo said:

What do you mean they were introduced by humans? I thought we domesticated them?

WHAT IN THE HELL IS HAPPENING IN HERE?

We domesticated them and then brought them to North America. They are not a native species here.

Neither are Caucasians.  

[clseale]

Oct 20, 2015 10:31:25 GMT -5 kooshball said:

Oct 20, 2015 10:30:57 GMT -5 TR said:

The cat has gotten inside and killed the whole family.

terrifying.

I warned her this could happen. 

[laurack]

the solution is, when we are making our next batch of cats, add a little more sugar and a little less vinegar to the batter. It's pretty simple

[LeggsBenedict]

Oct 20, 2015 6:17:12 GMT -5 madamecleo said:

Oct 20, 2015 5:46:11 GMT -5 pandorica said:

We domesticated them and then brought them to North America. They are not a native species here.

This is not the same as "they are not natural. They were introduced by humans." 

Cats are not man-made. Oh and also, I think they were even on the ark. Off to call Noah. 

you are being just as bad as the people who were pretending food trends aren't a thing.

do you really not get what she means? stop that.

[textbookcase]

Aren't wild cats like mountain lions a native species? They are basically just giant house cats!

[LeggsBenedict]

there is a wild cougar species native to the western us, I think the scientific name is feline dickus movus.

[knx9211]

omg I googled baby mountain lions

[Serenity9]

Humans didn't make cats. That's ridiculous. Everyone knows that mice made humans and cats.

(Nerdy Hitchhiker's Guide humor anyone? ... anyone? ... Bueller?)

[pandorica]

Oct 20, 2015 11:10:57 GMT -5 textbookcase said:

Aren't wild cats like mountain lions a native species? They are basically just giant house cats!

They're native, yes! they play a different role in the ecosystem though. I'd be totally cool with feral cats if they could take down a deer. Though maybe that would justify OP being scared of her cat stalker...

[flex]

There's also lynx and bobcats! And ocelots!  OH MY!

[textbookcase]

Oct 20, 2015 11:20:57 GMT -5 pandorica said:

Oct 20, 2015 11:10:57 GMT -5 textbookcase said:

Aren't wild cats like mountain lions a native species? They are basically just giant house cats!

They're native, yes! they play a different role in the ecosystem though. I'd be totally cool with feral cats if they could take down a deer. Though maybe that would justify OP being scared of her cat stalker...

My dad's job involves protecting California's native species. He used to let us play with all of the exotic/non-native animals confiscated/abandoned by people....BEFORE HE MURDERED THEM IN A TINY ANIMAL GAS CHAMBER.

No wonder I am so effed up.

[Serenity9]

[jigsy]

[Deleted]

I hadn't jumped in this thread because I don't have any cat problems in my neighborhood and I thought well someone will give her advice whatever. When I saw it was 13 pages I was like "hmmmm I think there is way more to this post then I thought. "
GOLD PURE GOLD so glad I came in. The cat gifs are KILLING ME.

and yeah OP your daughter should see you petting this cat. will help with her fear

[boxerdog]

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.

[jigsy]

[waffletime]

Oct 20, 2015 13:31:32 GMT -5 jigsy said:

No Babou, that was all sarcasm. YES ALL OF IT, YOU FOX-EARED ASSHOLE.


I love Archer.