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In reply to the discussion: Birds and the Cats [View all]

LWolf

(46,179 posts)
8. I keep my current cat indoors.
Wed Jan 30, 2013, 09:44 AM
Jan 2013

It's a pain in the ass, because the dog can't use the doggy door anymore. I have to leave the dog outside all day long while I'm at work, and then get up and down constantly to let her in and out to keep the cat from escaping into the great outdoor adventure.

I do that because I live in an area that is simply not safe for cats. The coyotes, hawks, and owls do a damned good job with the feral cat population. I know this, because there was a colony of feral "barn" cats living here when I moved in. I trapped, neutered, and released all of them. Without the constant breeding, they were all gone within a year.

Once they were gone, the rodent population exploded. The bird population has remained the same.

I am overrun with pack rats and bunnies. I've thought about bringing back some neutered barn cats from the local rescue operation to help manage that population; they take some feral cats that have been trapped, vaccinate and neuter them, and offer them as barn cats. The only reason I haven't done so is that I'm not happy with knowing that I'd probably have to replace them every year.

Meanwhile, the pet cat is forever locked in the house, which really pisses her off. She's always sneaking behind and under things, trying to charge the door when it's opened. If there were a SAFE way to let her out, I would. Bunnies beware.


Birds and the Cats [View all] Are_grits_groceries Jan 2013 OP
Ok, ok, my cats kill birds. LancetChick Jan 2013 #1
Cats rule. darkangel218 Jan 2013 #2
I agree ..... meti57b Jan 2013 #5
too many cats coldbeer Jan 2013 #3
I keep my current cat indoors. LWolf Jan 2013 #8
They're both problems Scootaloo Jan 2013 #4
You may want to link the report...the numbers of birds killed was billions with a B FailureToCommunicate Jan 2013 #6
I think she would be much more Are_grits_groceries Jan 2013 #10
I like cats.. Upton Jan 2013 #7
We need more wild dogs to eat the cats The Straight Story Jan 2013 #9
Yeah, I'm not saying that domestic cats don't do anything, but ... LisaLynne Jan 2013 #11
I fully agree with more spay and neuter programs. Are_grits_groceries Jan 2013 #12
Don't outdoor and stray cats to some extent, control the local rat population? meti57b Jan 2013 #13
My cats must stay in or be eaten. OnionPatch Jan 2013 #14
Cats killing birds is neither good not bad... it depends cthulu2016 Jan 2013 #15
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Birds and the Cats»Reply #8