Where have the cats gone?

[Babysharkdoodoodood]

For the first time in years, have had no cat poo on lawns for about 3 months now. Our new fences have been undamaged (from cats leaping on them) and 8 have been able to weed and plant out seedlings without some blooming feline taking the turned soil as an invitation to crap.

So if people are keeping them in, why couldn't they do it before?

I not 8.

Animals flee before a variety of natural disasters. Maybe we're getting an earthquake on top of everything else?

Maybe a cat has taken up ownership of your garden? Next door's moggie thinks our garden is part of her domain. She doesn't poo outside so we are very glad of her protection. She has a few hidey-holes so we don't always know she's around but we do see her chase other cats away sometimes.

Our cat is spending much more time at home because his humans are now there all day. He uses his litter tray as normal, but he’s a people-pleaser.

My cats never go out anyway, but they are LOVING us being home and are being quite needy. Perhaps all the other cats have rounded up their owners and are holding them hostage too?

Nope. Not seen hide nor hair of any of the furry population

Mine aren’t going far as we’re all home, and the other one only went out at school pick up and drop off time (the children play with him) so he’s not bothering.

If you live near me they're all either in my garden or trying to sneak into my house! I seem to be a cat magnet!😼

Mine aren’t going out much because their staff are around all day to tend to their every need!

The usual buzzards are missing from the telegraph poles here in the countryside (no roadkill) - maybe they've moved to the town to exist on cats instead.

Still cats out near me - heard a couple having a scrap last night.

My cat is home a lot more now because I am there all the time.

There has also been some confused advice about whether cats should be allowed out. People may be keeping them inside.

I think you need stronger fences if a cat jumping on them causes damage😊. The average cat weights about 8lbs.

No change around here. Still seeing all normal cats. My cat is still going out. She goes mental if not allowed out so the circumstances would have to very extreme before we tried keeping her in. Haven't seen much change in the amount she goes out which is mainly at night.

Animals flee before a variety of natural disasters. Maybe we're getting an earthquake on top of everything else?

I know I shouldn't have laughed but still....

They're asleep on the sofa.

@Itwasntme1 You haven't seen the size of some of the cats round here

Seriously though, 6 + years of them scrambling up and down meant we needed a new one at the back as it had pulled away. They use it to leap from onto the greenhouse roof to sunbathe.

I agree with pp in that you’re seeing less of them as their humans are home. When we’re out in the garden, they’re out there with us. If we’re on the sofa then the lardarses are stretched out taking up half the bloody sofa too. They never seem to go anywhere at the minute. However, before when we’d get home and call them, they’d come bounding over next doors fence as they were never in the house.

So if people are keeping them in, why couldn't they do it before?

Cat-owners were advised to keep their cats indoors where possible a couple of days ago - IIRC a vets' association released a statement.

I was thinking exactly the same today. I've not had to pick cat shit up for a while. Long may it last!

Cats have the right to roam if you don't want cat shit in your garden put down orange or lemon peel.....job done

Chicken was very difficult to get for a while.......

@Wearywithteens - I think the effect of cats on bird population is misunderstood and misrepresented - see below

Despite the large numbers of birds killed by cats in gardens, there is no clear scientific evidence that such mortality is causing bird populations to decline. This may be surprising, but many millions of birds die naturally every year, mainly through starvation, disease or other forms of predation. There is evidence that cats tend to take weak or sickly birds.

I know I shouldn't have laughed but still....

I'm glad someone did!

Well my cat has taken to shitting on my living room rug. I guess she's doing her bit to stay inside.