Page 13 | Cats banned from going outside in Australia, could it happen here?

JamBiscuitBun · 2023-03-08T07:33:21+00:00

I'm interested to hear thoughts on this. [[https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10637357/Australias-new-cat-curfew-ban-pets-going-outside.html#comments Article here]] I can't ever see it working in the UK. I also remember Australian farmers having apocalyptic mice problems on some of their farms, so I'm not sure how this fits in with that. Though there are many people who'd love to never have the neighbour's cat pooing in their garden again. What d'you think?

JassyRadlett · 08/03/2023 12:27

GloomyDarkness · 08/03/2023 12:21

I'm interested in what you'd do about the feral cat problem?

Cat and release programs work well- but I can see they have big issues to go to such lengths and they are using many methods of tacking this.

From my experience most Australians adore their pet cats

Where the fuck have I said or implied they don't - that's less a leap and more a fucking rocket launch .

I have said they seem to have different attitude because they face different conditions - which does not seem to be disagreeing at all with what you say.

The part of your post that led me to think that you felt Australians liked their cats less was 'I think attitudes to cats over there probably aren't as welcoming as UK.'

Which did seem to me to suggest that Australians didn't like cats as much - otherwise why wouldn't they be welcoming? Apologies for misunderstanding, though now a little confused about what you did actually mean.

In any case, the statistics suggest that Australians are more welcoming to domestic cats than British people.

SwishSwishBisch · 08/03/2023 12:29

Ridikulus · 08/03/2023 11:55

I would love it if cats were kept indoors, it might give our wildlife and ecosystems a chance to regenerate.

The fact you think keeping cats indoors is the solution to this rather than, I dunno, the rampant spread of industrialised human living spaces & unchecked destruction of natural resources is actually hilarious.
Who knew keeping cats in was the key to saving the planet!

Untitledsquatboulder · 08/03/2023 12:29

An excellent idea. When I was a kid letting your dog out to walk itself was a thing - times change. Love your pet? Then don't let it out to kill wildlife, shit and spray everywhere and get flattened on the road.

BippityBoppityBoehyBish · 08/03/2023 12:31

CalistoNoSolo · 08/03/2023 07:38

I think it's an excellent idea, cats kill millions of songbirds every year in the UK. Polish scientists have classified cats as an invasive species as they cause so much devastation. It's about time the environmental impact of cats is recognised and acted on.

They also kill mice and rats.

My cats kill at least 4 massive rats a night. Just think how over run the area is if teo fat lazy cats can catch 4 huge rats like that

Untitledsquatboulder · 08/03/2023 12:31

SwishSwishBisch · 08/03/2023 12:29

The fact you think keeping cats indoors is the solution to this rather than, I dunno, the rampant spread of industrialised human living spaces & unchecked destruction of natural resources is actually hilarious.
Who knew keeping cats in was the key to saving the planet!

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The planet is saved by individuals taking action. Not by pushing the problem along the road or ignoring it cause it's all big and hard to solve.

EggBlanket · 08/03/2023 12:31

PortiasBiscuit · 08/03/2023 07:40

Cats are not indoor creatures, don’t care what anyone says.

Then don’t get a cat.

Cats have contributed to the wholesale destruction of native wildlife. I’ve been saying for years that we need to ban people from owning them.

The argument that there are too many mice on Australian farms is ridiculous since cats don’t tend to live in the outback where the farms are anyway.

Coffeeandcake15 · 08/03/2023 12:31

The truth is, we all have to co-habitat. When we flush our toilets, are we thinking about where our poo ends up and how it is impacting the animals being exposed to the bacteria in our waste, do we think about how the animals might have felt whilst being taken to slaughter, do we see the habitat loss that many animals are seeing in order to feed an ever-growing population, do we see how plundering our oceans is affecting the eco-system, do we think about the affects of climate change every time we start our cars to go to work, off course not because we don’t physically see it, the truth is we are all impacting something in some way. I know I’m derailing but so many people will argue to death about cats pooing/killing wildlife whilst being blissfully unaware about the impact they are having on animals and the planet every single day.

Thekirit · 08/03/2023 12:31

FairyPrincess123 · 08/03/2023 12:23

Yes, I find that I'm often accused of being ridiculous. To help me understand what you're saying - what does 'native' actually mean? If I were to use the same argument about humans I'd be (rightly) condemned.

And yes, cats are not nature's most efficient predator - we are.

And I'd also like to point out that I don't even like cats...

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If the meaning of native means, its origin
Then songbirds are NOT native to Britain. They originate in Australia .

( doesn’t mean all animals afford the same levels of protection )

SnottyLottie · 08/03/2023 12:32

I have an indoor cat by choice. I suspect she was abandoned or abused when she was outside and she was advertised as being an ‘indoor’ girl at the cat rescue.

We’ve tried to coax her out and whilst she’s happy to occasionally have a nosey in the garden she doesn’t wander far and will start crying if we dare close the back door on her. She seems perfectly happy living doors and likes watching the birds from her window. We’re rather well suited as I don’t like going outside much either 🤣

Cats banned from going outside in Australia, could it happen here?

JassyRadlett · 08/03/2023 12:35

EggBlanket · 08/03/2023 12:31

Then don’t get a cat.

Cats have contributed to the wholesale destruction of native wildlife. I’ve been saying for years that we need to ban people from owning them.

The argument that there are too many mice on Australian farms is ridiculous since cats don’t tend to live in the outback where the farms are anyway.

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And even farm cats are fuck all use in a mouse plague.

(bitter experience of mouse plagues.)

RaspberryBeret1999 · 08/03/2023 12:36

I recently had to keep my cat indoors for 24 hours due to surgery.
It was a NIGHTMARE.
That’s all.

DrMeredithGrey2023 · 08/03/2023 12:36

Why all the comments about dog owners not picking up shit?

It's not really a valid argument.

Even if I only picked up 1 in 10 shits my dog did outside of my property (which I don't, I pick them all up) it would still be 100% more shits than any cat owner picks up outside of theirs.

ObviouslyIchangedmyname · 08/03/2023 12:36

HedwigIsMyDemon · 08/03/2023 07:50

I’ll keep my cats indoors if every fucking dog in the country is tagged and their owners fined every time they don’t pick up their shit 🙄.

You do know that’s the current law, right? 🙄

Thekirit · 08/03/2023 12:37

EggBlanket · 08/03/2023 12:31

Then don’t get a cat.

Cats have contributed to the wholesale destruction of native wildlife. I’ve been saying for years that we need to ban people from owning them.

The argument that there are too many mice on Australian farms is ridiculous since cats don’t tend to live in the outback where the farms are anyway.

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Page 12 of this thread
has a Guardian article with scientists etc that discuss the issue of wildlife destruction and cats impact.

Nimbostratus100 · 08/03/2023 12:37

CalistoNoSolo · 08/03/2023 07:38

I think it's an excellent idea, cats kill millions of songbirds every year in the UK. Polish scientists have classified cats as an invasive species as they cause so much devastation. It's about time the environmental impact of cats is recognised and acted on.

Multiple studies have shown cats have n environmental impact at all

Nimbostratus100 · 08/03/2023 12:37

*no environmental impact at all

ObviouslyIchangedmyname · 08/03/2023 12:38

DrMeredithGrey2023 · 08/03/2023 12:36

Why all the comments about dog owners not picking up shit?

It's not really a valid argument.

Even if I only picked up 1 in 10 shits my dog did outside of my property (which I don't, I pick them all up) it would still be 100% more shits than any cat owner picks up outside of theirs.

That’s not how percentages work but I agree with the spirit of your comment. The law is that dog owners pick up dog shit. Dog owners breaking that law isn’t an excuse for cat owners to not have a law introduced holding them to the same standards dog owners are expected to adhere to.

WhisperingAutistic · 08/03/2023 12:39

SchoolTripDrama · 08/03/2023 11:18

Well you wouldn't be able to have five cats would you?! The fact is, as gorgeous as they are, your neighbours are paying the price for your collection of animals.

My autistic child loves gardening. She loves to grow pumpkins every year and vegetables. Last year, next door's 3 cats ripped up EVERY SINGLE pumpkin plant in our garden, pooed in our small veg patch, rendering all the veg destroyed and wrecked all of my plants besides my Geraniums.
They've also pooed all over the grass, meaning my DD no longer wants to go and play on her expensive play frame as she keeps getting cat shit all over her shoes!

There's no point in me complaining to my neighbour because what can she do?However I think it's unfair to have multiple cats per house hold as like I said, it's the neighbours who pay the price.

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I have FIVE cats because I took in a pregnant stray.
If people spayed/neutered their cats, I wouldn't have FIVE cats

FixTheBone · 08/03/2023 12:39

Literally Schroedinger's Pet.....

Cat owners:

"It's a wild animal, It's cruel to keep it indoors, stop it from exercising it's natural instincts, crapping in your kids sand-pit, expecting me to exercise any control over it etc...."

Also cat owners:

"It's my personal property / pet / a member of the family, if you remove it from your property or cause it any harm I'll report you to the police / rspca / sue you for damages / vet bills...."

Please decide.

Thekirit · 08/03/2023 12:39

SnottyLottie · 08/03/2023 12:32

I have an indoor cat by choice. I suspect she was abandoned or abused when she was outside and she was advertised as being an ‘indoor’ girl at the cat rescue.

We’ve tried to coax her out and whilst she’s happy to occasionally have a nosey in the garden she doesn’t wander far and will start crying if we dare close the back door on her. She seems perfectly happy living doors and likes watching the birds from her window. We’re rather well suited as I don’t like going outside much either 🤣

We have one the same. At first he loved the outside but was run over and left in the road for dead. Kindly neighbour ran out and got him .
After that scare he never went out again.
So yours may have had a run in with a car, or nasty human.

ReadersD1gest · 08/03/2023 12:40

RaspberryBeret1999 · 08/03/2023 12:36

I recently had to keep my cat indoors for 24 hours due to surgery.
It was a NIGHTMARE.
That’s all.

It is probably a nightmare for some other poor buggers when you let it out...
It's your choice to have a cat, don't impose it on others who choose not to.

SnottyLottie · 08/03/2023 12:42

Thekirit · 08/03/2023 12:39

We have one the same. At first he loved the outside but was run over and left in the road for dead. Kindly neighbour ran out and got him .
After that scare he never went out again.
So yours may have had a run in with a car, or nasty human.

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Aww poor baby, hope he’s okay now?

DrMeredithGrey2023 · 08/03/2023 12:44

@ObviouslyIchangedmyname
🤣i guess i was being more figurative than mathematical

Survey99 · 08/03/2023 12:45

There is a problem with the volume of pet ownership and it needs to be resolved - cats and dogs. Looking at cats only, there are too many cats causing too much impact. But, it would also be cruel to keep an outdoor animal indoors.

The solution is to massively reduce cat ownership with strict rules that discourage ownership except to those that are very committed not just to the pet but minimising the impact too.

Mandatory neutering, microchipping. Look into limits to number of cats that can be owned in a neighbourhood/by a person - make the cat owners in a neighbourhood responsible to administer. Make cat ownership harder, make cat owners directly responsible for the impacts and ownership less attractive.

Thekirit · 08/03/2023 12:47

Nimbostratus100 · 08/03/2023 12:37

Multiple studies have shown cats have n environmental impact at all

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Quite right @Nimbostratus100
Disease, reduced food sources due to loss of land and increase in housing etc.

Cats banned from going outside in Australia, could it happen here?

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