I don't want to get a family pet due to ethics

[Markinsomerset]

Hi,

My wife really wants a pet and thinks it is very valuable for the children. However ethically I don't agree as cats are responsible for distroying lots of species. Dogs I think its very unfair for as each day I'm sure they feel like they are being abandoned each time they are left alone. Can't guarantee that the suppliers are ethical.

If everyone got rid of their pets then no one would go hungry in the world. They just seem like a selfish interest IMO.

Who is right?

What's your stance on indoor cats?
Or dogs where there's an owner at home all day?
Or sight dogs or dogs that help children with SN?

Actually, why am I bothering. You're nuts.

Worra your dog's gorgeous. Definitely not one for the food bank.

My cat has never killed a living thing
hes too fat

Just imagine if cats had thumbs, they would rule the world

So if I've got this right poor people should be fed IAMS?

Good lord, no. Poor people get Asda Value.

Well if they did Lavender the OP would be the first one they'd send to the food bank.

I am staying late in the office to pick up my DH from the train station (which is nearer the office than home). This thread has made my somewhat sad at-desk-dinner a delight.

My favourite points:

Are you suggesting we donate our pets to the local foodbanks?

and

Ha ha, you're working on the assumption that everyone would spend the extra money on feeding the world? Nah. I'd just spend it on clothes and gin grin.

and

So if I've got this right poor people should be fed IAMS?

You are all brilliant. Apart from the OP, who is BU!

Having kids is far worse for the planet than pets. Also, not all cats hunt.

Cats do rule the world. They just allow humans to believe that they do instead!

Get Guinea Pigs. Guinea Pigs never hurt anything.

I have just read this thread to my DH. He has asked that I post this message to OP, ' Markinsomerset - you were fucked the moment of mentioned Cats, - stop weaving lentils and just agree with your wife. ! You know she is right. You lost the argument the moment you started with the ethical angle' .

I got a cat that didn't hunt. It's easy. You just go to the shelter and tell them you have a huge problem with rats and mice in your outbuildings and could they kindly furnish you with a mouser. You will then end up with a pile of fur that refuses to move off the sofa, although, to be fair, she does keep my feet warm.

I have just read this thread to my DH. He has asked that I post this message to OP, ' Markinsomerset - you were fucked the moment of mentioned Cats, - stop weaving lentils and just agree with your wife. ! You know she is right. You lost the argument the moment you started with the ethical angle' .

I've never read such a pile of pontificating crap in all my life and I have been on MN for years! Thread made me though.

i can see where you're coming from.
i think there are too many pets in the world too.
and a fair percentage of those are mistreated.
dogs especially need a lot of companionship.
as you can tell i have no pets. i do like animals though.

Ethical source of pets - well if you rescue a pet that is about as good as it gets.
Cats decimating wildlife - recent studies conducted by University of Lincoln and the Royal Veterinary College have found that the impact of domestic cats in the UK is much lower that previously thought. In one particular study following all 53 cats in a single village for a month there were only 20 kills mainly grey squirrels ( non native species) and rats.

I only have people's left over cats. Is that ok? Surely that's recycling???

well, my cat does kill a lot of flies and spiders.

bloody serial killer.

as he's an indoor cat, those are the only creatures he can get at

Hmm.

@Lavender You've obviously never seen then

My cats kill mice only, birds are too much effort.

You haven't looked at any of the research showing the beneficial effect of pets in boosting the immune system, improving and preventing mental health issues, preventing loneliness and the general positive effects that improve peoples lives eg: walking a dog can ensure the elderly get out of the house, walk, get sunlight etc.

What about dogs that are domesticated and then trained to sniff out drugs and bombs?
Dogs that are assistance dogs, guide dogs ,Pat dogs, dogs that sniff out tumours ??
If someone leaves their dog alone too often that is indeed an issue,but most sensible dog owners don't.
Animals have been a part of humans lives for centuries I don't think your "ethical" stancenonsense is going to change that

Love the username MyCatIsABiggerBastardThanYours.

Is that a name change specifically for this thread?

My cats clearly went on the same training course lastuseraccount123 - they're great at spiders and flies and particularly fond of daddy long legs. No interest in rodents though (they're house cats, but we have pet rats and the only injury thus far has been to the cats )

In fact, I think they save wildlife. This house had a major mouse problem before we moved in - traps were constantly being used as nothing else worked. We moved in and the mice were never seen again. So the cats turned out to be a humane repellent.

In the 16 years we have had our cats they have killed nothing despite our living near an embankment and having a bird table in the garden. One once brought a live mouse in which was abandoned at once. I caught the mouse in a pint mug and released it on the embankment. I have owned dogs and cats all my life and never had problems however my children benefitted hugely from having pets.

What am I supposed to do with this little chap then? Wrestle him from DS's arms, kill him now and feed him to the dog? Then kill the dog and feed her to poor people?! I think she'll be a bit gristly though .

Stop being a party pooper and let your kids have some pets.

Get two indoor rescue cats.

You'll be doing the cats a huge favour, particularly if you go for black cats, for some reason they're the most overlooked. And if they're indoor, then that negates your 'ethical' stance, as they won't be killing anything.