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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

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Original poster

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

253 replies

Markinsomerset · 26/08/2015 19:01

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?

OP posts:

Thread gallery

Chelsielouise · 27/08/2015 09:47

Kizzy is very amused by this thread.
Seriously though the world has more serious issues than people keeping pets like wealth inequality and global warming destroying crops. What do you expect people to do with their pets exactly ?

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

bigsnugglebunny · 27/08/2015 09:52

Bloody dogs, coming over here, eating all our pedigree chum.

sanfairyanne · 27/08/2015 10:43

"Gardens may provide a breeding habitat for at least 20% of the UK populations of house sparrows, starlings, greenfinches, blackbirds and song thrushes four of which are declining across the UK. For this reason it would be prudent to try to reduce cat predation, as, although it is not causing the declines, some of these species are already under pressure."

thats part of the rspb page you linked to. cats do kill huge numbers of birds, even if we kill more

sanfairyanne · 27/08/2015 10:48

www.rspb.org.uk/makeahomeforwildlife/advice/gardening/unwantedvisitors/cats/collarthatcat.aspx

reduce your cat's predation by up to a third by fitting a collar/bell

rogueantimatter · 27/08/2015 10:59

I'm with you OP. Owning a pet is hardly a human right.

Possible compromise would be a rabbit from a rescue centre - especially if you housetrained it so it could hop around your home freely.

MNHQ

BeccaMumsnet · 27/08/2015 11:06

Hi everyone - we're going to pop this down and take a closer look at the OP.

Hygellig · 27/08/2015 11:08

I think the OP has a point in that some cats kill a lot of birds and dogs need company. In environmental terms, apparently a large dog has a bigger carbon footprint than a 4 x 4 Toyota Landcruiser.

Having said that, I think the environmental impact of pets should be balanced with the amount of pleasure they can give their owners, not to mention the benefits to mental and physical health. I love having a cat, and we also have chickens, who are fairly green as they just keep a section of garden under control, eat scraps and lay eggs for us.

Maybe you could compromise with a rescue pet or some hens? You can try one of the special cat collars although I never had much luck with them on my cat, but fortunately she's a fairly rubbish hunter.

Breathingisnthelping · 27/08/2015 11:15

Hhaven't read whole thread but find I agree with you OP. Most people don't consider what an animal needs to have a good life and make sure they can meet that before getting a pet. The incredulous responses to your post illustrate this well.

kali110 · 27/08/2015 11:28

How about other birds killing little birds?
Magpies kill other birds all the time, blue tits as an example. They attack all the babies and kill them even though they don't need too.

hellsbellsmelons · 27/08/2015 11:32

This has made me smile this morning.
Thanks very much

mollyonthemove · 27/08/2015 11:38

To be fair he would feed a fairly large family

fastdaytears · 27/08/2015 11:39

Breathing I don't think that's the case at all. No one disagrees that a pet has rights and should be properly looked after. The OP's question was about the effect pets have on wildlife and world hunger, and was massively overstating the case.
Anyone who gets a pet without thinking about the pet's needs is an appalling human being, but that's not the issue here at all.

Arnoldparnoldpeanuthead · 27/08/2015 11:41

I don't like humans for similar, ethical reasons.

How could those pesky pets destroy our planet?

Christ.

echt · 27/08/2015 11:42

I rather think Breathing's attitude is governed by not having RTFT and so not realised the OP has advanced nothing more than Daily Mail-type ethics: no reasoning, no argument.

fastdaytears · 27/08/2015 11:47

echt yes, and also think of all those cute pics that he/she has missed. It's actually worth RTFT in this case.

Moln · 27/08/2015 12:01

If we attach bells to all humans, cats and magpies (and maybe wolves, gorillas and sharks too) it might solve all the world's problems. World hungry wiped out over night, in a jingle you could say.

JohnCusacksWife · 27/08/2015 13:00

I've been very sad since my unethical dog died a couple of weeks ago but this thread has cheered me right up!

ExConstance · 27/08/2015 13:07

Just tell my lovely ancient Staffie he should have been PTS instead of living a life of indolent luxury with us. I'm sure he would be happy to eat veggie dog food if we asked, he is happy to eat anything. (out in garden staring at pear tree in hope of windfalls at the moment)

fastdaytears · 27/08/2015 13:12

John to you. I hope you're doing as ok as you can be.

tomatodizzymum · 27/08/2015 13:14

Moln you're on to a winner there. I can see the end of world hunger on the horizon.

Gunpowderplot · 27/08/2015 13:21

I get your point, OP. We have a cat, and it has killed a good number of mice and birds, though less so as it gets older.

Cats apart from that are the perfect pet, as they are affectionate, intelligent, and they are with you because they like being with you and are free to come and go as they please. That is not the case for other animals, including eg hamsters (they are desperate to escape the cage).
I would get a cat and either 1) put a bell on it, which will reduce killings, or 2) get an older cat from a rescue place, which will no longer be interested in hunting, or 3) get one of those cats that has been bred not to go outside and to have no interest in hunting. I forget the name of the breed.

acatcalledjohn · 27/08/2015 13:46

Mark, humans are responsible for killing lots of species. Ya know, through hunting and shit.

But hey, go and have an issue with the ethics of nature, and deny your kids the chance to learn to care for an animal.

Also, have a

Gunpowderplot · 27/08/2015 13:55

The OP isn't saying that he approves of humans hunting. He is expressing a concern for the vast number of small animals that are killed by cats - there has been research on this, and it is a real problem in terms of the sustainability of wildlife, even if you don't care about the individual small animals.
Why does Mumsnet never allow people to express any kind of environment related concern unless they live in a cave and eat grass, or whatever? Good on the OP for caring and being prepared to act on his concerns.

BastardGoDarkly · 27/08/2015 14:09

My cat's a crap hunter, for which I'm really grateful.

And as long as my dog has had a walk, and his breakfast, he's happy to snooze for a few hours if need be.

A dog would be the way to go OP if you're at home at least some of the day. And you're real

fastdaytears · 27/08/2015 14:34

Gunpowder the research people have quoted upthread doesn't support that.

Anyway I thought this thread was being zapped?

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