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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask why cats roaming is acceptable?

537 replies

PengAly · 16/12/2018 23:05

Just want to hear opinions on this. Firstly i should be honest, i am a dog person, 100% love dogs and i really dont understand how people like cats (seems like they are a tad selfish of a pet) but i am an animal lover so obviously wish no harm to any cat and will play with one given the opportunity. This is JUST my opinion. But back to my original question...

Why does it seem universally accepted that cats can roam on other peoples properties and poop in the garden- even digging up flowers?! Now Im certain mainy people would get up in arms if a dog on a lead stepped one paw on their front garden or god forbid came within 3 feet of them or their child(I've seen many dog hating threads on MN) yet cat owners get a free pass for their cats doing as they please?

Im honestly not trying to start an argument i just dont understand it Confused

OP posts:
Satsumaeater · 17/12/2018 09:49

Cats don't chase you down the street and bite you or jump up at you.

Yes they poo in neighbours' gardens but that's the owners' fault.

Satsumaeater · 17/12/2018 09:50

Cats are all capable of biting and scratching, which can cause blood poisoning and even death

I've never once heard of this happening and they certainly wouldn't suddenly attack you in the street or in a park like a dog does.

Cats can however cause toxoplasmosis which isn't funny, and not just for pregnant women, so I do hate them pooing all over my garden.

Original poster
PengAly · 17/12/2018 09:52

Slow clap for all those deciding to group every dog in the same category. Yes ALL dogs are violent and chase you down the street Biscuit

I've been scratched by a cat before, a cat started acting violent towards my sister when she was a toddler so by that logic then ALL cats are violent and dangerous? Sheesh, can't believe some of the PP on here.

OP posts:
Original poster
PengAly · 17/12/2018 09:53

Love the mumsnet logic: "I've never seen it happen therefore it can't be true!" Hmm

OP posts:
Original poster
PengAly · 17/12/2018 09:55

@Satsumaeater Dogs who bite and come up to you is also the owners fault but the difference is owners are held responsible for their dogs actions. Cat owners are not held responsible for what their cat does if they let them out- I often have to sqeeze through a tiny gap in my front door to prevent a cat from trying to come in which would cause my very allergic husband to have an asthma attack. THATS the issue here.

OP posts:
Joey7t8 · 17/12/2018 09:58

A small number of cats living in an urban area does wonders for keeping rats away.

MiaowMix · 17/12/2018 10:00

🙄slow handclap. HmmYou just don't like cats.
And you started this thread to cause an argument.
I think people who don't like cats are actually dysfunctional and lacking in some way. Smile
HTH

Drogosnextwife · 17/12/2018 10:05

I agree OP, cats are literally the only "pet" that are allowed to roam free to anywhere they please. No other animal we are allowed to own is allowed to do this. Even big cats kept in zoo's and safari parks (which I can't stand) are kept in cages. All pets are technically wild animals so why these ones are Llowed to roam is beyond me. The noises I hear from some of them at night is heart breaking. One In particular in my street seems to get picked on by the other cars at night. The owner must know this we live next door so if I can hear it so can they.

ExplodedPeach · 17/12/2018 10:11

Personally I'd rather see more basically harmless animals roaming the world at their leisure, not less. The world is sanitised enough for humans as it is.

Clunky · 17/12/2018 10:11

When I was a kid my dsis got attacked by a cat while she was riding her bike, she was pretty badly hurt. A cat was once sitting under a hedge as I walked past with my dog and stuck its claw out and scratched my dogs eye resulting in a costly vet bill. I'm scared of cats, when one comes into my garden I get so scared and people are generally unsympathetic about it and find it funny that I'm scared of them? They also poo all over my garden and cleaning it up when I was pregnant did really worry me about Toxoplasmosis. I don't think it's fair.
I'm with you op, I don't get

PengAly · 17/12/2018 10:12

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

minkies11 · 17/12/2018 10:13

And you say you're an animal lover. Please. Go and find another thread to start pissing people off with.

Original poster
PengAly · 17/12/2018 10:15

@Clunky That is awful and it does just prove that cats can be harmful but sadly some of the stubborn PP on here will chose to ignore your post and continue to state they apparently are harmless.

OP posts:
Original poster
PengAly · 17/12/2018 10:17

@minkies11 how on earth have you claimed that I cant be an animal lover because I don't like other people's pets shiting in my garden?! What an overreaction from someone who clearly can't read posts correctly. NEVER once did I say anything horrible about cats in my thread, mind you a lot if people have said awful things about dogs but I don't feel that way about any animal.

OP posts:
Original poster
PengAly · 17/12/2018 10:18

Ok fair enough, I said I find them selfish but compared to what others have said on here about dogs that's hardly worth your attitude.

OP posts:
PixiKitKat · 17/12/2018 10:21

My cat is at his happiest when roaming around the garden. Yes he poops in the garden, and probably other people's too. It's just what they do. I'd actually prefer if he did it in his litter box more so I can monitor his health easier.

On the upper, he doesn't shit on the footpath for people to stand in it!

ErrolTheDragon · 17/12/2018 10:22

I agree OP, cats are literally the only "pet" that are allowed to roam free to anywhere they please. No other animal we are allowed to own is allowed to do this.

The only deliberately-bred animals I can think of which are allowed to roam freely are pheasants and other such game birds. My understanding (based on the impeccable source 'Danny the Champion of the World'Grin) is that no-one actually 'owns' these birds, if they are on your property they're 'yours'.

katseyes7 · 17/12/2018 10:23

l hate that neighbourhood cats come in my garden, shit in my borders, kill birds and scare my rabbits by watching them through the French doors. l wouldn't hurt one, but l don't want them in my garden!
When l lived back up north l couldn't leave the door open to hang my washing out because next door's cat would be up the stairs like a shot (old cottage, stairs straight behind the door) and under my bed. One one occasion l was loading the car for a boot sale, went back in for more stuff, came back and all l could see among the boxes in the back of the car was a tail! lf l hadn't noticed l wouldn't have realised til we got to the sale, miles away!

Original poster
PengAly · 17/12/2018 10:26

@katseyes7 This is my point- I totally agree with you. But better not say stuff like that on here as apparently not wanting someone else's pet on your property makes you an animal hater Hmm

OP posts:
bruffin · 17/12/2018 10:28

My ds and dh are allergic to cats but wouldnt be without ours. We got our rescue just before dh had a breakdown and she would lie with him in bed and im sure she really helped him recover. She loves him to bits and sits on his lap in the evening. Always asks permission first before she gets up on his lap. Also says thank when we open the door to go outside. She is very polite!
Cats dont talk to each other by sound ,just smell and body language snd touch but have evolved to talk to humans

Alwaysgreener · 17/12/2018 10:29

No animals were born to be captive but for seemingly all, bar the cat, that is what has become the case.

PengAly

For those complaining about dog shit...dog owners are EXPECTED to clean up after their dog and can get fined for not doing so. Cats owners put that responsibility on their neighbours unfortunately Agreed. We love our cat roaming so you all should too 🙄

My biggest bug bear is the number of songbirds they kill though. If people choose to keep cats given just how many millions of them there are, they should be subject to the same control and responsibility at all times as any pet.

minkies11 · 17/12/2018 10:31

Well PengAly - you're asking pretty dumb questions and getting pretty defensive when challenged. Just can't believe you really need to check this out on MN unless you want a majority vote to make yourself feel better. If you had any understanding of animals you'd know why cats are allowed out to roam.

Original poster
PengAly · 17/12/2018 10:32

Yes. the killing of birds is another issue. I've had many sad moments have to clean up the remains on dead ones on our patio. I appreciate the cat owners who seem to understand what I'm trying to say

OP posts:
Branleuse · 17/12/2018 10:32

How does anyone propose to stop cats roaming or sitting under your car without locking them in a room?

A cat under your car will usually move when you turn the engine on. Most cat deaths by cars are from them running across the road.

yes owners are more responsible for dogs being under control as its a different natured beast and the stakes are much higher if a dog is out of control. Dogs did just get let out in the past, but now youre not allowed to in the UK for obvious reasons.

Cats also have less rights. If a cat runs across the road, youre not obliged to stop for them either like you are for a dog.

reallyanotherone · 17/12/2018 10:32

Personally I'd rather see more basically harmless animals roaming the world at their leisure, not less. The world is sanitised enough for humans as it is

This.

The only reason we don’t let more “pets” roam free is ownership. Cats generally come back, and when they’re out they keep to themselves and do catty things.

We’re seeing more and more indoor cats as people worry about accidents/theft/wandering.

When i was young it was fairly normal to let your dog roam. You would quite often come across a dog walking itself.

Ii think much of it is down to increasing attachment to pets, cats in particular. Years ago your cat wandered off and that was it. You maybe went looking a few times in case it was lost. Now it’s social media appeals and furbabies, rewards, facebook pages dedicated to reuniting lost pets. We have microchips to stamp ownership.