To ask why cats roaming is acceptable?

[PengAly]

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

PengAly l wish there was a 'kind' way to keep them out of my garden! l wouldn't hurt one, and there's a lovely chunky one a few doors down from me who is a sweetheart, but there are also a couple l really don't like, who seem to haunt my garden! One of them is the one l saw sneaking behind my big conifer with a squeaking bird, which colours my judgment. l tried to frighten it out with the rake handle, but to no avail. lt really upset me!

@minkies11 of course i'm getting defensive when you are making assumptions like saying I hate animals! That's not being challenged, that being insulted. You STILL seem incapable of reading previous posts so once again I will say: I am NOT questions the instinct of a cat, I am simply implying that its unfair that cat owners are not held responsible for the actions of their cats on other people's property. How is it "dumb" to not want their shit in my garden?

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.
The RSPB do not believe that cats killing birds are a problem. As I said above they only kill birds that are weak or injured and would have died anyway.

rspb statement

@PengAly well for someone who started a thread saying you don't even understand how people can like cats (really? You can't comprehend it?), you've now backtracked. I think you came here to start a goady moaning thread and you've achieved what you set out for. So, well done you. Slow hand clap. 👏🏼
"Ect"

Just for those that seem to accuse me of animal hating...I would never wish any harm to a cat and actually play with them when given the opportunity. Its a shame that I've got to be responsible for keeping them out of my garden and not the owners. Also, I've spent a lot of time with a variety of animals, horses, dogs, chickens ect. And also, I do love them all.

@minkies11 Oh so I'm not allowed my opinion on cats but so many people can post some pretty mean things about dogs and they get all the support? Hmm that seems slightly unfair doesn't it.

My cats don’t leave our garden. No idea why but I never can’t find them under the eucalyptus.

We actually have an outdoor litter tray, which they use so it is possible.

There’s two other cats locally that like to come in and taunt me by pooing in the middle of the garden. I just pick it up, not even sure one of them actually has a home as have seen him let in and out of many homes.

As I said above they only kill birds that are weak or injured and would have died anyway.

That's not actually exactly what the rspb statement says, is it? While doubtless, like most predators, cats will be likely to catch more weaker prey (I'd guess that will include healthy fledglings) do you really think they don't just catch whatever they can?

The RSPB has been criticised for downplaying the impact of cats because a lot of its membership are middle class urban cat owners.

They do also offer advice on stopping cat predation

https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/gardening-for-wildlife/animal-deterrents/cats-and-garden-birds/stop-cats-catching-and-killing-birds/

If any cat owners haven't read that already it's worth doing so, most of the advice is pretty obvious but maybe this part won't have occurred to everyone:

Keep your cat indoors when birds are most vulnerable: at least an hour before sunset and an hour after sunrise, especially during March-July and December-January, and also after bad weather, such as rain or a cold spell, to allow birds to come out and feed.

Errol
I have a garden full of birds, my cats ignores them

The domestic feline is hated so much because it represents the feminine. People get their knickers in a knot about women not being so easily understood and controlled as well. To understand the cat is to understand the feminine nature. It's not only men who can hate women either as is easily evidenced on here.

Cats are also introverts and quite a few people resent those as well. They're seen as sly and secretive and not to be trusted. Cats tend to be defensive rather than aggressive, so will defend themselves, but generally don't go out of their way to attack people.

The local dog walkers allow their animals to piss next to the bottom of my garden right on my front path, so I have to park my car then walk through damp piss patches to reach my front door. My cat watches them out of the front window whilst they do this.

Cats also keep your property free of vermin, give them a break.

I'd rather clear up cat poo from my garden it's usually solid and easy to pick up and bin, dog poo however is much more stinky and messy when irresponsible owners leave it all over the pavement it often will get walked in and spread everywhere. I have neither animal as a pet but I have no problem with cats and yet am massively fed up of the disgusting mess left all over the streets by dogs. I know it's not the dogs fault it's the owners but it annoys me no end.

Have no negative opinion on dogs whatsoever - just don't understand why the fuss about cats being allowed outside. Too many stereotypes flying around - not all cats shit in gardens and not all dogs dangerous ravening monsters if allowed off the lead.

@knittedmouse what a very odd view to have...I really don't think the dislike of cats has anything to do with women.

I love cats. My only problem is that I can never (or at least rarely) get them to roam on my garden :(.

ow 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?

Cat's rarely attack people for one. They certainly don't kill them.

And additionally cats aren't dogs. Dogs are happy to stay in a certain area. Cats could be compared to squirrels or foxes more, they roam and hunt and are a bit wild.

That's quite interesting bruffin

@minkies11 you've changed your tone a bit from your other posts...Obviously there is a fuss because you yourself said you were unhappy with me complaining about cats leaving shit in my garden and killing birds. I don't have a hatred to cats in anyway. I've always felt that people have pets as companions and when I see cats always out and have seen the way they are indifferent to their owners it just makes me question why someone would want a pet that doesn't seem to want to be with them? Of course, this is JUST MY OPINION and in no way am I suggesting all cats are horrible. Anyways, my initial question was trying to grasp why its OK for cats to do whatever they want on other peoples property.

I have a garden full of birds, my cats ignores them

That's nice. Many cats don't ignore birds. One of our neighbourhood cats can regularly be seen bearing its prey home - sometimes birds and small rodents, also rabbits and squirrels (I guess since those predate nests that redresses the balance a bit). I have to dissuade it from lurking near my bird table. It's a cat that was, I think, got 'for the children' but it seems to spend all it's time outside.

Most responsible cat owners have a litter tray to minimise them shitting elsewhere and you can put a cruelty free repellent in your garden if it bothers you that much but seriously - how much damage are cats actually doung?

@VeggyGravy but people don't keep squirrels and foxes as pets do they? So that comparison makes no sense. Those animals ARE wild animals, cats have been household pets for decades so shouldn't they be given the same standard as other household pets?

Some of these replies are so bizarre its funny.

People would be up in arms if their dog behaved like a cat!!

I think theyd be really surprised more than anything.

JUST BECAUSE HUMANS HAVE DOMESTICATED TWO DIFFERENT SPECIES. IT DOESNT MAKE THESE TWO SPECIES BEHAVE THE SAME

@PengAly you have no understanding of cat behaviour whatsoever. Do you not understand how affectionate and bonded to their owners cats can be?
Btw I adore dogs too. Their shit not so much. But I wouldn't start a thread about not understanding why people have dogs as pets.
You do understand you're allowed to like both dogs and cats, right?

Cats are smug, murderous little shits. One black cat (neighbours) tries to shit in our garden, and tries to attack the birds on our feeding station.

I say tries because a little cat hating terrier lives with us. So when I see the cat I just let the dog out into my garden.