To really not understand why people are OK with cats

[Duvetstay]

Full disclosure, I'm allergic to cats and also very much a dog person but I really don't understand how it's acceptable for cats to go round decimating local wildlife and crapping in gardens.

I've lost count of how many times I've had to pick cat poo off the lawn and my daughter came in yesterday with cat sick all over her feet as a local moggie had vommed on our patio. I'm sick of it. It's a health hazard and you shouldn't have to wear a hazmat suit to go in your own garden.

We have tadpoles outside which are about to froglet and I've just seen a fat cat with its head in the water. I'm fuming, a few of the tadpoles are injured and this is the same cat I had to get off a terrified bird last week.

I'm not remotely sentimental about nature, if a hungry creature kills another then that's how life works. However I cannot understand how people can let these cats out knowing that they're injuring animals for no reason and causing health hazards to other people in their own home.

I couldn't take my dog for a shit in your garden so why can your cat do that in mine? They're not even natural predators as they just trot home to get their whiskers.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND!

No, you don't.

Can't wait for the people who don't like dogs to get here....

What wildlife are they decimating OP?

We're all enslaved & enchanted, OP. Willing slaves to the furry yowling vomitful murderous parasites.

Be careful or you, too may succumb. There are allergy-free breeds. Before you know it you will want to try being a catslave too.

I'm amazed you pick cat poo off your lawn. Cats usually bury it and dont use open spaces.

But...

they PURR!!

I love cats.
Cats are gorgeous.
Nobody can tell me otherwise.
Sorry if that upsets you.
😻😽🐈🐱
I love dogs too but always had cats.

The problem is, they’re incredibly cute.

I always used to read the threads whinging about other people's cats coming into gardens and think 'lucky you, having nothing else to worry about'. Now I still read them, in the middle of an actual global pandemic, and I think these people are just deranged. It's like the people who care if someone else parks outside their house - such a weirdly insignificant thing to get wound up about that I can't really imagine how you get through the day.

@VivienneMary l agree with you, most do, but we have a local one that regularly uses the gravel drive at the side of the house as a lavatory, and doesn't bother covering it up.
lt's right by where we keep the bins, and not lit, which is a nightmare in the darker months.

No I'm with you. Also very allergic to them but can't see why it's ok to keep an animal you can't control and force others to put up with the consequences.

It's very anti social

YABU. Number of hospital admissions due to dogs attacking people and children: 8,500 per year.

Cats: no statistics available so probably very low.

Cats bring a lot of people joy, that’s worth you putting up with a bit of cat poo.

And I love both cats and dogs.

Stockholm syndrome... My cat owns me.

Apologies, @Viviennemary, l spelled your name wrong.

Totally agree OP they are horrid.
Including the one my DD owns and adores but it spits ate everyone other than her.
Nasty creatures

None of my cats catch birds or frogs.....I am
More than happy for them to "decimate" the local population of rats though? Or would you rather they be saved?

One of my cats as taken to helping himself from local bbqs lately though - but I'm putting it down to him doing his bit for local Covidiots flouting then social distancing rules

I love cats because they are independent, entertaining and loving - on their own terms.

I don't like dogs because they are needy, crap anywhere and jump all over you.

I do know that not all dogs are like that, and it is the owner and not the dog BUT what the hell - the OP has generalised so I will too.

I have never stood in cat poo, been attacked by, jumped on by or chased by a cat whilst going about my day - Dogs however ...

You have met some very impolite cats! The last one I had couldn’t even bare to be watched while toilet going, and then he’d spend ages covering it up.

I live rurally and my cats keep the mice away, so I’ll always have one. They drive me absolutely mad but I also love them.

Haha, I do have a few other things to worry about and I find these worries best dealt with in lockdown by spending time in my garden with my froglets. So the poo is upsetting, as are the injured tadpoles.

I didn't think I'd change any minds though...

Well, part of keeping animals is allowing them to indulge natural behaviours. For many/most cats, that means roaming outdoors. So, when we got a cat we knew that it would, in all likelihood, want to go out. They also help keep the mouse population down.

As for birds, Despite the large numbers of birds killed by cats in gardens, there is no clear scientific evidence that such mortality is causing bird populations to decline. This may be surprising, but many millions of birds die naturally every year, mainly through starvation, disease or other forms of predation. There is evidence that cats tend to take weak or sickly birds.

www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/gardening-for-wildlife/animal-deterrents/cats-and-garden-birds/are-cats-causing-bird-declines/

Why don't use use a cat repellent in your garden if they bother you so much?

Your dog must be perfect if it doesn't shit in its own garden (or a park, footpath, the pavement or anywhere else), never chucks up and has never drunk from the pond.

Said as an animal person. Not a cat or dog person - all animals.

I don’t think the local wildlife is at any risk from extinction from the 3 cats that live on our road. Here’s a link from the RSPB you might find useful

www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/gardening-for-wildlife/animal-deterrents/cats-and-garden-birds/are-cats-causing-bird-declines/

@FourPlasticRings shared the same link actually

Unlike the op, however, I am happy for other people to have a different view