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!

[eurochick]

Shit on your lawn is more likely to be due to foxes than cats.

[Duvetstay]

People who have cats always claim they don't poo in the garden... Well they don't poo in your garden cos they're doing it in mine!

[VodselForDinner]

I’m not a big fan of children. Neither is my dog, coincidentally. My cat has never met a child. I could picture her vomiting on one.

The world takes all sorts.

[Fairyliz]

Mine is single handily keeping the local rat population down. We currently have six dead rats in our bin bag, hope it doesn’t split when we lift it out.
Perhaps you would prefer those rats scampering around your garden?

[StillMedusa]

So the cat is sucking up tadpoles? I'd like to see that (bollocks)

I have cats and a dog. I love my dog because she worships me.
I love my cat because she doesn't and reminds me that I too am here to serve.
Hope that helps.

PS cats very rarely shit on the grass... usually bury it in the garden so it's more likely fox or hedgehog poo on the grass (hedgehogs are scummy little critters, they even crap on the plate when I leave food for them)

Dogs are on balance, FAR more unhygenic than cats.. cats do not eat eachother's poo, or roll in fox shit, sniff up each other's butts and then come to give you a big lick... and they poo a lot more!

[Abreadsandwich]

Cats and dogs have pros and cons.
Cats poo in other peoples gardens (but sometimes they bury it)
Dogs poo in public areas and not all owners pic it up.
Cats are fairly self sufficient and can be left for several hours.
Dogs need company and cant go out without their owner.
If you dont like dogs you most likely have to put up with a lot more of them in public places 🤷‍♀️

[Terralee]

Cats are like marmite- you love them or hate them.

Luckily I love them. But if you hate them they seem to know? And like to annoy you? It's weird.

Here's my current rescue.

[cologne4711]

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

I'm here! What shall I say - that I don't like dogs

[ZaraW]

Totally agree OP they are horrid
Nasty creatures

I prefer cats to most people.

[MsTSwift]

I felt the same urgh bloody cats. Then was persuaded to get 2 kittens by Dh and girls now passed over to the dark side

[Solina]

I have a gorgeous boy who is a rubbish hunter, can't even catch a spider if you put it in front of him so the only way he is going to get a bird is if the bird dies and falls at his feet. And that would probably scare him.

He also prefers to be indoors mostly so when he goes out he isn't pooping in other peoples gardens. I know this for a fact as he doesn't leave our garden ever and only uses his litter tray.

So not all cats are the same.

[Abreadsandwich]

Cats are like marmite
I dont think they'd fit in a jar. What are they like on toast?

[Shmithecat2]

@Seetheprettysnowdrops

These threads always attract the nut jobs

You'll get the delusional "cats always bury their shut"

The you'll get the "are you sure it's not a fox"

Weirdos

Cats are disgusting. Their owners have their heads up their arses

Lockdown or not, cats are dirty, killing, shit machines

Nice. And we're the weirdo nutjobs?

[shinyredbus]

I don’t know - I hate cats as one viciously attacked me as a child and I have the scars to prove it. I just am terrified of them.

[dementedma]

Cat person here. He buries his own shit and keeps the mouse population at the end of the garden under control. He doesn’t annoy people by barking constantly, doesn’t shit on the pavement and parks, and doesn’t make the house stink of mud and dog hair.
When people are out walking he doesn’t bound up to them, plastering them in drool, hair and mud. he doesn’t frighten small children.
and I don’t leave plastic bags of his shit all over the place for others to admire. Not really seeing the problem

[Rezie]

Where I'm from cats are not allowed to roam free. The look on my (british) bf's face when he first saw our neighbour walking his cat on the leash

[BroomstickOfLove]

When cats started pooing in my garden, I got pellets of lion poo from the garden centre and it kept them away for years. I'm allergic to cats, but i like them better than digs. Cats generally don't run up to you and start jumping up at you with muddy paws and/ or knock you over while their owners look on proudly. And I've never been bitten by a cat because I walked past its house while the gate was open. And nobody I know has needed surgery after a cat attack.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Years ago there was a discussion of R4 about this and even the rspb rep had to concede without predation by cats, magpies, birds of prey we’d be knee deep in fledglings.

Fledglings & mice are basically nature’s all you can eat buffet.

They only don’t kill them because they don’t always know you have to, their mothers are domesticated so don’t bring home birds/mice injured to practice on.

[Seetheprettysnowdrops]

Shmith. Well. Yes.

[BroomstickOfLove]

Having said that, I really like dogs, and have been broodily looking at pictures of rescue dogs available for rehoming all week. I just think that there are a lot of really shitty dog owners around.

[Duvetstay]

Honestly it's not foxes! I see cats there.

I swear I just saw one at my tadpoles!

Good work on the rats though. I'll concede that point. Also that dogs aren't perfect.

[ilikebigbuttsandicannotlie]

They’re cute and fluffy and just so bloody adorable. I love burying my face in their bellies and touching their toe beans. Op, YABU.... and totally missing out if you don’t have one of your own.

I echo what a pp said. If it’s on the grass, it’s most likely to be fox poo.

[TheMarzipanDildo]

Seetheprettysnowdrops

Harsh .

[Duvetstay]

Ohh where's that, Rezzie? I'll move!