To think Whinfell Center Parcs should not have feral cats

[CrossAndTired]

We are regular guests here and always love seeing the red squirrels. We bring nuts and seeds to throw onto the patio and normal get lots of visitors.
This morning was our first here and I sat watching the dawn looking out into the forest waiting to see the lovely wildlife. After a couple of fat pigeons what appeared at the door meowing to be fed was a black and white cat.
After discussing it with the wildlife wardens we found out it is Tom they have trapped, neutered and released deliberately into the forest. They said it keeps the rodents down. Red squirrels are a rodent so presumably that is why this is the first visit, after coming here every year for 12 years, that we have not seen one.
So AIBU to think if you are claiming to run a red squirrels reserve you should not allow cats inside the huge wire fences.

Because you have seen a cat!? I live not too far from Whinfell and our red squirrel population has plummeted this year because of squirrel pox.

It's got nothing to do with cats!

Well if you put the nuts on the floor you are encouraging the squirrels out of their safe place to eat them so how about hang them in the trees where the squirrels would much prefer them and the cats can't get them.

@Littletreefrog I didn’t bring a ladder on holiday with me, nor any tools to secure a squirrel feeder, maybe the rangers should do that.
@TheCumbrian not because I saw a cat, because I haven’t seen the wildlife I normally see. Not even many birds about.

I'm sure they won't miss you don't worry!

Ooh you are cross and tired aren't you. I'm sure without a ladder you can reach a low hanging branch. But never mind just keep being grumpy because you've seen a cat

I live with in a few miles of Whinfell and the grey squirrel population has exploded. We used to see reds all the time in our garden but we saw greys for the first time this year. It’s nothing to do with one stray cat.

I only brought loose nuts, I suppose I could go get my car and drive about looking for a shop but have better things to do, like mumsnetting.

No wonder they need a cat to deal with me and rats if people are putting monkey nuts out.

I don't think it's a bad idea really as with there being a lot of people like yourself putting nuts etc out for wildlife this does encourage other wildlife like mice and rats.

Aw OP I can and do understand your frustration. If it's pox though, population will be decimated. I feel the same about Formby Red Squirrel Sanctuary.
The National Trust have been less than transparent on their site about how many squirrels there (so so many died but this hasn't been made clear by the NT).

Can’t believe you’re up in arms about this when you have a cat at home that kills wildlife

You're complaining of the lack of red squirrels? They're endangered aren't they?

Ahh but that's a different colour squirrel

This!!

There are laws in parts of Australia that say you have to keep cats indoors or you can be fined (and they are thankfully looking into it in states where it's not currently the law). It's legal for other people to capture roaming cats and give them to the authorities who will fine you and charge you to get your cat back. They kill birds and other wildlife and are a damn nuisance.

So, OP, it's bloody hypocritical to whine about a couple of strategically placed cats in an extortionate tourist park, while you let your irritating predator kill your local wildlife without any thought for it.

I e seen greys down borrowdale for the first time ever. Sadly I think days are numbered for the Reds in The Lakes.

Could he please give my cat lessons! We've had to resort to other means of squirrel control, we were really overrun a couple of years ago.

Keeping one or two TNRd ferals actually helps keep other cats away. Removing them all, if it were ever possible, leaves the territory open for other strays/feral.

I think one stray cat is the least of the red squirrels’ problems

Let’s not turn this onto an anti cat thread, I just think something like foxes would be more appropriate.
There are big fences here and any greys sighted are trapped and removed so hope the pox doesn’t get in again.

We had a similar problem in Longleat the other week. Only my son was heartbroken about all the homeless cats and spent all his money feeding them. He was so worried we had to go to guest services and ask about them. They told him he was welcome to take one if he could catch it!

Be thankful you didn't open the door to be greeted by a couple of rats sitting on your doormat.

I live in the country, we have rats but then my killer cat quite likes eating them too.

He's a good boy.

Shall we send in dogs to kill all the cats, to stop the cats killing squirrels and rats?

Have you heard about the old lady who swallowed a fly?