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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Cats everywhere!

360 replies

GoldfinchFeather · 25/06/2025 14:39

Since we have plenty of threads to moan about dogs and dog owners, how about a bit of balance and a thread for the same about cats?

I, for one, am not a fan of the things and think there are too many around. And sure, while the problems they cause may be less obvious than dogs/dog ownership, I personally think they're worse in many ways. Particularly for the terrible effect they have on local wildlife and birds in particular.

On numerous occasions I've had the misfortune to come across birds and animals that have clearly been attacked by cats. One distressing incident occurred just a few weeks ago - on an evening walk I came across a domestic cat that had just attacked a tiny baby wild rabbit. Despite shooing the cat off and it still being alive when I got to it, it didn't survive.

Seeing that made me just want to go and give the bloody thing a boot up the backside.

Yet many cat owners seem to find this behaviour either a mildly amusing part of their cat ownership ("you'll never guess what my Tiddles caught the other day!"), or have no qualms about letting their cats roam freely and slowly kill all wildlife within a several mile radius. When really, they should just be kept indoors.

And if they were, there'd be far less of them that were always going bloody missing or being stupid enough to get themselves run over on the road.

Surely I can't be alone in my hatred of cats?!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
48
HelenaWaiting · 25/06/2025 14:42

Zacky does not approve

Cats everywhere!
Toottooot · 25/06/2025 14:44

Cats are far superior to people and dugs.

Chocolateorange22 · 25/06/2025 14:45

I wouldn't take my cat to a pub or cafe and expect everyone to pet it or put up with its meowing

Aside from the sarcasm (couldn't resist sorry) yes they aren't great for wildlife I agree. Mine is now 12 and hasn't caught anything for about 5 years. Not sure she actually knows what a bird is nowadays as she is developing dementia. Even before that it was a couple of times tops. However I've always tried to be responsible in not keeping her out at night and getting her once spayed.

springintoaction321 · 25/06/2025 14:45

This reply has been deleted

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theyoungishman · 25/06/2025 14:45

Cats are the best

5foot5 · 25/06/2025 14:48

Well I think it is unreasonable to hate cats for behaving like cats.

Adult DD has a cat that is strictly a house cat. Never been outside in his short life. He often comes to stay with us (well he brings DD with him 😄) and he will spend ages looking out of the window watching the birds in the garden. Watching them very, very intently. He will chase spiders and flies and any small object he identifies as prey. Without a shadow of doubt if he could go outside he would be up for killing whatever small wildlife he could catch. It is just natural for a cat.

However, in his case, he doesn't get the opportunity.

SoScarletItWas · 25/06/2025 14:50

Me and my house panther are looking forward to the ‘Squirrels everywhere!’ threads.

Morgenrot25 · 25/06/2025 14:50

I like cats.
They're mostly not in shops/cafes/pubs/everywhere with their owners.
They don't yap.
They tend not to poop on pavements.
I like it when they purr.

Morgenrot25 · 25/06/2025 14:51

HelenaWaiting · 25/06/2025 14:42

Zacky does not approve

Zacky looks very cool.

Absentmindedsmile · 25/06/2025 14:53

..

Cats everywhere!
Gettingbysomehow · 25/06/2025 14:54

I adore cats, they are my life. I have two perfect cats, next door has three cats and I love them too.

U53rName · 25/06/2025 14:54

Unsure which side to pick…I think both cat owners and dog owners are c*nty. Perhaps dog owners more so, only because I’ve never had a cat jump all over me with its muddy paws as its owner exclaimed that it “is really gentle and is not normally like this.”

ghostyslovesheets · 25/06/2025 14:56

Bernard, Bonnie, Wee Man and Ben send you head rubs. - they really only catch mice

Cats everywhere!
Cats everywhere!
Cats everywhere!
Cats everywhere!
HRTQueen · 25/06/2025 14:56

Absentmindedsmile · 25/06/2025 14:53

..

making clear their thoughts towards the op

Love it 😎

GoldfinchFeather · 25/06/2025 14:56

theyoungishman · 25/06/2025 14:45

Cats are the best

Your sentence seems incomplete. Let me finish it for you:

"Cats are the best at killing wildlife and are responsible for killing an estimated 160-270 million animals annually in this country"

An absolute pest on society.

OP posts:
neverbeenskiing · 25/06/2025 14:57

"There are two means of refuge from the misery of life — music and cats" (Albert Schweitzer)

YABU btw.

5foot5 · 25/06/2025 14:57

On numerous occasions I've had the misfortune to come across birds and animals that have clearly been attacked by cats. One distressing incident occurred just a few weeks ago - on an evening walk I came across a domestic cat that had just attacked a tiny baby wild rabbit. Despite shooing the cat off and it still being alive when I got to it, it didn't survive.

I know you caught that rabbit killing cat in the act, but don't assume all the injured/dead birds you have seen are the victims of cats.

Magpies can be right bastards. I get them in the garden a lot and they do terrorise smaller birds. I have also had a blackbird killed and devoured on my lawn by a sparrowhawk. Foxes and badgers will also kill smaller mammals.

Edited to say: also have you never seen Springwatch! Loads of killing and never a cat in sight.

MrsMoastyToasty · 25/06/2025 14:59

It's just survival of the fittest. We give animals human attributes, but in fact they are domesticated wild animals and will always have a strong drive to prey on and kill other creatures.

MugPlate · 25/06/2025 14:59

Neighbour’s cat has eradicated a nest of rats.

Very useful and no poison involved. Eco.

neverbeenskiing · 25/06/2025 15:01

GoldfinchFeather · 25/06/2025 14:56

Your sentence seems incomplete. Let me finish it for you:

"Cats are the best at killing wildlife and are responsible for killing an estimated 160-270 million animals annually in this country"

An absolute pest on society.

.

Cats everywhere!
BIWI · 25/06/2025 15:01

What did you say?!!!

Cats everywhere!
justkeepswimingswiming · 25/06/2025 15:04

Rodger disaproves of your statement.

Cats everywhere!
GoldfinchFeather · 25/06/2025 15:04

MrsMoastyToasty · 25/06/2025 14:59

It's just survival of the fittest. We give animals human attributes, but in fact they are domesticated wild animals and will always have a strong drive to prey on and kill other creatures.

So that makes it okay, then?

I imagine people would be pretty horrified if something like fox hunting was allowed again and the defence was "well, it's just human nature to want to hunt animals".

Or imagine if hunting of birds and wildlife was a widespread activity in this country and 160-270 million birds and animals were killed, for no real reason (don't give me the nonsense about cats needing to hunt to eat), and it was just put down to man's strong drive to hunt?

But because it's fluffy cats doing it, it's okay?

OP posts:
Icecreamhelps · 25/06/2025 15:07

GoldfinchFeather · 25/06/2025 14:56

Your sentence seems incomplete. Let me finish it for you:

"Cats are the best at killing wildlife and are responsible for killing an estimated 160-270 million animals annually in this country"

An absolute pest on society.

Oh give over. How many animals are slaughtered for human consumption. Your argument on that point is mute.

justkeepswimingswiming · 25/06/2025 15:07

Also if you boot a cat, you can grauntee a crazy cat person will see it & boot you back. No need to be nasty to animals

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