To think cats shouldn’t be allowed out without owners

[DoBeDoBeDooo]

The other thread about cats vs dogs has made me realise I’m not alone in my feelings about cats being allowed to roam freely, kill wildlife, and crap all over the place.

Why is it one rule for dogs and another for cats? It’s doesn’t make any sense really, when you think about it.

Shouldn’t the same rules apply: cats can be walked on leads and owners must pick up after them or risk fines etc?

My cat poops outside, but you wouldn't know she did, she's very tidy and clean.

My dd saw someone walking their cat on a lead around a national trust believe it or not (outside) and suddenly became very excited about wanting to do the same for our cat. I can tell you that would not have gone down well with our dear cat.

OP is super defensive.

She might consider how people's tendencies to pave over gardens and plant non-native plants, and extensively spray large monoculture lawns do more than any cat to totally screw up birds. Hedgehogs are decimated by roads and inability to roam, due to replacement of hedges with walls and all the roads. Farmers use November down time to trim hedges, thereby stripping an already industrialised landscape of the winter hedgerow larder that normally feeds birds and shelters them well into February.

Cats are not the problem.

Bring back the laughing emoji!!
😁

I saw a bird kill another bird the other day. We may need to start keeping birds in 🤔 (Ps it was bloody disturbing!!)

Hear, hear.
At least cats are useful in keeping rats and mice under control.

This was in court in Ireland this week!
https://www.thejournal.ie/judge-shown-videos-of-cat-defecating-in-south-dublin-garden-after-neighbours-brought-owner-to-court-6881470-Nov2025/

A lower court agreed with the plaintiff, the defendant appealed to a higher court and won.

No need for anymore anti-cat threads I’d say 👍
well done ItsDarkNow 😺

I’m not holier than though. I just have a basic grasp of ecology. You clearly don’t like hearing that cats decimate wildlife. I assume you’re a cat owner.

If you want to make a change to the free roaming law then fill your boots OP. What's stopping you?

The reason is that cats are not dangerous to people. Why should any animal be allowed to be outside without a human ?

There's loads of ferral cats where I live. They are wild like the foxes! They do a good job keeping the mice and rats down in number.

Why should we care ? Animals are slaughtered all the time

I’m genuinely not sure if you’re winding me up or not.

Are you really asking why we should care that our native wildlife is being destroyed by domestic cats?

Most cats don't "shit everywhere" though. They will bury their poo. If your kids are digging up cat poo, that's your issue to solve. It's your animals running wild there!

Yes. I can see birds and mice reduced. It isn't going to affect crops.

That was for @CrownCoats

Nuts? Takes one to know one lovey.

Our insect and worm population is being decimated by birds. Without cats who knows how many more insects would suffer. Have you thought of that?

I live somewhere where the bylaw says that cats who are outside should be leashed. Mind you, I also live somewhere where the wildlife will happily eat cats and small dogs. And, during winter months, the cold would kill them.

I suppose animals do just kill each other

🤣🤣🤣

The difference is that birds are a natural part of a balanced food chain and a healthy ecosystem. Your pet cat isn’t.

If you reduce birds you increase insects which impacts crops.

Did you go to school?