Cats

 11th February

I am not a lover of cats but I wouldn’t intentionally hurt one and I do understand that they bring joy, comfort and companionship to many people. My main objection to them is the view of many cat owners that their pets should be allowed to roam freely to impinge and adversely affect the lives of others. These are the same people who would complain bitterly if their neighbour allowed their dog constant access to their property and to deposit their waste matter wherever it pleased. I’m sure the vast majority of people abhor dog owners who do not clear up the deposits of their animals from the pavements. Society has rules about the behaviour of dogs and their owners but does not impose any restrictions on cats, on the contrary, many cat owners encourage their animals to roam free by installing cat flaps.

The view that cats are wild animals and therefore cannot or should not  be restricted is complete nonsense. Home living cats are domestic. Tigers, lions etc are wild animals.

I have a small garden with a variety of flowers and shrubs that I tend regularly and object to constantly having cats dig holes in my newly hoed ground and leaving their waste matter wherever it pleases them to do so. Cats waste matter is toxic and unhealthy and can cause blindness especially to unsuspecting children who are playing innocently in the garden. Other people’s cats should not be in my garden anymore than my dog should be in my neighbours garden.

As vehement as I am about this it pales into insignificance when compared to the effect that cats are having on the bird population.

I have just read a report on the reduction, no, decimation of the bird population in this country and although not the sole reason for this, cats are the main reason by far. This is all the more abhorent because the birds are not hunted by cats for food but just for the joy of killing. That’s evil. At the last count one of my neighbours had four cats and the other had two cats. I  can testify to these findings from my own experience.

There was a time when one of the pleasures in my life was to get up early in the morning and sit in my conservatory to watch the morning shadows unfold and to watch for the Blue Tits (sometimes Great Tits) as they nested in my bird box. I could predict their behaviour and the their progress as they built their nest, laid their eggs, fed the newly hatched chicks and finally watched those new chicks fly the nest to join their parents. It was a pleasure that cost nothing and was a reason to get out of bed for but, no more. Since my neighbours introduced cats into their households their cats have laid siege to the bird box intimidating the birds into deserting them leaving behind either unlaid eggs or chicks dead from starvation. It’s a pitiful and upsetting sight. 

Now I rarely, if ever, see a Blue Tit or the resident Robin that would arrive immediately I started to hoe the ground. No more Green Finches  or other occasional birds that would turn up from time to time.

I have long believed that cats should be restrained and not be allowed to roam free and the demise of the bird population makes it even more important that society is reeducated in its responsibilities to cat ownership. Something has to be done and quickly before its too late for our beautiful feathered friends.

Cat ownership licenced?

Cat ownership restricted?

Cats leashed when outside of the home?

Cat flaps banned?

Cats roaming the street rounded up and put down?

                              What’s your views on the subject?