Stay-in cats

[Michael Romanos]

The regional council of Wellington has started a campaign to protect native birds (and at the same time protect other birds) and are asking residents to keep their cats inside at nights.
Do Go Corgi members who have cats as well as Corgis, think this is a good idea or not?
I know that in parts of Australia, cats are regarded as bad news and straying cats are dealt to - and again the reason is the threat from cats to the bird life.
It is said that 10,000 birds are killed by cats in New Zealand each year. If that is so, the figures in the USA would be enormous - there are over 82 million cats in the USA whereas in NZ there are probably around 800,000.

[Dillydoodle]

I, personally, have never allowed my cats to be outside unless on a leash and honestly two of my girls never wanted to go outside, they find it terrifying. My eldest cat likes to go outside, but i wont allow it unless she has a leash. She is not a runner and just likes to sit outside. My cat Clinton who passed over to the bridge 1/29/05 started his life as a feral cat and when he adopted me I converted him to an indoor cat. I personally feel that cats live healthier longer lives as indoor cats. I know that my girls would not hurt a bird or a chipmonk or mouse but clinton I know was living for 6 months on his own before he found me and to survive aside from dumpster diving, he would eat birds or mice. Dillon was raised around three cats, he will give chase to two of them, but the third ( my eldest) he wont bother, mostly becuase she wont run, she will sit there and ignore him or give him a good growl and hiss and he leaves her alone.

As far as the bird life, we have so many birds here - common song birds that are in no danger of extiction so a few casualties are not devastating to the species. You, on the other hand, live in a place that has a limited number of very specialized birds that can not be found anywhere else in the world, and are not in great abundance like what we have here in the US ( or so is my understanding) you dont want to be like Guam - hardly a native bird there anymore due to the non-indigenous snake infestation there.

I am not sure why the rule there in NZ would be to keep your cats inside at night...they do hunt during the day too you know. How effective will that really be?

Emilie

[Chip's Mom]

Emilie:

That was a very good post. I do not have any cats but used to. Can't have any since we have had Jasmine. We have strays that come and go and kill mice & rats. Cats do hunt alot at night but I thought it was mostly rodents. Birds perch in trees after dark and aren't out that much I wonder if the birds in NZ are active at night?

[corgimom]

We got our first two cats when I lived in Nebraska from 93 to 98 and having never been a cat owner, they were allowed to go outside as they wished - we lived out more in the country. However, they did kill some birds - just climbed the tree and took baby birds from their nest I know, not good, but this is what cats do; they are not being bad, but I did not want them
killing birds either.

And yes Michael, cats hunt during the day also.

However, I agree with Emilie and it is proven that cats will live a longer life being kept indoors. I had to make more than enough trips to the vet because of fights my cats had gotten into with other roaming cats which would often result in a bite wound to the neck. Then take into the fact that cats often get hit by cars; plus the numerous viruses that cats can pick up from other animals, etc; and the possibility of the cat being eaten by something bigger.

My one cat that is still with me at 12 1/2 years loved to bring home small snakes, mice and birds for me at that time - I did not appreciate it. And he made a point of visiting other neighbors - one time getting stuck up on someones roof for the night and meowing the entire night while the woman was trying to sleep(oh Michael would have been happy about that) and other adventures where he would be out all night and me up worrying about where he was.

Anyway, in 98 when we moved to Wisconsin, my two cats at that time became indoor cats. Of course, they packed on a few extra pounds because of this. I do keep them inside for their safety and health as we are in a much busier city now and I don't want to risk anything bad happening to them.

Just a couple of years ago Wisconsin wanted to pass a law that would allow anyone to shoot a cat that roamed onto their property (to protect the birds) - people were outraged by this and of course, this law never passed - and Wisconsin was being ridiculed and I think the person who came up with this suggestion and was trying to get the law passed got plenty of hate mail.

[Jane Austen]

Our cat Powder is inside for his safety. He would love to go out and I regret that we live in an area that is unsafe for him to be let loose. Quality of life is an issue. If possible I think a cat should be outside/inside. He used to be free to roam before we adopted him from a friend. When we did let him out a few times he crossed the street and was gone an hour or so. Powder doesn't know how to deal with cars. He would probably stand up and fight coyotes and fisher cats rather than run from them. So he is here teasing Duchess most of the day. Duchess loves the chase and it gives them both some exercise.

[tandemgal]

deleated by T-Gal

[Jespah]

My crew are all indoor cats. There are too many perils to cats that live in suberbs and busy residential areas. Triston, my 3 legged cat, lost his leg and was severly mangled in a car engine by the fan blade. Cats tend to climb up into warm engines in the winter and sleep. I rescued my cat Sprint from an engine before he could be hurt. We had a cat drown in the neighbour's pool, so all of my cats, who were all rescues have a far better life inside. I would love them all to be able to go out and enjoy the grass and nature, but as I say to people who raise their eyebrows at indoor cats - come on over and see their suffering.

I also respect the bird population -however the bird population is more at risk from lights being left on in high rise buildings.

[corgimom]

I have thought about getting those runs you can put up for cats to be outdoors. I have seen them in the pet catalogs- so they could enjoy an afternoon outside with the grass underneath them; and bask in the sun.

However, they would not enjoy the neighborhood dogs that roam into our yards on many occasions and I think it would scare the daylights out of my cats to have that sprung upon them. So that sort of spoils the idea.

They are easy to put up and take down. . I do open the windows on warm sunny days and they love to lay in the window sills.

Michael, what ever happened to that lady neighbor of yours with the cat?
Is she still blaming you when her cat comes home and looks like it has been in a fight or becomes ill - you mentioned that once before way early on.

[jprechel]

Our cat Peiper is also an indoor cat. He has been his whole life. He still has his claws because I always worry about him getting out and not being able to defend hisself. Our back yard is fenced in so sometimes I'll take Peiper out with me to look around. He doesn't quite understand grass and prefers to sniff around the porch. He has been getting more interested in exploring beyond the porch since Ace has been with us. Linda - I have seen the runs you're talking about and have thought about getting one for Peiper as well. I just don't know what he'll think of it. He is content being inside and enjoys watching the birds through the window. He does hunt bugs for us inside. He loves to chase moths or flies - we have to help him catch one if he sees it - he just can't go one until he saves us from the terrible bug!

[corgimom]

Oh, I know what you are talking about regarding the bugs. They just can't ignore a moth in the house, they have to jump on every ledge trying to get that mean old nasty bug

And even though I have thought of getting the outdoor run for them, my 12 year old cat has been indoors for 8 years now and my other two have never been allowed outside, so probably something I would not do especially with all the other large dogs right next door.

[Michael Romanos]

Cats are night hunters and expert tree climbers- so birds in trees are more vunerable at night time than during the day. Nests of baby birds are very much at risk. Cats have great night vision. The world cannot sustain the continuing loss of birds from domestic cats. The vast majority of domestic cats do not need birds for their food supply.
I think that laws about cat movement will become a reality in time. There are absolutely no laws regarding cats in NZ apart from the care and well being of cats.
New Zealand has a lot of rare birds and also a lot of abundant species of birds - but we want to protect all of them, no matter the number. A silent (lack of birds singing and calling) forest or bush - or suburban street - is like a dead place.
Linda - our lovely next door neoghbours wrote a letter that got published in the local community newspaper accusing someone (us) of throwing cricket balls at her cat. Cricket balls are very hard balls - harder than a baseball and a little bit bigger than a tennis ball. It's just further nonsense. If their cat was frightened of us she wouldn't come near us. But she often does because she knows that Taylor and us humans are non threatening apart from telling her to go home.

[corgimom]

Michael,

She could not have accused you publicly did she(meaning, she did not put your name in the paper)?

I know you are not crazy about cats, but I honestly don't think you would do something such as that.

[corgimom]

Michael,

I take it she did not put "your name" in the paper; but you assumed she was referring to you?