Roaming Cats...

[Devils'Advocate]

I was home last night, feet up, watching House on DVD, eating some french fries.... when my cat started hissing at something outside.

I went to the front window and outside on my steps were 2 kittens. Well, not exactly kittens but very young cats. They were small and looked lost so I went outside and caught one. The tag had a name and phone number, so I called.

The conversation went something like this:
Me: "Hello. I found two cats straying through my yard. They look kinda lost."
Her: "Where are you located?"
Me: "108 ----- street."
Her: "Oh, we are at 90 ----- street. So they haven't traveled all THAT far. They are like panthers - claiming a huge territory. They will come home when they are done roaming."
Me: "You really think they are safe roaming free around the neighborhood."
Her: "They will be just fine."

Not only are there a lot of cars going up and down this road, but there are a lot of neighbors with swimming pools. I think next time I might just catch them and give them to a shelter.... Am I right or wrong here?

[ken0042]

Call the city at 311. I don't think you are allowed to let cats just roam outside.

[bigtmac19]

Well those are some stupid pet owners for sure.

Maybe a trip to the shelter to pick them up would wake them up a bit.

[ken0042]

Here's a link for you:
According to the Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw, cat owners must ensure that their cats:
Do not wander off their owner's property

(A few other cat rules in there.)

And another:

Cat Complaints

[llama64]

Are we entitled to trap stray animals on our property?

I've been wanting to build a catapult lately...

[burn_baby_burn]

I see both sides. Cat owners should not be allowed to let their cats run wild in the city. It is a nuisance to other people to have a cat use your garden or flower bed as a toilet. Or numerous other annoying things.

But I agree with the owner. Cats are smart. She probably knows these cats roam and allways find there way home. I woudn't worry about it either.

[Alana Flames]

Cats know where they live- they always go home.
Cats don't dig up gardens or make a lot of noise so I don't see what the problem is.
I had a cat growing up that would wander all over but always came home, and she really enjoyed being outdoors and exploring. She lived longer and healthier for being able to be outside and get exercise. She also took care of the neighbor's mouse problem.

As for the swimming pools- I'm not sure what you're worried about. Cats don't like water so they wouldn't go in- and if they fell (unlikely) they can swim.

And as for trapping- when i was really little I had another cat which my neighbor caught and killed. Pretty much the most horrible thing to happen to a 4 year old.

Where I live now there are probably two or three cats at least at any given time in my yard- they aren't mine, but they aren't hurting anything so I don't mind at all. You don't have to worry about them getting hurt or lost- cats are more resourceful than you might think.

[Bobblehead]

I thought DA was in Ottawa?

And we have a neighbour that lets their cat roam. It drives our cat nuts. We have a harness and leash we put on the cat then hook it on the outside doorknob when the cat wants to go out. It looks a bit silly, but it keeps the cat safe and doesn't infringe on the neighbours.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Alana Flames

Cats know where they live- they always go home.
Cats don't dig up gardens or make a lot of noise so I don't see what the problem is. <snip>

Yes they do. The neigbour cat used our front flowerbed for a litterbox (until we made it a rock garden).

And since we have a cat, the other cat likes to "mark it's territory" at various spots.

There are a number of times when, if I could catch the cat, it would be gone to the shelter.

[Cowperson]

The average outdoor cat has a two year lifespan. The average indoor cat has a roughly 11 year life span.

That should be enough to keep your cat inside.

I used to be one of those people who thought that keeping a cat inside was cruel and unusual punishment. Not so. But there are a lot of people who have trouble accepting that.

We have four cats. All indoor but we do take our handicapped cat outside with us. She needs constant supervision as she doesn't have back feet but, on the other hand, she can't run away so its easy to keep her close. But she catches mice.

Cats don't dig up gardens or make a lot of noise so I don't see what the problem is.

The primary complaint of neighburs is that cats dig up flower beds, gardens and take their dumps there.

Cowperson

[BlackArcher101]

To me cat owners that let their cats roam on their own are just like parents that let the TV do the parenting. Grow some responsibility and don't take the easy way out.

[fredr123]

Cat scat is arguably more insulting the senses than dog poop. The Upstairs Guy's Cat took a dump on our lawn this past summer and I accidentally got some of it on my shoe. It's an odour you can't escape. The only solution was to throw out my shoes. I really liked those shoes...

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Alana Flames

Cats don't dig up gardens or make a lot of noise so I don't see what the problem is.

I just don't know how you can possibly believe that. Unless of course you are also an irresponsible cat owner, who lets their cat run free, and said cat never makes noise or digs up your garden, because by the time it does come hom it's tired from digging and howling.

I used to have a neighbourhood cat that would come onto my deck and howl in the middle of the night. First time I heard it I thought it was a little kid screaming. I ran out of the house to help when I saw it was a cat.

Then once last summer I was out in the yard playing with my rabbit. Then all of a sudden she runs right towards me and climbs up me to get onto my shoulder. Turns out a cat had just jumped onto our fence. Now when we are outside my rabbit won't go more than 2 feet away from me.

Sorry, but the rights of your cat end at your property line, and most certainly your cat has zero rights when it tresspasses on my property. If you want to have cats that roam free, I suggest you buy a farm. Or at least make you yard cat friendly; like this person did.

[foofighter15]

There are a four or so cats on my street that roam freely and some of them mostly stick to their front yard, or just along the side walk. It doesn't bother me until I'm sitting on my front porch and they come over and start annoying me, but even still they are all friendly cats so I don't mind to much.
I think the way to judge is the behavior of the cat. If they were ruining my garden, like bobblehead, then I would say do something about it.
However I live downtown, so I wouldn't think it safe for them (with all the cars)

[Clever_Iggy]

Originally Posted by llama64

Are we entitled to trap stray animals on our property?

I've been wanting to build a catapult lately...

Tuna attracts cats and anti-freeze is odorless to them...

[redforever]

Originally Posted by Alana Flames

Cats know where they live- they always go home.
Cats don't dig up gardens or make a lot of noise so I don't see what the problem is.
I had a cat growing up that would wander all over but always came home, and she really enjoyed being outdoors and exploring. She lived longer and healthier for being able to be outside and get exercise. She also took care of the neighbor's mouse problem.

As for the swimming pools- I'm not sure what you're worried about. Cats don't like water so they wouldn't go in- and if they fell (unlikely) they can swim.

And as for trapping- when i was really little I had another cat which my neighbor caught and killed. Pretty much the most horrible thing to happen to a 4 year old.

Where I live now there are probably two or three cats at least at any given time in my yard- they aren't mine, but they aren't hurting anything so I don't mind at all. You don't have to worry about them getting hurt or lost- cats are more resourceful than you might think.

Then you have never had a stray male cat who regularily, twice a day, made his rounds, and peed on your patio windows. And you have obviously never had the pleasure of smelling that either. And you obviously have never had them doing their business in the beds around your house, another lovely smell, compounded by the fact that nothing will grow there after that either.

And cats can carry salmonella. Do you have young children and do those young children have a sandbox? Guess what cats like to use that sandbox for?

I don't care what kind of pets people have, part of responsible ownership is keeping that pet on their property.

Oh, I forgot to add, that the city will send out a bylaw officer with a trap. Once the cat is trapped, they are the ones who deal with the animal, not you. I would agree that just killing someone else's pet is not very humane and not the proper channel to choose when dealing with the issue.

[llama64]

Originally Posted by redforever

And cats can carry salmonella. Do you have young children and do those young children have a sandbox? Guess what cats like to use that sandbox for?

Not to mention a parasite that attacks the human brain.

As a kid, soon as I found my first cat poop in my sandbox, it lost it's appeal and I never played in it again.

This whole thread is exactly why my cat stays inside. There is no reason for anyone to let their cat roam free outside unless they use them to control rodent populations on their farm. In the city, it's just plain irresponsible and completely disrespectful.

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Sorry, but the rights of your cat end at your property line, and most certainly your cat has zero rights when it tresspasses on my property. If you want to have cats that roam free, I suggest you buy a farm. Or at least make you yard cat friendly; like this person did.

No rights? What do you have against cats? Do you kidnap cats? Is that why you built that garage? Some sort of cat dungeon? A cat dungeon where you make bonsai cats? That's sick Ken, just sick.

[foofighter15]

Originally Posted by Clever_Iggy

Tuna attracts cats and anti-freeze is odorless to them...

HAHAHAHAHAHA! Thanks, now I have coffee to wipe up

[ken0042]

Well, the Bonsai Jellyfish just weren't selling, so..................