New Laser Sight for my Buckmark
- Thread starter markallen
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Auburn1992
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I'm actually interested in how well that thing will hold up.
buck460XVR
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ought to work well on feral cats.
CoRoMo
Member
Tactical Zip-Strip?
on a
Tactical Tabby?
on a
Tactical Tabby?
Thomas Garrett
Member
Gotta get one. A "Tac Cat".
buck460XVR
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Then you are just contributing to the problem. If you REALLY want to help them, put them down or turn them into animal control. Feeding feral cats doesn't stop them from killing, it just makes them more patient and more proficient. Cats are one of the few animals in the world besides humans that kill for the pure pleasure of killing, even when their belly is full, and feral/house cats are the number one predator on native songbirds. Since most strays have not had current vaccinations, feeding multiple feral cats from one dish will only help to hasten the spread of disease and the suffering that goes along with it. Also since most stray/feral cats have not been neutered, feeding them just makes them healthy enough to have more, which escalates the problem.
Sometimes even the best of intentions is not the best of solutions.
I agree with Buck on the feral cats, they're a menace. We live in a semi rural area with a lot of aging farmers who no longer take proper care of their barn cats. On more than one occasion in the past couple of years one of those cats has taken after my little girls.
I contacted the local Sheriff's Office and was told I am well within my rights to kill any animal that threatens my family or my pets. Last week I put the nearest farmer on notice that if he didn't start keeping better tabs on his cats he would be seeing fewer and fewer of them coming home.
I contacted the local Sheriff's Office and was told I am well within my rights to kill any animal that threatens my family or my pets. Last week I put the nearest farmer on notice that if he didn't start keeping better tabs on his cats he would be seeing fewer and fewer of them coming home.
Even domestic cats are often a problem. The leash law here applies to cats and dogs -- NONE can legally run loose. One neighbor complains continuously about his cars being covered in paw prints by the cats next door.
Admittedly, I enjoyed having an outdoor cat 14 years, but will never have another.
Admittedly, I enjoyed having an outdoor cat 14 years, but will never have another.
Gentlemen, although your observations are correct many communities choose to utilize humane methods to reduce and or manage their local feral cat population. From a regional perspective I can see where the treatment of feral cats may differ however in our area we have volunteer groups that feed and care for the 4-5 feral cat colonies within a tri-county area. Cat’s they encounter are captured, tested, neutered/spayed, given shots and released. Cats which test positive for disease and or are evaluated as overly aggressive are humanely euthanized. Capture, neuter and release programs are utilized in many areas of the country and are deemed to be the most financially effective and humane method to manage the feral cat population.
In our specific situation we have enjoyed the company of cats and dogs as pets for most of our lives, the great majority of which were adopted through animal services, humane society or off the street and are indoor pets. As responsible pet owners we do not allow our animals outside without a leash. We had no intention of adding to our family however during the last few years we began to notice a growing number of (abandoned) cats in the area, which were left by owners to fend for themselves. So our choices were to ignore them (8) and allow them to become truly feral, take them down to animal services who would probably assess them as poor candidates for adoption and euthanize them, or take care of them ourselves.
We choose to take care of them ourselves, which included personally paying for their medical care (neutering/spaying, exams, tests, shots, etc.) through our family vet, daily meals and shelter. We’ve spent a good deal of money that we don’t have on animals that don’t belong to us. To add insult to injury, initially it was a reward less task because they no longer trusted people, however over the span of time (almost two years) and with much patience we were able to form a close bond with them just as if they were ours. They have definitely added richness to our lives and we feel we have given them a second chance at life.
Perhaps you’ll consider an alternative course of action the next time you take aim at what you perceive to be a feral cat, the majority of which were once domestic pets abandoned by their owners.
In our specific situation we have enjoyed the company of cats and dogs as pets for most of our lives, the great majority of which were adopted through animal services, humane society or off the street and are indoor pets. As responsible pet owners we do not allow our animals outside without a leash. We had no intention of adding to our family however during the last few years we began to notice a growing number of (abandoned) cats in the area, which were left by owners to fend for themselves. So our choices were to ignore them (8) and allow them to become truly feral, take them down to animal services who would probably assess them as poor candidates for adoption and euthanize them, or take care of them ourselves.
We choose to take care of them ourselves, which included personally paying for their medical care (neutering/spaying, exams, tests, shots, etc.) through our family vet, daily meals and shelter. We’ve spent a good deal of money that we don’t have on animals that don’t belong to us. To add insult to injury, initially it was a reward less task because they no longer trusted people, however over the span of time (almost two years) and with much patience we were able to form a close bond with them just as if they were ours. They have definitely added richness to our lives and we feel we have given them a second chance at life.
Perhaps you’ll consider an alternative course of action the next time you take aim at what you perceive to be a feral cat, the majority of which were once domestic pets abandoned by their owners.
That's all great and good that you and the others in your region are trying to humanely deal with the problem, but we don't have programs like that here. Not only that but the next time I see a feral cat threatening one of my kids I will not have the time to call someone to come out and capture and test the animal only to let it go again still having the same aggressive tendencies it had before it was tested.
So, while I can appreciate your respect for all life and empathy for mistreated animals, I will not put their lives above the safety of my children, EVER.
So, while I can appreciate your respect for all life and empathy for mistreated animals, I will not put their lives above the safety of my children, EVER.
Not even close
"Capture, neuter and release programs are utilized in many areas of the country and are deemed to be the most financially effective and humane method to manage the feral cat population."
No deeming involved here; A 22LR cartridge is a much cheaper and more humane mothod of control as feral cats still fight and maim each each other, as well as domestic pets, even when nuetered and especially when in good health do to your feeding them.
Around these these parts, it is illegal to feed wild/feral animals. But it is not against the law to shoot a feral animal that is being a danger or nuisance.
Perhaps you should check to see if you are breaking the law by feeding them. I am not breaking the law by humanely dispatching them with an inexpensive 22LR cartridge.
"Capture, neuter and release programs are utilized in many areas of the country and are deemed to be the most financially effective and humane method to manage the feral cat population."
No deeming involved here; A 22LR cartridge is a much cheaper and more humane mothod of control as feral cats still fight and maim each each other, as well as domestic pets, even when nuetered and especially when in good health do to your feeding them.
Around these these parts, it is illegal to feed wild/feral animals. But it is not against the law to shoot a feral animal that is being a danger or nuisance.
Perhaps you should check to see if you are breaking the law by feeding them. I am not breaking the law by humanely dispatching them with an inexpensive 22LR cartridge.
buck460XVR
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I don't see how this is any different than the original owners "releasing them back into the wild". First off, feral cats are not a native species anywhere in the United States.......they are a invasive species that has no legitimate place in any natural ecosystem. The amount of small rodents they kill is nill compared to the amount of native songbirds, game birds and other native wildlife they destroy. In our area, according to the local Vet, once you take an animal in, and then take them to the vet for shots, it legally belongs to you. By law, you then need to register it, and if you then release it, you can be arrested and fined the same as the original owner for abandonment and animal abuse.
Again I truly believe your intentions are good, but you are not looking at the big picture.
Have you ever had your two year old grandaughter carry in and show you the new surprise she found buried in her backyard sandbox? Funny those bleeding hearts didn't leave litter boxes out for their "newly released friends".
Have you ever fed native wild songbirds all winter only to find their colorful bodies(less the head) layin' on the ground below the bird feeder? A trademark of a fat feral cat that hunts for pleasure.
Have you ever had to watch a five year old neighbor kid endure the painful series of rabies shots because he was bitten by a stray cat that couldn't be found or identified?
Have you ever watched coyotes pick off feral cats on the neighbor's deck where she had been feeding them at night? Did you know that those same coyotes, along with skunks and possums like the cat food she left out too?
I can answer yes to all of those questions and it's one reason I stand by my statement......
actually it's been kinda fun!
Feanaro
Member
I think my Buckmark is fine without that accessory.
As for feral cats, I volunteered at a wildlife rehabilitation facility for a little while. Number one cause of bird injuries? Cats. Even well fed cats will maim or kill birds. Though I applaud the efforts of the described programs for spaying and neutering cats, I don't think they are being as kind as some people think. I would simply destroy the cats. Killing them prevents damage to native birds, saves the less fortunate ones a lot of misery, and stops breeding as well. In fairness, if I weren't doing that, I would do what the programs mentioned do.
Incidentally, my opinion irked no small number of people at said wildlife center. They usually didn't stick around after we started teaching them to skin rats though.
As for feral cats, I volunteered at a wildlife rehabilitation facility for a little while. Number one cause of bird injuries? Cats. Even well fed cats will maim or kill birds. Though I applaud the efforts of the described programs for spaying and neutering cats, I don't think they are being as kind as some people think. I would simply destroy the cats. Killing them prevents damage to native birds, saves the less fortunate ones a lot of misery, and stops breeding as well. In fairness, if I weren't doing that, I would do what the programs mentioned do.
Incidentally, my opinion irked no small number of people at said wildlife center. They usually didn't stick around after we started teaching them to skin rats though.
Well folks, we all have to do what we feel is right and my intention was not to start a debate. There are strong opinions on both sides of the issue. Perhaps we could all agree on one thing and that this is a man made condition which can be lessened with responsible pet car.
In closing, my apologies to the OP for the off topic direction the thread has taken and my final thoughts about a few questions that were asked.
I would agree that in the event of an immediate threat (man or animal) to you or a family member that you have the right to protect yourself or them, if necessary, with deadly force.
Our strays are not feral; they’re domesticated like most pets you encounter in your neighborhood. They play nice with people and each other. They enjoy being petted and brushed.
We’re not involved with the volunteers that feed the cats in the local feral colonies simply because our 9 cats (7 strays and 2 of our own) keep us busy. We originally had 8 strays, but recently found a good home for one, however 7 is still a handful to take care of.
The volunteer groups who feed the feral cats work in conjunction with county animal services therefore they’re legally feeding the cats. The volunteers feed the cats, catch them and transport them to county animal services for neutering/spaying, testing and shots. Diseased and or aggressive cats are euthanized. Animal services notch the tip of the ear of each cat they treat and release. This helps avoid recapturing the same cat and identifies the new cats in the colony which require treatment. After the cats have been treated the volunteers pick them up and release them back into their colonies.
In closing, my apologies to the OP for the off topic direction the thread has taken and my final thoughts about a few questions that were asked.
I would agree that in the event of an immediate threat (man or animal) to you or a family member that you have the right to protect yourself or them, if necessary, with deadly force.
Our strays are not feral; they’re domesticated like most pets you encounter in your neighborhood. They play nice with people and each other. They enjoy being petted and brushed.
We’re not involved with the volunteers that feed the cats in the local feral colonies simply because our 9 cats (7 strays and 2 of our own) keep us busy. We originally had 8 strays, but recently found a good home for one, however 7 is still a handful to take care of.
The volunteer groups who feed the feral cats work in conjunction with county animal services therefore they’re legally feeding the cats. The volunteers feed the cats, catch them and transport them to county animal services for neutering/spaying, testing and shots. Diseased and or aggressive cats are euthanized. Animal services notch the tip of the ear of each cat they treat and release. This helps avoid recapturing the same cat and identifies the new cats in the colony which require treatment. After the cats have been treated the volunteers pick them up and release them back into their colonies.
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