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this post was submitted on 17 Sep 2023
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I keep my cats indoors to keep them healthy and safe, and prevent the decimation of local birds.
Does the bird decimation happens in the wilderness too? When birds have trees enough to hide? The cats we've had very rarely brought birds home. I think our livingroom windows have taken out more birds than our cats ever did. They brought back mouse often instead.
So my guess is that it is also the lack of cat-safe hiding spots that get small birds killed in cities. Not all birds are able to stay on roofs when its a bit of wind. And cats can easier sneak up buildings than out on a thin tree branch.
Cats are an invasive species in much of the world. They've driven species of birds, mamals, and reptiles to extinction, and many more to the brink.
If someone let's their cats run loose outside, they are an irresponsible pet owner. Not to mention the risk of the cat(s) being hit by a car or mauled by a dog or something. Bonus irresponsibility if one let's non-spayed/neutered cats roam free and lead to more invasive strays.
Cats are very effective and sadistic predators who kill for fun. Keep them contained and instead of contributing to a the decimation of birds and small wildlife in your area. (Meaning the universal you btw, not directing this at you personally!)
Cats kill many billions of birds annually just for fun whether there are trees or not.
You only really need to do that in spring when there's loads of baby birds about. Birds are pretty good at evading predators, just don't feed birds in your garden if you have a cat.
Not sure it's healthy to keep an animal locked inside for all of its life. I rescued my cat from some nutter who had 20 cats in a flat. The charity wouldn't let me take her without a home visit to check it was a suitable home.
You can also have them supervised outside or on a leash. You're presenting this as a false choice between two options: keep them locked up forever, or let them roam unsupervised.
There are ways to be a responsible cat owner. Letting them decimate local birds, reptiles and small mamals is irresponsible.
Also, allowing pets to wonder and be hit by cars is very irresponsible pet ownership as well. I get so pissed off at whoever the guardian was any time I see a cat or dog hit on the side of the road (happens too often around here). If someone let's their animal wonder freely and it's struck/lost/killed, the pet's guardian is fully responsible.
"My cat/dog knows better.." Yeah, until they don't and they're dead....
Maybe you could choose a pet more suited to your environment instead of having what you want
My roommate had a Persian that wasn't allowed out unless on a leash. It tried to hang itself at the first opportunity.
Then maybe don't have a cat if you can't care for it properly?
Mine lived to 18 and I only had her put down because she went blind and the vet advised to.
Maybe get a pet that suits your home?
We took the ability to live in the wild away from them, now it's our responsibility to keep them safe.
Safe from what? they're an urban apex predator
Vehicles mostly, but also predators that are larger than them. I live in what is essentially an urban forest and cats absolutely get picked off by larger predators. Domestic cats are only predators to small, essential ecosystems now.
True. I grew up in a village and cats got ran over often. I live in town now and rarely see it. Town cats are different, one sits in the middle of the roundabout near me and stares down every dog, car or pedestrian lol