27 April 2011

They're coming for your cat!

| johnboy
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Chief Minister Stanhope has put out an ominous media release for cat owners which seems to be foreshadowing even tougher restrictions for Canberra’s moggies.

The ACT Government will soon commence a survey of around 1,200 residents to gather community attitudes on responsible cat ownership, Chief Minister and Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Jon Stanhope, said today.

“The survey aims to gather information on about cat registration and microchipping, control of feral and stray cats, containment of domestic cats and wildlife and bushland conservation,” Mr Stanhope said.

“Three groups of residents will be surveyed – non-cat owners, cat-owners and residents of cat containment suburbs such as Forde and Bonner. The results will help us develop and implement policies related to domestic and stray cats.”

The random phone survey will be undertaken during May. The questions have been developed in collaboration with partner organisations including the Australian National University, the RSPCA and the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), which is also providing the survey funding.

One hopes this is not going to be payback for Hargreaves’ cat getting our fireworks banned.

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colourful sydney racing identity said :

Ceej1973 said :

Seems like a pretty short sighted environmental survey to me. Why not cover all feral animals in the survey to include foxes, mice, rabbits, dogs, etc? I could give them feed back about all the above. And what of those nasty Myna birds? What is the Government doing about them? Cats are well known to cover wide spread damage to the wildlife, but they also attract the attention of the toughies who want them all killed just because, and the animal cruelty mob who cry poor birdies. While we are at it, lets do a survey on feral motor vehicles that run over thousands of kangaroos in Canberra each year, many left to die in pain, as well as the un-countable numbers of other native animals and roaming cats and dogs.

My guess would be that is because people generally don’t own foxes, myna birds and kangaroos; those who own rabbits and mice probably don’t let them wander around the neighborhood during the day and there are already strict regulations regarding dogs.

+1

It’s a responsible cat ownership survey, not an environmental survey.
When debating with friends who own cats why my dog shouldn’t be allowed to roam the neighborhood doing as it pleases on other people’s property, their excuse is that cats like to roam and can jump their fence. Um, so can my dog, it’s still against the law. I don’t think the problem is with cats specifically, any more than say pet snakes, spiders, crocodiles etc. If you want the animal, keep the thing on your property and away from the property/children/pets of others and wildlife. If you can’t do that, you shouldn’t have one. The problem, as the survey suggests is the lack of responsible pet ownership by SOME pet owners, and the community response to this as a whole.

colourful sydney racing identity9:35 am 28 Apr 11

Ceej1973 said :

Seems like a pretty short sighted environmental survey to me. Why not cover all feral animals in the survey to include foxes, mice, rabbits, dogs, etc? I could give them feed back about all the above. And what of those nasty Myna birds? What is the Government doing about them? Cats are well known to cover wide spread damage to the wildlife, but they also attract the attention of the toughies who want them all killed just because, and the animal cruelty mob who cry poor birdies. While we are at it, lets do a survey on feral motor vehicles that run over thousands of kangaroos in Canberra each year, many left to die in pain, as well as the un-countable numbers of other native animals and roaming cats and dogs.

My guess would be that is because people generally don’t own foxes, myna birds and kangaroos; those who own rabbits and mice probably don’t let them wander around the neighborhood during the day and there are already strict regulations regarding dogs.

In response to those who have posted replies suggesting doggy doors with “electronic keys” so only the dog can come in – I have read enough material on these to doubt that they are effective, i.e. other animals can inexplicably still find their way in.

I may try the trap option, check the tag if it exists and leave it on the owners doorstep – maybe with a new peroxided and shaved hair style.

We were not visited last night as far as I am aware, although the unsettled toddler at 3am would probably put anyone off from sticking around too long!

shadow boxer8:04 am 28 Apr 11

Ceej1973 said :

Seems like a pretty short sighted environmental survey to me. Why not cover all feral animals in the survey to include foxes, mice, rabbits, dogs, etc? I could give them feed back about all the above. And what of those nasty Myna birds? What is the Government doing about them? Cats are well known to cover wide spread damage to the wildlife, but they also attract the attention of the toughies who want them all killed just because, and the animal cruelty mob who cry poor birdies. While we are at it, lets do a survey on feral motor vehicles that run over thousands of kangaroos in Canberra each year, many left to die in pain, as well as the un-countable numbers of other native animals and roaming cats and dogs.

The Myna bird people are doing a pretty good job with their traps. I’m not sure what you are saying here, we shouldn’t do anything about cats because cars kill kangaroos ?

It’s the era of personal responsibility for your actions, if you must have a cat (or dog or deck), control it on your property.

Holditz said :

Who will speak for drain cat?

Home made explosives down the drain – its the only way to be sure.

Holden Caulfield11:50 pm 27 Apr 11

Ceej1973 said :

Seems like a pretty short sighted environmental survey to me. Why not cover all feral animals in the survey to include foxes, mice, rabbits, dogs, etc? I could give them feed back about all the above. And what of those nasty Myna birds? What is the Government doing about them? Cats are well known to cover wide spread damage to the wildlife, but they also attract the attention of the toughies who want them all killed just because, and the animal cruelty mob who cry poor birdies. While we are at it, lets do a survey on feral motor vehicles that run over thousands of kangaroos in Canberra each year, many left to die in pain, as well as the un-countable numbers of other native animals and roaming cats and dogs.

Cool, when did Riot ACT get a common sense flap installed on its laundry door?

Seems like a pretty short sighted environmental survey to me. Why not cover all feral animals in the survey to include foxes, mice, rabbits, dogs, etc? I could give them feed back about all the above. And what of those nasty Myna birds? What is the Government doing about them? Cats are well known to cover wide spread damage to the wildlife, but they also attract the attention of the toughies who want them all killed just because, and the animal cruelty mob who cry poor birdies. While we are at it, lets do a survey on feral motor vehicles that run over thousands of kangaroos in Canberra each year, many left to die in pain, as well as the un-countable numbers of other native animals and roaming cats and dogs.

@ Evil-Kitten said:

““and residents of cat containment suburbs such as Forde and Bonner”

What the hell does this mean? What’s a “cat containment suburb”?”
—————————————————————————–
It means that cats in these suburbs are required to be contained on the owner’s property – in practice, indoor cats or enclosed cat runs only.

Ahh! We need the cats, haven’t you heard there is a mice and rat plague.

Captain RAAF said :

“I’m free!”

Well, perhaps a little open-minded…

madamcholet said :

I would welcome a push on responsible cat ownership. We have a cat that comes through our puppy door and eats our dogs’ dinner most nights. Sometimes he spends the night in the house and shoots out when the household starts to wake up and move about. It has peered around the doorways to have a look at what we are doing and assess it’s welcomeness. Not being cat people, we are not very welcoming, however we do recognise that its probably not getting what it needs from its actual owners poor bugger.

Our dog is twelve and whilst still very active, he doesn’t want to be bothered by annoying cats any more. Most of the time he doesn’t hear it until it has exited.

Apart from shutting the door, we have no answers as to how to keep the damn thing out. We were recently away for a week and locked the door, but on our first night back, there it was again, helping itself to dinner. Any suggestions welcome. Thinking of trying to catch it and then take it back to the owners the owners if it is tagged with a message to keep it out of our way, or take it to the RSPCA. At least people who get animals from the RSPCA want them and may be more responsible.

you can install a pet door so that it only moves (either enter or exit) for your pet – activated by the collar on your dog.

Hang on – the “Animals Cooperative Research Centre” is funding the survey? And the partners are the ANU and the RSPCA? Even the title of the survey – community attitudes on RESPONSIBLE cat ownership – is skewed. It will be interesting to see whether the methodology and questions are made public.

“and residents of cat containment suburbs such as Forde and Bonner”

What the hell does this mean? What’s a “cat containment suburb”?

Captain RAAF6:54 pm 27 Apr 11

colourful sydney racing identity said :

About time. Having lived next to a crazy cat man I would support any moves to regulate cat ownership.

Oh, and *paging Captain RAAF*

“I’m free!”

georgesgenitals6:23 pm 27 Apr 11

bugmenot said :

madamcholet said :

however we do recognise that its probably not getting what it needs from its actual owners poor bugger.

Don’t be a fool.

Cats roam and eat everywhere because they can. It’s got nothing at all to do with a lack of care from it’s slaves/owners.

My advice would be to bring your dog inside, lock the doggy door and get a cat trap from Domestic Animal Services. Once said feline is inside the cage, call em up and the animal will be impounded and the owner will be up for $$$ to get it back.

Rinse and repeat a few times until the owner gets the message and a substantially lightened pocket.

Forget taking it to animal services. Once it’s caught, shave most of its hair, leaving a mane and a furry tip of the tail. Some peroxide in streaks give it the needed stripes.

It will scare the shit out of its owners.

Holditz said :

Who will speak for drain cat?

The same cats lie in the same drain every day, and the ACT animal regulation people don’t seem to be able to catch them. So I am not particularly worried about them coming after my moggie.

Gungahlin Al said :

bugmenot said :

My advice would be to bring your dog inside, lock the doggy door and get a cat trap from Domestic Animal Services. Once said feline is inside the cage, call em up and the animal will be impounded and the owner will be up for $$$ to get it back.

Rinse and repeat a few times until the owner gets the message and a substantially lightened pocket.

Except that one must travel down to Mugga Way to collect said trap – on a weekday. Very convenient…

Keijidosha: would if I could, but at 3am the mongrels tend to be a little quicker than me.

The pound is open on Saturdays as well, and you can hire cat traps from the RSPCA, Kennards hire and assorted other places.

You can also buy pet doors that need a “key” to open them, usually a magnetic disc that is put on your pets collar. Other animals can’t then come through the pet flap.

colourful sydney racing identity3:29 pm 27 Apr 11

Gungahlin Al said :

Except that one must travel down to Mugga Way to collect said trap – on a weekday. Very convenient…

Well, if you aren’t willing to do that you really can’t be too concerned.

Gungahlin Al2:39 pm 27 Apr 11

bugmenot said :

My advice would be to bring your dog inside, lock the doggy door and get a cat trap from Domestic Animal Services. Once said feline is inside the cage, call em up and the animal will be impounded and the owner will be up for $$$ to get it back.

Rinse and repeat a few times until the owner gets the message and a substantially lightened pocket.

Except that one must travel down to Mugga Way to collect said trap – on a weekday. Very convenient…

Keijidosha: would if I could, but at 3am the mongrels tend to be a little quicker than me.

colourful sydney racing identity2:36 pm 27 Apr 11

bugmenot said :

madamcholet said :

however we do recognise that its probably not getting what it needs from its actual owners poor bugger.

Don’t be a fool.

Cats roam and eat everywhere because they can. It’s got nothing at all to do with a lack of care from it’s slaves/owners.

My advice would be to bring your dog inside, lock the doggy door and get a cat trap from Domestic Animal Services. Once said feline is inside the cage, call em up and the animal will be impounded and the owner will be up for $$$ to get it back.

Rinse and repeat a few times until the owner gets the message and a substantially lightened pocket.

Seconded.

madamcholet said :

however we do recognise that its probably not getting what it needs from its actual owners poor bugger.

Don’t be a fool.

Cats roam and eat everywhere because they can. It’s got nothing at all to do with a lack of care from it’s slaves/owners.

My advice would be to bring your dog inside, lock the doggy door and get a cat trap from Domestic Animal Services. Once said feline is inside the cage, call em up and the animal will be impounded and the owner will be up for $$$ to get it back.

Rinse and repeat a few times until the owner gets the message and a substantially lightened pocket.

Holden Caulfield said :

Buzz2600 said :

Given the general ignorance of the impact of cats on native animal populations, whats the point of a random questionnaire? Just get on with the job of eradicating them before there’s no native animals left.

I would have though the affect of human intervention some 50-60 years ago on what is now my nice comfortable and socially acceptable suburban block has had more impact on local flora and fauna than the cat population.

Yep, totally agree. But I somehow doubt that Stanhope will ever advocate for the eradiction of urban sprawl and/or feral humans so, I’ll settle for the eradication of wandering cats instead.

Gungahlin Al, if the cats are on your property you should shoo them away with a large blunt object, propelled with force.

wildturkeycanoe1:41 pm 27 Apr 11

The only use for feral/free roam cats would be mouse patrol during this epidemic of rodents. Yet, I agree with many here they should be banned or at least restrained from escaping their owner’s yards. I got sick and tired of hearing the caterwauling outside our bedroom window at 1am and finding their filth lying all over our backyard where our kids could catch whatever wonderful worms they carry.
Not to worry though, “Wolfie” now keeps them out, and the mice too!!

I would welcome a push on responsible cat ownership. We have a cat that comes through our puppy door and eats our dogs’ dinner most nights. Sometimes he spends the night in the house and shoots out when the household starts to wake up and move about. It has peered around the doorways to have a look at what we are doing and assess it’s welcomeness. Not being cat people, we are not very welcoming, however we do recognise that its probably not getting what it needs from its actual owners poor bugger.

Our dog is twelve and whilst still very active, he doesn’t want to be bothered by annoying cats any more. Most of the time he doesn’t hear it until it has exited.

Apart from shutting the door, we have no answers as to how to keep the damn thing out. We were recently away for a week and locked the door, but on our first night back, there it was again, helping itself to dinner. Any suggestions welcome. Thinking of trying to catch it and then take it back to the owners the owners if it is tagged with a message to keep it out of our way, or take it to the RSPCA. At least people who get animals from the RSPCA want them and may be more responsible.

Gungahlin Al1:08 pm 27 Apr 11

While riding home along Well Station Track the other night, I found three local cats there in the grass hunting, all roaming over from the adjacent Harrison houses.

So cat owners cannot tell me their animals don’t have an impact on wildlife.

We have a cat, and it stays inside, with access to a high-walled courtyard only. Peeves me no end the neighbours’ cats that come into our yard at night and end up having fights through the glass with our understandably upset cat.

georgesgenitals1:06 pm 27 Apr 11

Thoroughly Smashed said :

Ban pets. It’s the only thing for it really.

That goldfish you thought was dead and so flushed down the toilet when you were a wee kiddie? It’s terrorising the swans on LBG as we speak (type?).

Only if you flushed it in Queanbeyan…

Thoroughly Smashed12:45 pm 27 Apr 11

Ban pets. It’s the only thing for it really.

That goldfish you thought was dead and so flushed down the toilet when you were a wee kiddie? It’s terrorising the swans on LBG as we speak (type?).

Holditz said :

Who will speak for drain cat?

Mr Stanhope will no doubt declare the Drain Cats illegal. That’ll learn them.

Holden Caulfield11:32 am 27 Apr 11

Buzz2600 said :

Given the general ignorance of the impact of cats on native animal populations, whats the point of a random questionnaire? Just get on with the job of eradicating them before there’s no native animals left.

I would have though the affect of human intervention some 50-60 years ago on what is now my nice comfortable and socially acceptable suburban block has had more impact on local flora and fauna than the cat population.

Who will speak for drain cat?

I shot quite a few cats back in the days when I used to go around shooting things. Best thing for them really. And the same goes for foxes, rabbits, pigs and goats. They’re a terrible plague on the fragile ecosystems in this tired old land.

colourful sydney racing identity11:10 am 27 Apr 11

About time. Having lived next to a crazy cat man I would support any moves to regulate cat ownership.

Oh, and *paging Captain RAAF*

Given the general ignorance of the impact of cats on native animal populations, whats the point of a random questionnaire? Just get on with the job of eradicating them before there’s no native animals left.

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