Our cat has killed countless rabbits, mice, rats, quail, and doves.
When the coyotes get him, it’s just the way that it goes. I won’t look for him very long when he is missing.
Yup, there are coyote everywhere these days.
We aquired a declawed cat when he was about ten years old by the vet’s best guess. He went outdoors with the other cats - and two dogs - for the next eight years, right up until he died in his sleep.
We don’t have outdoor cats any more because the current two came to us as housecats, but we never had much problems when multiple cats went out (daytime only). Ours at least wandered less when they had company. Even with claws, I don’t like the idea of a single cat being outside unsupervised.
Let me rephrase that: "If you aren’t going to let them out, don’t have a cat!"
I hope you are joking.
We don’t have coyotes here, and I doubt you would find any vet. who would be prepared to declaw a cat at all. RCVS says it’s unethical.
I suspect not.
Based on his location he’s British and as we’ve discussed on this board before, there is a wide cultural gap on this question. This includes professional opinions. British behaviorists tout the increased mental health/decreased behavioral problems of cats that are allowed to go outdoors and many British shelters will not allow you to adopt a cat unless you have a yard or garden to let your cat out into.
Meanwhile many/most urban American shelters will refuse to allow you to adopt unless you promise to keep your cat indoors and American behaviorists cite the longer lifespans and better health of indoor cats, while arguing that properly stimulated they are just as mentally healthy.
Does Britain have some kind of plague of native songbirds?
Sailboat
I’m American, but I can’t fathom the idea of an indoor only cat.
http://www.songbird-survival.org.uk/predators/domestic-and-feral-cats/
and ( warning, pdf )…
It appears Grey Squirrels are actually about the worst songbird predator in the UK, followed by ferals.
The indoor-only position tends to be more a dense urban area/suburb thing. Obviously folks used to barn cats would look at the issue differently.
We have two indoor only siamese. They are very happy, but then I gave them their own room with a kitty jungle gym in it.
Mrs.P would never let them out of the house, we live in the woods and they would certainly be yote lunch if we did.
Try an outdoor cat here in Manhattan and see how long it lasts.
Oh, and:
Classy.
Your cat is catching Quail? Where do you live?
Here we go again…
People who live in cities just don’t understand that everyone has different circumstances. Why would I not let my cats out during the day? It’s over 1/4 mile to the nearest paved road, our dogs (and the neighbors’ dogs) don’t bother them, they love it outside, and I never see large predators in the daytime.
But still we get the misguided “I live in the city and if you don’t behave like I do you’re WRONG!!!11!!one!” posts every time this subject comes up.
We’re not all you, DrDeth, and we don’t all live where you do. You don’t have to try and force your “rules” down our throats.
8 cats, all claws, 7 were drops or going feral (chicken shit city slickers)(all neutered) . Out during day and penned during night. We got coons, coyotes, bobcats, big asses owls, eagles and city slickers that drive too fast on gravel roads despite signs and speed limits. Lot of trees to climb to safety. We feed foxes. They ignore the cats and vice - versa. Sit within 10 feet of each other on a regular basis. So far so good…
We have lost one cat to a neighbors gun, Grrrrr
And one kitten to an owl in a freak situation.
Coyotes out west (AR here.) and in more open areas are much more likely to come close in the day time. More food here in general that is easier to catch than a cat up a tree.
Also, 99% of locals shoot at coyotes on sight so they are very wary… (I like coyotes, only quick draw on armdillos…)
YMMV
I have no problem with people who live in an area where letting the cat out is safe and harmless.
I do not, so I have a strictly-indoor cat. I dislike the idea that I am worthy of criticism any more than those cat-owners who can and do let their cats outside. I live in an apartment complex on a busy road; it just isn’t feasible for me to let my cat out and have a reasonable expectation that he will be safe.
He was on his way to animal control (where he would have been put down within two weeks) when I adopted him. I certainly hope that even if I’m adversely affecting his “quality of life,” he’s better off alive and indoors than dead.
Living out here in the boonies, we often have semi-feral cats around to keep the mice population from overrunning us. Occasionally, a coyote gets one. We don’t have much of a problem with coyotes at our place because of our big yellow Labs – coyotes just don’t want to mess with something that big – and because there’s a lot of people activity around. There are happier hunting grounds just the other side of the interstate highway.
Southern New Mexico. Gambel’s quail.
I made an exception to working barn cats. If you area is suffienctly rural that your cats fit loosely in that category, then fine.
There are predators in Montana that would happily snack on a cat, however.
Note that a while ago one of our 100% indoor cats passed- at the age of 20 and 6 months, all of which were happy and contented.
Probably not, unless they were cornered, and I think one-on-one they might even acquit themselves. The point is, a couple salukis did not worry the coyotes a bit. BFD did.
Possibly out of consideration for the ground-nesting birds in your area.