What many on this thread on saying: Many people own pets as cats. If they treat their pet well enough, at some point the pet will want to give something good back in return. But being cats, they don’t know what we want (cash, luxury goods and etc.) and get for us what they think is a good gift for them.
Cats that take no notice of you anyway? How about trying keep a herding breed dog from herding? Preventing a dog from fetching thrown stuff? Those animals, even though they are domiscated pets, are still following their own natural instincts.
At any rate, I am confused about your question. What does the first part have anything to do with a second part? I can treat them with all kindness and they will still follow their some of thier natural instincts. It’s the norm when you get a pet, isn’t it?
This is getting out of the realm of GQ, isn’t it? My cats definitely notice me. I think you have some problems with cats that would be better addressed in a different thread and forum, no?
Princhester, you obviously dislike cats. Which is fine. The majority of this board, as far as I’ve experienced it, will be accepting of that.
However, that dislike is affecting your ability to comprehend without bias the otherwise pleasant and civil discussion we are having of the habits of the creatures you so dislike.
If you wish to have a disucssion about the right reaction to show when a pet cat brings home a dead creature, join us, but could you try to do it with some semblance of reason and civility?
(Warning: This will involve not suggesting the killing of cats as an option. It may also involve rational thought.)
If you want to rant about your desire to kill cats, or about how much you dislike cat owners and their various reactions to the instincts of their animals, I humbly suggest that you start your own thread over here and piss in it instead. Thank you.
(Translation: Rubystreak is right. Go hate someplace else, this is GQ.)
Actually I very much like cats. I have a very good understanding of them. In a roomful of people, I’m the one they will come to and rub against. There’s no magic in that: I’m sure you cat people know how to do it, it’s just about knowing a bit of basic cat psychology. I grew up with them. Unfortunately I can’t have one at home because at about age 25 I discovered what it was that had been making me sneeze for the last few years And no, that didn’t cause me to dislike them. My nose isn’t their fault. I also won’t have one because they kill too many native birds and animals and I’d prefer to have native birds and animals around, even if that means having to do without a cat.
Having said that, while I like cats, I don’t go ga-ga over them. They’re just cats. I couldn’t give a damn if they don’t like it if I give them negative body language so they get the message that their “offering” is not welcome. I certainly wouldn’t show love and affection over it. I don’t know that doing so is going to stop them, but certainly the cats I’ve had never presented “offerings” much. That may have been because of the cats they were, or may have been due to lack of encouragement, but at least I’m not going to die wondering if maybe my actions lead to more wildlife killing.
And Buckler of Swashing, you’re right: this is GQ. It’s not some MPSIMS love in. If you want to participate in a group hug and mutual cat loving affirmation, I humbly suggest that you start your own thread over there and go emote in it.
If you think I’m hijacking this thread, I’d point out that I joined in long after the actual question had been answered (at least as well as it can be) and I’m no more off topic than everyone else.
Cerberus, sweetie, the idea of “one bowl, one cat” is amusing for about five minutes. We’ve two cats. When I put down the food bowls, our alpha, Sunshine, scarfs down his meal, then rushes over to Lynx’ dish. After a hissing match (“hissy fit”?), Sunshine leisurely finishes his meal. Any other ideas?
When they were younger, my kids asked me why our kind, loving cat would do a thing like mutilate and kill little animals, and I told them that he didn’t know they were alive, he thought they were his toys.
“Okay, Mom, but then why does he put them on the steps?”
“Well, Little Beetle, he plays with his toys until the batteries run out, and then he brings them to us hoping that we will put in new ones.”
That’s fine for you. Some of us appreciate it when our cats do what cats have evolved to do-- kill small animals. When my cats do it, they are doing their job, since they don’t leave the house and anything in this house smaller than they are is not welcome. Since you don’t have a cat, why do you care how we might praise our pets?
You would if your cats caught a 6" rat in your house, I promise you that.
This is a silly response. The OP asked why his serial killer cat was leaving offerings. Posters explained why, and offered suggestions for response; positive reinforcement for behavior you want to encourage, if you want to encourage it, is a valid way to handle the situation, regardless of your personal distaste for dead mouse bits. It has nothing to do with a love-fest for kitties. It has to do with thanks for a job well-done.
I believe it was you who suggested that dead cats can’t bring in offerings. Don’t you think that was a little off-topic? And maybe a bit mean-spirited to boot?
I agree 100% about wanting to have wildlife around. That is part of the reason why I have indoor-only cats. That way, the only animals they kill are inside my house and thus, my cats keep my house vermin-free but don’t harm the environment. Other people do let their cats out, a decision with which I don’t agree but which isn’t part of this thread, really.
A rat trap would do just as good a job. And at least judicious placement and baiting etc of a rat trap means less chance of killing a six inch endangered marsupial rat. Can’t say the same about using a cat for the same job.
And everything other than that was off topic. Something that bothered no one until someone who thinks that cats are great but who doesn’t think the sun shines out of kitty’s ass posted something less than adoring.
Phil: My five cats fought like crazy over a single bowl of food: the single bowl rule stopped this. And I have three of the five in competing dominant mode. I use small servings though. They all have enough time to eat theirs without anyone else taking it.
You might feed your alpha separately from the others.
Endangered marsupial rat? Don’t reckon we have those around here. Is it wrong of me to prefer having cats in my house to poison or traps? I don’t think so. Rat traps don’t snuggle up to you on those chilly evenings, or greet you with a purr when you come home. My cats fulfill multiple roles in my life.
I don’t understand what your problem is, really. Relax, or read a different thread. Report the thread to a mod for closing. Why take a piss in it?
I have two problems, both the same. The first is that I don’t like being told to leave a thread because I express an unpopular opinion. The second is that I don’t like to be told I am “pissing in a thread” because I express an unpopular opinion.
I have no power to tell you to leave a thread, but you are getting a little bit hostile. People are talking about their pets, asking why they dismember animals. If that’s going to get you all fired up, why do it in GQ? As for your “unpopular opinion,” isn’t there a forum for opinions? If you can’t discuss the feline behavior brought up by the OP without talking about how people’s pets would be better dead, then I’d think this ain’t the thread for you, but hey, knock yourself out.
I’m sick of this. If you have anything else to add regarding cats, add it. I have no interest in discussing me or my posting style here. If you do, take it to the pit. You may want to examine this whole thread with an objective eye and consider who said and did what when first, though.
I do actually have a question about serial killer cats not yet addressed. My cat Shadow is somehow able to remove organs from his prey, intact, for display. How does he do that? Those organs (usually the heart and lungs) are tiny (he does this to field mice, who are about 2-3" long) and he is removing them via the decapitated head hole, not an incision, using his claws, not a scalpel. This is precision work. Anyone know hot cats manage that? It’s pretty crazy.
And no, that didn’t cause me to dislike them. My nose isn’t their fault. I also won’t have one because they kill too many native birds and animals and I’d prefer to have native birds and animals around, even if that means having to do without a cat.