5 ms·

We just moved here. I saw a Brown Thrasher on my wood pile. Bit of a weird place for one, but cool. Then I saw the neighbor's cat take a flying leap at it.

We just moved here. I saw a Brown Thrasher on my wood pile. Bit of a weird place for one, but cool. Then I saw the neighbor's cat take a flying leap at it. Now I'm thinking it would be irresponsible of me to put out a feeder or attract birds with this cat running around. Which is kind of a big deal for me. I'm trying to work out how to explain to the neighbors that I love cats, but my yard is my yard and I have a right to not have their cat in it killing birds.

aaaaaaaaata 4y ago
They'll probably be working out for a bit how to explain to you that the cat doesn't take specific commands well.
- msrenee 4y ago
  Being as we're in town and there are laws against letting the cat roam free, it would more be a discussion of your cat is chasing birds on my property. Do something about it.
turtledove 4y ago
In most jurisdictions outdoor cats are not allowed. If you can identify the owner of the cat, you can file a complaint. Here in Seattle, if several complaints are filed the person may eventually have to surrender their cat. Don't let your cats outside, folks. They kill wildlife, destroy gardens, and poop everywhere.
- gelert 4y ago
  Speaking from the UK I have to say that is insane. Like all animals, humans included, cats belong outdoors and to deprive them of their natural rhythms is cruel. I agree that we need to think about how to nurture bird populations but keeping cats pent up indoors is wrong - and is reflected by how much worse they behave when that is done.
  - paulryanrogers 4y ago
    Domesticated cats are an artificial phenomena. Birds may adapt eventually, or maybe all that will be left are hawks.
  - turtledove 4y ago
    Letting pet cats outdoors is a clearly anti-social behavior. Cats that are a natural part of the ecosystem are one thing -they belong there. But introducing predators into an ecosystem without thinking through the wide implications is the thing that is insane. Prioritizing the feelings of "my cat" over "all the creatures that will be killed, all the neighbors who will have to clean up after my cat, and all the gardens and bird feeders that will suffer damage" is a mindset that is so selfish and myopic. If you cannot give your cat a quality of life indoors that would not be cruel, you should not own a cat.
    - turtledove 4y ago
      Also, imagine saying this about literally any other animals humans keep. "I just let my dog roam the neighborhood." Or "I just let my horse, chicken, goat, iguana, cockatoo, snake, ferret, etc roam the neighborhood." What? It's absurd on its face. The only reason cats get this treatment is because we've traditionally allowed it.
  - msrenee 4y ago
    https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk491/files/inline-files/Cats-Indoors_or_Outdoors.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjd6KfMvb73AhUbJzQIHembBIIQFnoECD0QAQ&usg=AOvVaw0N6h5ELfiX7gQjKFBdlx1L https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https:/... Sketchy link to a PDF by UC Davis. I was looking for a reference on the average lifespan of an outdoor cat, which I always here quoted around 2.5 years. It's a little write-up on why it's maybe not so nice to let your cat outside. Maybe it's different in the UK, but I've seen a number of drivers speed up and swerve in neighborhood streets to run cats over. It's fucked up, but it's a thing. I remember having classmates in high school that would brag about it. Add every other danger, jumping into a backyard with the wrong dog, parasites, coyotes, and it's not exactly an idyllic stroll even for indoor/outdoor cats. I'm sure dogs aren't allowed to wander the neighborhood in the UK. I would have no problem if they confined their cat to the yard or let her out while supervising. Our two cats are quite fulfilled and pleased with their situation despite only going outside on leash.
- msrenee 4y ago
  I don't want to jump straight to calling animal control. They live right next to us and I intend to live here a long while. Someone else mentioned a device to make it hard to catch birds, which sounds like a good compromise if they insist on letting the cat out.
  - bradknowles 4y ago
    You could also put up fences that would be more cat-resistant.
tmountain 4y ago
Ask if they’d be willing to put a birdsbesafe collar on them as a compromise. I have two outdoor cats, and after making this change the bird kill rate fell to zero.
- kwhitefoot 4y ago
  I can't imagine any of the cats that I have known putting up with a collar like that.
- msrenee 4y ago
  I'll have to look into those! I don't want to be that dick neighbor calling the humane society on them, but they're also being the dick neighbor letting their cat run loose. We're 2 blocks off of a main road and people drive like idiots down our street. It's not a great place for a cat to roam.
asdefghyk 4y ago
Get a cat trap for your yard. Owners are responsible to keep their ped within their yard
- msrenee 4y ago
  I don't think I'd need a trap, she's cautious, but sweet. I plan on seeing if I can just pick her up and bring her over to them and tell them she's been chasing birds in my yard.

aaaaaaaaata 4y ago

They'll probably be working out for a bit how to explain to you that the cat doesn't take specific commands well.

msrenee 4y ago
Being as we're in town and there are laws against letting the cat roam free, it would more be a discussion of your cat is chasing birds on my property. Do something about it.

turtledove 4y ago

In most jurisdictions outdoor cats are not allowed. If you can identify the owner of the cat, you can file a complaint. Here in Seattle, if several complaints are filed the person may eventually have to surrender their cat. Don't let your cats outside, folks. They kill wildlife, destroy gardens, and poop everywhere.

gelert 4y ago
Speaking from the UK I have to say that is insane. Like all animals, humans included, cats belong outdoors and to deprive them of their natural rhythms is cruel. I agree that we need to think about how to nurture bird populations but keeping cats pent up indoors is wrong - and is reflected by how much worse they behave when that is done.
- paulryanrogers 4y ago
  Domesticated cats are an artificial phenomena. Birds may adapt eventually, or maybe all that will be left are hawks.
- turtledove 4y ago
  Letting pet cats outdoors is a clearly anti-social behavior. Cats that are a natural part of the ecosystem are one thing -they belong there. But introducing predators into an ecosystem without thinking through the wide implications is the thing that is insane. Prioritizing the feelings of "my cat" over "all the creatures that will be killed, all the neighbors who will have to clean up after my cat, and all the gardens and bird feeders that will suffer damage" is a mindset that is so selfish and myopic. If you cannot give your cat a quality of life indoors that would not be cruel, you should not own a cat.
  - turtledove 4y ago
    Also, imagine saying this about literally any other animals humans keep. "I just let my dog roam the neighborhood." Or "I just let my horse, chicken, goat, iguana, cockatoo, snake, ferret, etc roam the neighborhood." What? It's absurd on its face. The only reason cats get this treatment is because we've traditionally allowed it.
- msrenee 4y ago
  https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk491/files/inline-files/Cats-Indoors_or_Outdoors.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjd6KfMvb73AhUbJzQIHembBIIQFnoECD0QAQ&usg=AOvVaw0N6h5ELfiX7gQjKFBdlx1L https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https:/... Sketchy link to a PDF by UC Davis. I was looking for a reference on the average lifespan of an outdoor cat, which I always here quoted around 2.5 years. It's a little write-up on why it's maybe not so nice to let your cat outside. Maybe it's different in the UK, but I've seen a number of drivers speed up and swerve in neighborhood streets to run cats over. It's fucked up, but it's a thing. I remember having classmates in high school that would brag about it. Add every other danger, jumping into a backyard with the wrong dog, parasites, coyotes, and it's not exactly an idyllic stroll even for indoor/outdoor cats. I'm sure dogs aren't allowed to wander the neighborhood in the UK. I would have no problem if they confined their cat to the yard or let her out while supervising. Our two cats are quite fulfilled and pleased with their situation despite only going outside on leash.
msrenee 4y ago
I don't want to jump straight to calling animal control. They live right next to us and I intend to live here a long while. Someone else mentioned a device to make it hard to catch birds, which sounds like a good compromise if they insist on letting the cat out.
- bradknowles 4y ago
  You could also put up fences that would be more cat-resistant.

tmountain 4y ago

Ask if they’d be willing to put a birdsbesafe collar on them as a compromise. I have two outdoor cats, and after making this change the bird kill rate fell to zero.

kwhitefoot 4y ago
I can't imagine any of the cats that I have known putting up with a collar like that.
msrenee 4y ago
I'll have to look into those! I don't want to be that dick neighbor calling the humane society on them, but they're also being the dick neighbor letting their cat run loose. We're 2 blocks off of a main road and people drive like idiots down our street. It's not a great place for a cat to roam.

asdefghyk 4y ago

Get a cat trap for your yard. Owners are responsible to keep their ped within their yard

msrenee 4y ago
I don't think I'd need a trap, she's cautious, but sweet. I plan on seeing if I can just pick her up and bring her over to them and tell them she's been chasing birds in my yard.