4 ms·

We have the same issue in DC (even in government buildings) and desperately need a solution. I keep wondering if we can just go old school/Istanbulian and have

We have the same issue in DC (even in government buildings) and desperately need a solution. I keep wondering if we can just go old school/Istanbulian and have more community cats, which I think would be enjoyable anyways but may end up producing some different problems.

jncfhnb 3y ago
Cats don’t work against big urban rats
- LeafItAlone 3y ago
  The solution then is obviously bigger cats
  - solardev 3y ago
    Or tastier rats
    - jncfhnb 3y ago
      It’s not a lack of interest. They’re just hard to catch and fairly dangerous.
  - havblue 3y ago
    Obligatory Simpsons reference on how to get rid of pigeons with lizards. Skinner: Well, I was wrong; the lizards are a godsend. Lisa: But isn't that a bit short-sighted? What happens when we're overrun by lizards? Skinner: No problem. We simply release wave after wave of Chinese needle snakes. They'll wipe out the lizards. Lisa: But aren't the snakes even worse? Skinner: Yes, but we're prepared for that. We've lined up a fabulous type of gorilla that thrives on snake meat. Lisa: But then we're stuck with gorillas! Skinner: No, that's the beautiful part. When wintertime rolls around, the gorillas simply freeze to death.
- zelias 3y ago
  Clearly the time has come to introduce a large number of rat-eating snakes to the underground urban ecosystem
mschuster91 3y ago
Fix the food supply and the rats will go away.
- cj 3y ago
  Picture of trash bags on the streets in NYC. Not sure if this is the primary food source, but it certainly can't help. I've never been in a city that routinely piles as much trash on public sidewalks as NYC. (The picture below is common to see, sadly it's not a journalist picking the worst image they can find) https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2022/03/22/trash-city-new-york-is-filthy-and-the-fault-is-government-inertia https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2022/03/22/trash-city-new-york-i...
  - sandworm101 3y ago
    It is specific to new York. They don't have back alleys with dumpsters. Everything is left out on the curb in bags for pickup daily.
  - TremendousJudge 3y ago
    I heard that they don't have trash containers like other cities because it would take away parking space. Is there truth to this claim?
    - pclmulqdq 3y ago
      The first part yes, the second part mostly no. It would be an immensely complicated project, well into the 10s of billions, to do this in New York, and most New Yorkers actually don't mind living in filth. As a project, it will take a mix of parking, road space, sidewalk space, and bike lanes.
    - Jensson 3y ago
      The trash would take up less space if it was in a container, so I don't think that argument makes sense. Container is probably cheaper as well since it is less work to empty. Just looked at New York in street view and I see trash bags lying on the streets taking up parking spots, a small container would take up less space.
IIAOPSW 3y ago
NYC already has this. Its called a "bodega kitty". As in the cat that the owners of the local bodega (corner store) keep on premise for exactly this purpose.

jncfhnb 3y ago

Cats don’t work against big urban rats

LeafItAlone 3y ago
The solution then is obviously bigger cats
- solardev 3y ago
  Or tastier rats
  - jncfhnb 3y ago
    It’s not a lack of interest. They’re just hard to catch and fairly dangerous.
- havblue 3y ago
  Obligatory Simpsons reference on how to get rid of pigeons with lizards. Skinner: Well, I was wrong; the lizards are a godsend. Lisa: But isn't that a bit short-sighted? What happens when we're overrun by lizards? Skinner: No problem. We simply release wave after wave of Chinese needle snakes. They'll wipe out the lizards. Lisa: But aren't the snakes even worse? Skinner: Yes, but we're prepared for that. We've lined up a fabulous type of gorilla that thrives on snake meat. Lisa: But then we're stuck with gorillas! Skinner: No, that's the beautiful part. When wintertime rolls around, the gorillas simply freeze to death.
zelias 3y ago
Clearly the time has come to introduce a large number of rat-eating snakes to the underground urban ecosystem

mschuster91 3y ago

Fix the food supply and the rats will go away.

cj 3y ago
Picture of trash bags on the streets in NYC. Not sure if this is the primary food source, but it certainly can't help. I've never been in a city that routinely piles as much trash on public sidewalks as NYC. (The picture below is common to see, sadly it's not a journalist picking the worst image they can find) https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2022/03/22/trash-city-new-york-is-filthy-and-the-fault-is-government-inertia https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2022/03/22/trash-city-new-york-i...
- sandworm101 3y ago
  It is specific to new York. They don't have back alleys with dumpsters. Everything is left out on the curb in bags for pickup daily.
- TremendousJudge 3y ago
  I heard that they don't have trash containers like other cities because it would take away parking space. Is there truth to this claim?
  - pclmulqdq 3y ago
    The first part yes, the second part mostly no. It would be an immensely complicated project, well into the 10s of billions, to do this in New York, and most New Yorkers actually don't mind living in filth. As a project, it will take a mix of parking, road space, sidewalk space, and bike lanes.
  - Jensson 3y ago
    The trash would take up less space if it was in a container, so I don't think that argument makes sense. Container is probably cheaper as well since it is less work to empty. Just looked at New York in street view and I see trash bags lying on the streets taking up parking spots, a small container would take up less space.

IIAOPSW 3y ago

NYC already has this. Its called a "bodega kitty". As in the cat that the owners of the local bodega (corner store) keep on premise for exactly this purpose.