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What cats do when we’re not looking

theguardian.com

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Re: What cats do when we’re not looking

#41

Post by peanut_worm »

whocares2345 wrote: post #36
peanut_worm wrote: post #26

Please keep your cats inside. Most ecosystems aren’t supposed to have near-apex predators running around killing everything. Outdoor cats kill over 2 billion birds a year.

Ecosystems also aren’t supposed to have uncontrolled prey populations, that are also being fed by humans. And since the number of other bird hunting predators is almost negligible anywhere humans live with their cats, this effectively balances put the lack of all other predators. If the cats wouldn’t kill those 2 billion birds we would drown in their shit and the resulting diseases.

There are lots of bird hunting predators, mostly larger birds.

Do you think native bird populations would spiral out of control if they weren’t killed by cats? That is definitely not true I am not sure where you would have gotten that idea.

Re: What cats do when we’re not looking

#42

Post by JoeAltmaier »

peanut_worm wrote: post #26

Please keep your cats inside. Most ecosystems aren’t supposed to have near-apex predators running around killing everything. Outdoor cats kill over 2 billion birds a year.

That's what cats do. That's how bird populations are kept in check.

A bird nest has what, 4 or 6 eggs? All those hatchlings are pretty much born to die in the first year. Because next year, the bird population is pretty much the same.

Cats can only catch birds when they are plentiful. When the population is back within bounds, cats find birds hard to find. Its a natural feedback cycle, been around for millions of years.

If the cats didn't do it, then most of those birds would starve the first winter. Is that more kind?

It's nice to feel positive thoughts about birds. But don't let that poison your feelings about cats, who are only doing their job.

Re: What cats do when we’re not looking

#43

Post by skhr0680 »

hombre_fatal wrote: post #28
peanut_worm wrote: post #26

Please keep your cats inside. Most ecosystems aren’t supposed to have near-apex predators running around killing everything. Outdoor cats kill over 2 billion birds a year.

That’s a bit cruel. One compromise is to put a small bell on their collar.

It depends on the cat. One of mine figured out her bell was noisy and broke it off every time.

Re: What cats do when we’re not looking

#44

Post by sgt »

tmountain wrote: post #33
peanut_worm wrote: post #26

Please keep your cats inside. Most ecosystems aren’t supposed to have near-apex predators running around killing everything. Outdoor cats kill over 2 billion birds a year.

For those that want to let their cats outside, bird safe collars are a good compromise. https://www.birdsbesafe.com/ I have a cat that's an expert hunter, and he now wears one of those collars daily. The collar has reduced his catch to essentially zero (maybe 1-2 birds / year).

I don't think the cat appreciates wearing one.

Re: What cats do when we’re not looking

#45

Post by skhr0680 »

simion314 wrote: post #32

I can't understand how such intelligent animals get killed by cars. I had young cats killed by cars but also one that was old with years of outside experience.

Like a larger bipedal mammal, they forget to look both ways, or think that that they can make it across in time

Re: What cats do when we’re not looking

#46

Post by throwaway123x2 »

JoeAltmaier wrote: post #42
peanut_worm wrote: post #26

Please keep your cats inside. Most ecosystems aren’t supposed to have near-apex predators running around killing everything. Outdoor cats kill over 2 billion birds a year.

That's what cats do. That's how bird populations are kept in check. A bird nest has what, 4 or 6 eggs? All those hatchlings are pretty much born to die in the first year. Because next year, the bird population is pretty much the same. Cats can only catch birds when they are plentiful. When the population is back within bounds, cats find birds hard to find. Its a natural feedback cycle, been around for millions of yea…

It's not just random birds it's random animals in ecosystems (esp in N America) not designed for predators like cats.

I strongly recommend this book for a deeper understanding: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CO34KU6/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?... There are MANY species that have gone extinct or are approaching extinction because of cats.

Re: What cats do when we’re not looking

#47

Post by toss1 »

lordfrito wrote: post #22
hellbannedguy wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They are predators, but not brainless. I was working on my truck one summer night, and a cat introduced himself by meowing. I immediately thought he was abandoned. I took him to a vet, and no chip. He arrived a few days later with a breakaway collar, and tag. It turned out he was from a wealthy family, but didn't lije the dog. I am very allergic to cats, but this guy tried everything in order to live in my house. Eve…

Totally agree they are way more intelligent than we give them credit for. My cat story, apologies for the length... The setup: Friend has a small bungalow with two rescue cats that never go outdoors. One was from animal cops, rescued from a house with dozens of cats. I've watched the show, cats running everywhere. Cat was totally skittish around people. Usually kept to herself. Never let me pet her. Anyhow one day a…

Yup. Ref the GP post, between the human and the cat, it is more likely the human that is the brainless one. Sure, when cats are just lolling around having fun, they can be pretty silly and even dumb. But when they have an interest in anything don't underestimate them (and don't mistake their lack of motivation in a specific situation for lack of intelligence).

I can't count the number of times I've seen cats try to communicate something that requires multiple levels of understanding like your story - and I'm the dumb one taking what must seem like forever to the cat to figure it out.

If you observe them closely, you will see that they know the house and owners' routines better than they themselves do. For a while when we would watch Netflix then play with the cats before bed - completely different shows, timing, etc. - they would start showing up for playtime just before the ending credits (and we started carefully making sure that we weren't moving before then so cueing themselves). So while it seems that they were ignorant of the show, in fact they were in some ways more tuned in than us, just for their own reasons, not ours.

Don't underestimate cats.

Re: What cats do when we’re not looking

#48

Post by ratww »

peanut_worm wrote: post #26

Please keep your cats inside. Most ecosystems aren’t supposed to have near-apex predators running around killing everything. Outdoor cats kill over 2 billion birds a year.

Keeping the cat inside also dramatically increases the life expectancy of the cat. And it also decreases to almost zero the chance of it catching toxoplasmosis.

Indoor cats don't really care about the outside, so no, it's not cruelty, as long as it's well fed and properly stimulated.

Re: What cats do when we’re not looking

#49

Post by BrianOnHN »

simion314 wrote: post #32

I can't understand how such intelligent animals get killed by cars. I had young cats killed by cars but also one that was old with years of outside experience.

Humans? I mean, pedestrians get killed by cars all the time. So I wouldn't expect cats to be immune to them.

Re: What cats do when we’re not looking

#50

Post by mykowebhn »

JoeAltmaier wrote: post #42
peanut_worm wrote: post #26

Please keep your cats inside. Most ecosystems aren’t supposed to have near-apex predators running around killing everything. Outdoor cats kill over 2 billion birds a year.

That's what cats do. That's how bird populations are kept in check. A bird nest has what, 4 or 6 eggs? All those hatchlings are pretty much born to die in the first year. Because next year, the bird population is pretty much the same. Cats can only catch birds when they are plentiful. When the population is back within bounds, cats find birds hard to find. Its a natural feedback cycle, been around for millions of yea…

Without humans the number of cats in the wild would be vastly lower. Put another way, cat populations are at a level that would not be supported naturally without human intervention. As such, when we let our cats out an inordinate number of birds are "kept in check" as you put it.

This natural feedback cycle has been around for millions of years, just not the human element.

So to repeat: Please keep your cats inside!

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