Another reason to keep your cat indoors...

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

I couldn't believe this. A neighbor came by while I was working in my yard today, told me she was looking for her cat (who had been missing for weeks). She said she thought this other neighbor, a guy who lives down the block, might have trapped him. Seems this guy was setting a live trap in his back yard, baiting it with catnip, and taking the trapped cats to a park on the other side of town and setting them loose. He did this to one of his next door neighbor's cats (who he knew belonged to that neighbor), but they got the cat back after a few weeks because he was microchipped. The trap is gone now (somebody stole it). It just amazes me that somebody would do this. The guy doesn't like cats in his yard because they catch birds, so he just takes them away. The woman who told me this said the guy is a fundie who believes people have dominion over all animals so he can do what he wants with them. (He also bragged about having killed 70 squirrels this year.)

What a douchebag.

[Scout]

1. you should keep your cat indoors anyway....

unless you live on a farm.

Sorry, no sympathy here. Keep your cat out of his yard and he can't trap it.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. Exactly my point.

My guys stay inside, for a lot of reasons (cars, dogs, other cats, asshole neighbors), and I wish all the others would too. But the fact that some people let their cats wander around the neighborhood doesn't justify what this guy does.

[IndyOp]

3. Agreed.

I had a friend who lived in the county - big yards. She used to let her well-behaved old dog outside in her unfenced backyard. The dog always stayed in its own backyard - except one day when it wandered over to the neighbor's backyard and the neighbor shot & killed it. When confronted, the neighbor shrugged and said 'but it was in my backyard' -- :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf:

[BrklynLiberal]

6. If that neighbor ever set foot on my property I would have shot him

in the crotch and then said the same thing.... x(
What a disgusting "thing". I cannot call it a human being...as I choose to reserve that term for a higher life form than that creature.
It sounds like it just enjoys cruelty and torture and killing. I would keep an eye on a neighbor like that to see when it stops limiting its cruelty to neighborhood animals.

I hope it meets the karma it deserves.

[Scout]

4. I don't have a problem with him trapping them.

He shouldn't just take them and release them somewhere else though.

He should take them to the pound if he's going to trap them.

[RebelOne]

8. Taking them to the pound would be a worst alternative.

They wouldn't have a chance then. They would be euthanized.

[Scout]

9. If they are wearing collar and tag, or are microchipped...

then they won't be immediately euthanized. Then their owners can claim them. If they can be adopted, they'll be put up for same.

If they are feral, they'll be euthanized as un-adobtable.

I still don't have a problem with it.

[wildeyed]

10. I dunno.

The pound in my community is severely underfunded. They euthanize household pets who owners are coming for them on a semi-regular basis just because they are understaffed and disorganized. When I find a stray, I never take them there. I keep them until I find the owner, or until I find a good home.

[friesianrider]

14. Some shelters don't check for microchips..

Yes they are supposed to, but I know many that don't. And especially with cats, collars and tags are easy to slip off, since outdoor access cats almost always are wearing the breakaway collars.

This guy has no right to do this, period.

[Scout]

16. yes, he does.

if they are ferals, no one "owns" them.

if they are pets, they are not supposed to be in his yard.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

17. If they are pets they belong to someone else.

And if he takes them he is stealing. He can chase them out of his yard if he doesn't want them there. This asshole "relocated" his next-door neighbor's cat, who he recognized, instead of returning the cat to the neighbor. He could have just told the neighbor to keep the cat out of the yard. Animals are not "things." That poor cat got dumped in a park halfway across town, was probable scared and hungry for days, and was just lucky to have been found and returned because of the microchip. I agree that it's better to keep cats inside, but there's no justification for what this prick did.

[friesianrider]

19. You're absolutely right.

And even with feral cats, it is considered by everyone cruel to trap them and dump them somewhere else. I care for 7 feral cats and you'd better believe I love them like my own indoor pets - just because they don't let me get very close to them doesn't matter. Who the hell decides what is technically a pet and what isn't?

All this prick would have to do is act like a normal person and say "your cats are always chasing my birds. Could you keep them inside?" or something like that. And even if they don't, if he takes their cat and dumps them off somewhere, that is stealing.

If my neighbor's dog is in my yard, does that mean I can trap him and dump him off in the park 6 miles down? Of course not. I can't believe someone would even attempt to defend this selfish and cruel asshole.

[Scout]

20. so sorry for that kitty, that it has an asshole for an owner.

blame the owner ... they are responsible for keeping their pets under control.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

22. I don't believe in blaming victims. The cat's owner, even if he should

have kept the cat inside, was a victim of the asshole neighbor's theft. Would you blame a rape victim for wearing sexy clothes and walking alone at night? Is it OK for somebody to steal your car if you leave the keys in the ignition while you run in the house to get something? After all, those are not sensible, smart things to do -- so if somebody takes advantage of your poor judgment, do we have to concede that the crime should be excused? I don't think so.

[friesianrider]

24. Very well put, thank you. nt

[Scout]

27. I'm not going to argue with a stupid post such as this....

equating rape of a woman with the trapping of a cat. It would be a waste of my time.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

29. Obviously you missed my point entirely.

Which is that it is inappropriate to place the burden of preventing a crime -- whether it is a major crime, such as rape, or a minor one, such as theft -- entirely on the victim. But I wouldn't want you to have to waste your time trying to figure it out.

[friesianrider]

25. Yeah, but who suffers when this jerk traps and dumps the cat?

Even if he dumps the cat at a shelter (and not just in some remote area), is he really punishing the owner? He's punishing the owner AND the cat. If the cat is not microchipped or tagged (or its tags broke loose when it was captured), he will likely be put to sleep or otherwise will never find his owner.

So, who exactly is the one being punished here? I'm so goddamned sick of people taking out their bullshit little and loud complaints about their life on animals.

[Scout]

26. if the owners really care so much for their kitties, don't you think that

they miss them when they are gone? worry for them? sounds like punishing the one responsible to me.

I said I feel sorry for the cat, that it's owner allowed it to get into a dangerous situation. I am not blaming the cat.

If some asshole shot or trapped my dog, especially after repeatedly asking me to keep it out of his yard, of course I would be upset at the loss of my dog and pissed at the asshole. But I would also realize that it is MY FAULT, not my dog's, for allowing my dog to be in that dangerous situation--because my dog does not know any better if he runs in someone's yard and shits. It is MY RESPONSIBILITY to train him to do otherwise, and/or to otherwise restrain and care for him.

[friesianrider]

31. When did the man trapping these cats ask that they be kept away?

This man is trapping and relocating them without knowing or caring if they belong to anyone. Don't try and make this into a situation that fits your misguided viewpoint.

Yes, I do feel the owners miss them. But I guarantee that isn't 1/10th of the trauma the cat suffers being relocated to a strange place, without the regular feedings and shelter he is used to. Or, as traumatic as it is to an animal to be dumped in a shelter where he'll probably be euthanized in a week. As the other person said, that's like saying well, you wore skanky clothes...and now you have to endure the pain of a rape or sexual assault. This is your punishment! Nuh-uh. Doesn't work that way, my dear.

You are desperately trying to excuse this man's behavior because you for some reason sympathize with him and his irrational, immoral, inhumane and unethical behavior...which only makes me feel very sorry for you.

[friesianrider]

18. No, he does not.

Clearly, at least two of the cats he caught were people's pets. If I find my neighbor's dog in my yard, am I right to trap it and then dump it at the local park?

No. It is one thing if he is taking them to a shelter, and quite another if he is dumping them. All he'd have to do is take a moment to kindly ask his neighbors to try and keep their cats indoors or out of his yard...instead of trapping them so he can dump them somewhere else. Even with ferals where no one "owns" them, it is cruel by anyone's standards to remove them from their home and dump them somewhere else. It's called common decency.

And for the record, I own many feral cats. I know many people who do - they care for colonies of ferals and have them neutered/spayed, feed them, give them shelter, etc. Just because they are feral doesn't mean someone isn't taking them to the vet and feeding and caring for them. Again, that means he has no right to trap my animal and dump them in a strange place.

This guy's an asshole, and I'm very sorry there are people here who would actually defend this cruel and unusual behavior.

[Scout]

21. if only it really were that easy.

All he'd have to do is take a moment to kindly ask his neighbors to try and keep their cats indoors or out of his yard...

what if the owner is as much of an asshole as this guy? what if this guy already kindly asked his neighbors to control their own pets, and they didn't?

I'm not defending relocating them and dumping them. I said he should rather take them to the pound.

Many people are just damn sick and tired of dealing with problems from other people's pets.

[friesianrider]

23. Well I'm tired of people taking their "problems" out on animals.

The animals don't know what the hell they are doing - they are just doing what cats do, which is roam and chase stuff. If PEOPLE are "sick and tired" of "dealing with problems" from other people's pets, that doesn't give them free rein to go and do something unusually cruel to the animal like trapping them and dumping them somewhere. It's like a teacher beating a child because he misbehaves because his parents aren't good parents. I'm sorry but that's the most ridiculous logic I've ever heard.

And clearly, we are not talking about a man who has diplomatically tried to talk this over with neighbors. Obviously, he knows these are people's pets and is doing this anyway. Repeatedly. And for the record, yes, in many cases, it is that easy. If ANY of my neighbors said that to me, you'd better believe I'd break my neck to keep my pets out of their hair because I don't want anything to happen to my animals due to their frustration.

No one should be trapping anyone else's animals, period. If he has a problem with them, he needs to friggin' deal with it and shoo them out of his yard if it bothers him so much. But he has NO right to just up and trap my pet because "it bothers him."

[Scout]

28. The animals don't know what the hell they are doing

That is exactly why their owners are supposed to be responsible for them, because the animals don't know any better.

I have stated repeatedly I do not support the dumping, so you need to get off that high horse.

We have absolutely no idea that he has not tried, ever, once, to discuss it with his neighbors.

And I'm not going to waste any more time arguing with someone who equates beating a child with trapping a cat. If you think that is what I'm saying, you are the one with the serious logic problems, the same as the poster who thinks I'm equating the rape of a woman with cat trapping.

[friesianrider]

30. That's a very good Republican trick

Twist what I said. I never said that trapping a cat is "the same" as beating a child - neither did the other poster. I said it is the same logic. You are punishing an innocent victim in the situation.

You said that the person has every right to trap. And I said that even if they dump the cat at a shelter, that doesn't make it right. He has a moral (and in some places legal) obligation to attempt to discuss this with his neighbors before trapping a domesticated animal.

I am trying to get you to realize that if you agree that the owners should be responsible, then why is the cat the one being punished by being dumped in a shelter (or worse)? As I said, it is the same logic as with a kid. Why should a child be punished because he was never taught manners or good behavior or whatever? It is unfair to the cat (who has no idea he is doing anything wrong) and immoral.

You're very wrong on this, and should be ashamed for defending someone who traps someone else's beloved pet and dumps them either in a park or a shelter because their presence "bothers" them. Lots of things bother me and I can't just dispose of them in some field or shelter. And guess what?

That asshole doesn't own those birds anyway, so he can take his complaints and send them to you because I for one couldn't care less.

[superconnected]

15. I live in an apartment complex with lots of homeless cats

not all cats are lucky enough to get in doors. And, I have one cat - Vanilla, who is a breakout artist.

The guy is a douche bag.

[BrklynLiberal]

7. I am also dead set against allowing cats to roam outside. My cats

are strictly indoor cats...fFor all the same reasons that have been stated..cars, dogs, weather, crazy people...as well as unforeseen hazards.
I also do not like the idea of their stalking and killing the local birds. I know this is just instinct, but they are well fed, and it is not something they need to do to survive.

[I_Make_Mistakes]

5. I absolutely agree that cats should be kept inside, if they are a

pet. Mine was indoor, my sisters was outdoor. Her cat brought home live moles, one baby bird that died on the Living room floor, a bat (which where I lived there was a high rabies incidence in bats), and required his quarantine for 2 weeks.

He did bring home a baby rabbit that I was able to save and move to another location, he never liked me after that, but I didn't care.

I agree, there is a difference in killing for survival (food) and pleasure.

My baby was however, the best insect killer around, I hardly had any bugs, when she was with me.

[demnan]

11. There are other alternatives to keeping your cat indoors totally

like this:




and this:

[friesianrider]

12. Trapping and relocating someone's pet is ILLEGAL in most areas.

And advise all your neighbors on your street that if they have cats they need to keep them indoors because of this obviously unstable and cruel asshole.

It happens all the time here. People trap them and dump them at a park. This is not only extremely cruel to both the pet and the owner, but I am almost positive trapping and relocating a pet like a cat (ie, trapping a cat and dumping it at a park) is illegal. I'd find out immediately and talk to the neighbor and tell him what he is doing is illegal and if anyone sees him trapping again he will be reported.

[ernstbass]

13. what a vile evil person