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Feral Cats
I like cats but it's getting out of hand. I read there are over 10 million feral cats in Florida. I trapped two big males and took them to a Trap-neuter-return vet here in Jax. Not sure if that's going to keep them from spraying urine around our place, but it's the first try. Second try may be more permanent. I don't want to kill them but they are truly vermin at this point. I think there's also a grey area between 100% feral and someone's "pet" they feed, but over-wise let roam without being neutered.
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I hate people who let their cats out n purpose. Feral cats are annoying as well, but it's not their fault.
It's a gray area too, because there is a cat that hangs out on our fence once and a while. He helps thin the rats.
I've trapped a couple and gave them to the spay , neuter folks. Once I found out they were releasing them I went to another plan...
I will bring them small kittens sometimes , but if it's full grown and hisses at me , Toast...
It's bad at the Apalachicola bridge too. they use to be every where people would put out dishpans of food & feed them.
In Apalach?
Outside cats put a hurting on wild birds.
I have a couple outside cats running around my new place. They will be eradicated when I finish the build and move in.
I rely on snakes to control the rats/mice.
"The greatest pleasure is to vanquish your enemies and chase them before you, to rob them of their wealth and see those dear to them bathed in tears, to ride their horses and clasp to your bosom their wives and daughters."
on The Magnolia Bluff side Appalach is on the other side of the bridge.
I hate feral cats, and think they all should get a lead injection.
They suck, and I hate the trap/spay/release deal, because it just perpetuates the problem. The lead injection would stop them from breeding permanently.
There used to be several forward looking states who advised hunters that they are SUPPOSED to kill feral cats, but a lot of that has been squashed by the new stupidity regarding their "right to exist. It's a friggin feral cat.
Member #4013
Canton, GA
Feral cats are a problem in certain areas of the state, (suburban areas are hard hit) and once the situation gets out of hand it can be devastating on local wildlife i.e. birds and small mammals. Coyotes, as much as these exotics are hated, can and will keep feral house cats in check. The Coyote's diet is about 85% small mammals like rats, mice, possums (to a small degree) large insects and FERAL CATS and about 15% injured larger animals such as Whitetails and road kills.
I was told if feral cats are giving you a headache......the cure is go to the store and get canned tuna and powdered aspirin.
I hate people who let their cats out n purpose. Feral cats are annoying as well, but it's not their fault.
It's a gray area too, because there > @GA Fin said:
I wish I could rely on snakes but the neighbors kill hem because they are idiots.
When I was a kid we had a indoor outdoor cat. Not feral.Raised from a purchased kitten. Don't remember her killing any birds in her 18 year life. She did bring us a rat home to show off. She also kicked every dogs **** from a poodle to a German shepherd in the hood. Every dog feared her and she never got a scratch from any takers.
This is back in the 60's and 70's before leash laws.
Here in Hillsborough County after they neuter them they want you to release them right back where you caught them.
Sure, I am going to do that.
I realize there are anti- and pro- sides and agendas, but I don't think it's malarkey. From what I've read, it's really gotten out of balance in Australia. https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/worst-invasive-predators/
My personal beef with the high number of feral cats is them spraying urine to mark their territory. I walk outside and it hits me in the face...on my front door, boat, and car. One sprayed my windshield so the smell was coming through the vents while driving. I did take a couple of the males to our T-N-R program, so we'll see if that helps, but I'm sure there are many more ready to take their place. I think culling is the answer...humane shots of a sufficient caliber to quickly kill them, however being in urban areas make this problematic as well.
Shark Bait
Are you being obtuse?
"The greatest pleasure is to vanquish your enemies and chase them before you, to rob them of their wealth and see those dear to them bathed in tears, to ride their horses and clasp to your bosom their wives and daughters."
Its not whether they spray that's a big deal. Its the fact that they devastate wildlife and for no reason but their pleasure/instinct. For thousands of years the primary utility of a domestic cat was to kill small animals in a given area in order to control pests. The last 50 years of that purpose being minimized as use of cats has shifted to them being companion animals instead of utility animals hasn't eliminated those genes.
They absolutely devastate birds, reptiles, and amphibians. That's a scientific fact:
https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms2380
That doesn't make them evil. But it does make them a problem to be dealt with.
Unfortunately, feral cats (as in, genetically domestic cats that live wild) are not currently classified as wildlife in the same way feral hogs are. That means the FWC has no jurisdiction over them unless and until the FWC and Legislature gets together to decide they are in fact wildlife. Then the FWC could set hunting regulations for them.
SSS.
That’s terrible. Poisoning is a terrible way to kill something. It’s trulu inhumane and cruel. A death euth in needed suffering. Especially since you can’t conrrol what eats it. Could be the neighbors little girls cat that got out. Please no one do this. I don’t advocate shooting them either, but at least ( in most cases) it’s quick and you know which cat your killing
People been poisoning vermin for control, forever. Feral cats are vermin.
I understand they are probably a "cash cow" for some vets, but they are still vermin.
>
Stop using facts.........it just confuses the "bleeding hearts".
I can assure you no veterinarian is getting rich off of feral cats, in fact most lose money. Almost al pro bono work
why not put them down?
Because , vet lives matter?
The proof is in the video.
There have been recent studies of cats using critter-cams.
They do significant damage to native songbirds.
End of story.
Sure I'll just bring them back to my house
No, the ones I caught...........In humane traps BTW were relocated to a park far from my house.(Hawks and Eagles gotta eat too)
I relocated many of the neighbors 30 or so cats to a preserve..
An aquatic preserve.
Maybe if u neutered all of them. Highly unlikely that happened though. If not all you did is made more work for the un-neutered male ferall cats. I'm sure they than you.
Hawks won't take a full sized cat, maybe a kitten... and eagles feed primarily on fish.....Coyotes will take a cat, especially if the yotes are in a pack. Coyotes are very efficient, they leave nothing.
This is a problem that is solved on an individual basis and should not be discussed.....S.S.S.is the best policy when it comes to dealing with problem cats. There is no pride to be had by killing a stray or someones pet that is making your life difficult, you do it and you don't speak of it.
The neighbor is not going to change habits and cats cannot be trained to stay out of your garage.
There is a responsibility to be efficient in your methods. Poisoning is stupid, it does not discriminate and will often result in regret.
I AM NOT A RACIST
So...The Woods are full of Ball less Cats...Interesting...Who Knew ?,
Discrimination has nothing to do with it. It's all about selectivity.
If I put it in the trash can and put the lid back on, then I have selectively chosen that only the vermin that have been hauling my trash all over the block are recipients. Nothing indiscriminate about that.
I will admit that it might end in regret. For the garbage thief.