(August 29, 2018 at 4:16 pm)Minimalist Wrote: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-45347136

Quote:Why a village in New Zealand is trying to ban all cats

Quote:After their pet dies, cat lovers in the community will then not be allowed to get any more.
"So your cat can live out its natural life at Omaui happily doing what it's doing. But then when it dies, you wouldn't be able to replace it," bio-security operations manager Ali Meade explained.
Officials say the measure is justified because cameras have shown roaming cats preying on birds, insects and reptiles in the area.

I'd prefer cats to birds, insects and reptiles but maybe that's just me.

They’re pushing for this all over Kiwiland as people want to protect birds from cats. In a small community a number of cats disappeared and they ended up with an explosion of rodents eating birds, their eggs, and attacking nests.

But these morons don’t think like that.

It's not nice to fuck with Mother Nature.

(August 29, 2018 at 5:30 pm)Mermaid Wrote:

(August 29, 2018 at 4:51 pm)Gawdzilla Sama Wrote: Congrats on getting them back alive every day. They're outliers.

Wow.

Indoor/outdoor cats typically live shorter lives than indoor only, according to the ASPCA.

(August 29, 2018 at 6:07 pm)Gawdzilla Sama Wrote:

(August 29, 2018 at 5:30 pm)Mermaid Wrote: Wow.

Indoor/outdoor cats typically live shorter lives than indoor only, according to the ASPCA.

And the Wright brothers picked Kitty Hawk because the US government reported that the typical winds there were 15 mph which they calculated as the perfect wind speed for their experiments. They learned the hard way that the reported number was an average because actual winds there were typically either 30mph or 0mph. The moral? Reported 'typical' findings don't always paint an accurate picture nor tell a reliable story.

(August 29, 2018 at 5:46 pm)The Valkyrie Wrote: They’re pushing for this all over Kiwiland as people want to protect birds from cats.  In a small community a number of cats disappeared and they ended up with an explosion of rodents eating birds, their eggs, and attacking nests.

But these morons don’t think like that.

When one of my cats catches a bird, I admit, I have to look away. I can hardly stand the sight of it struggling to escape. If I think the bird can escape, I'll even shoo my cat away. Long story short, it ain't a fun thing to watch.

But that shouldn't prompt a law forbidding cats. I seriously doubt that a bunch of cats are a threat to the birds' populations remaining at healthy levels. Like you, I suspect that it has more to do with squeamishness than rationality.

(August 29, 2018 at 7:07 pm)vulcanlogician Wrote:

(August 29, 2018 at 5:46 pm)The Valkyrie Wrote: They’re pushing for this all over Kiwiland as people want to protect birds from cats.  In a small community a number of cats disappeared and they ended up with an explosion of rodents eating birds, their eggs, and attacking nests.

But these morons don’t think like that.

When one of my cat's catches a bird, I admit, I have to look away. I can hardly stand the sight of it struggling to escape. If I think the bird can escape, I'll even shoo my cat away. Long story short, it ain't a fun thing to watch.

But that shouldn't prompt a law forbidding cats. I seriously doubt that a bunch of cats are a threat to the birds' populations remaining at healthy levels. Like you, I suspect that it has more to do with squeamishness than rationality.

Precisely this^.  It's been my experience that people who wax rhapsodic about 'the beauty of nature' have never been up close and person with what biologists refer to technically as 'the icky bits'.  Nature is grand, glorious and more important that anything we can imagine.

But it ain't always pretty to watch.

Boru

I'm on the bird's side in this. There are too many cats plundering the vast habitat which surrounds our dwellings, and there is very little habitat of any value that isn't under our thumb.

(August 29, 2018 at 6:52 pm)johan Wrote:

(August 29, 2018 at 6:07 pm)Gawdzilla Sama Wrote: Indoor/outdoor cats typically live shorter lives than indoor only, according to the ASPCA.

And the Wright brothers picked Kitty Hawk because the US government reported that the typical winds there were 15 mph which they calculated as the perfect wind speed for their experiments. They learned the hard way that the reported number was an average because actual winds there were typically either 30mph or 0mph. The moral? Reported 'typical' findings don't always paint an accurate picture nor tell a reliable story.

You were statistically very likely to dismiss that information as you're an indoor/outdoor person.

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(August 29, 2018 at 7:20 pm)Whateverist Wrote: I'm on the bird's side in this.  There are too many cats plundering the vast habitat which surrounds our dwellings, and there is very little habitat of any value that isn't under our thumb.

Urban birds may have a tough time, but then I've heard proposals to train cats to stalk pigeons in NYC.

(August 29, 2018 at 7:20 pm)Whateverist Wrote: I'm on the bird's side in this. There are too many cats plundering the vast habitat which surrounds our dwellings, and there is very little habitat of any value that isn't under our thumb.

I have commented on several articles that if you want to protect remaining native species you need a multi level approach, not just victimise cats.

A reduction in the human population, the creature responsible for so many extinctions, would be a good start.

But because we’re an arrogant species, saying something like that is almost taboo. Better to just scapegoat cats.

NZ also has other introduced species such as possums, rats, stoats, weasels and the like.

My cats rarely bother birds, and have only, as far as I know, only caught a native once. And all he did was ask for money for the bus and demand his land back!

😇

(August 29, 2018 at 7:38 pm)The Valkyrie Wrote:

(August 29, 2018 at 7:20 pm)Whateverist Wrote: I'm on the bird's side in this.  There are too many cats plundering the vast habitat which surrounds our dwellings, and there is very little habitat of any value that isn't under our thumb.

I have commented on several articles that if you want to protect remaining native species you need a multi level approach, not just victimise cats.

A reduction in the human population, the creature responsible for so many extinctions, would be a good start.

Anything I can do to further your aspirations just let me know. I completely agree: we are the problem.

(August 29, 2018 at 7:38 pm)The Valkyrie Wrote: But because we’re an arrogant species, saying something like that is almost taboo.  Better to just scapegoat cats.

NZ also has other introduced species such as possums, rats, stoats, weasels and the like.

My cats rarely bother birds, and have only, as far as I know, only caught a native once.  And all he did was ask for money for the bus and demand his land back!

😇

Yeah, I can get behind the misanthropic impulse. We are the problem and if cats are it is because we've made them so.

Some day, if I outlast my wife, I will have a cat. But I will keep it in doors.