Town limits cat ownership?

**RICHARD** · 11-05-2009, 01:21 AM

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/336100...als/?GT1=43001

Hmmm,
I am split on this one.

**katladyd** · 11-05-2009, 01:26 AM

As long as the cats are kept responsibly, there should be no laws requiring any special license. People who don't keep cats in a responsible manner should not be allowed to have even one! It's not the numbers, it's the person who has the cats!

**Medusa** · 11-05-2009, 06:50 AM

It's the feral cats that appear to be the problem. Apparently, they consider the ferals to be hers because she does TNR or tries to find homes for them. She said that she keeps her cats indoors so if their property is being ruined, it's more than likely from the ferals. That one writer spoke correctly by saying that after the woman leaves the neighborhood, it's doubtful that anyone will pick up where she left off and the feral population will get worse. They just hurt themselves by trying to hurt her. I guess if you feed strays, they're considered to be yours.

**Laura's Babies** · 11-05-2009, 07:04 AM

It's the feral cats that appear to be the problem. Apparently, they consider the ferals to be hers because she does TNR or tries to find homes for them. She said that she keeps her cats indoors so if their property is being ruined, it's more than likely from the ferals. That one writer spoke correctly by saying that after the woman leaves the neighborhood, it's doubtful that anyone will pick up where she left off and the feral population will get worse. They just hurt themselves by trying to hurt her. I guess if you feed strays, they're considered to be yours.

I agree with you 100% on that Medusa and the post above by katladyd..

As long as the cats are kept responsibly, there should be no laws requiring any special license. People who don't keep cats in a responsible manner should not be allowed to have even one! It's not the numbers, it's the person who has the cats

Why is it the people who don't like cats always rule?

**happylabs** · 11-05-2009, 07:12 AM

If it is just one payment of $50.00 I would just pay it. Some battles are not worth fighting.

**Medusa** · 11-05-2009, 08:15 AM

Originally Posted by happylabs

If it is just one payment of $50.00 I would just pay it. Some battles are not worth fighting.

Good point. I doubt that would satisfy the neighbors, though. Some people just do not like cats. I have a friend who is that way; she feels that it's unfair to her to allow cats to roam the neighborhood and I don't disagree but even so, when she comes to my home, my Fur Posse can feel her dislike of them and they steer clear, even my CH baby Creamsicle who loves everyone. She never once has gone up to B for attention. My friend would never hurt an animal or we wouldn't be friends but you can tell by the expression on her face and her body language that she just doesn't get why people like cats. This neighbors of the woman in the article are more than likely the same way, although I must add that I don't take kindly to cats in my yard either if they spray on my stainless steel grill and refrigerator. Yes, it's their nature to mark their territory but it's irritating and damaging to my property nonetheless.

**carole** · 11-05-2009, 03:58 PM

Gosh i support so many of you on this issue, i can see every point of view and it is always the good pet owners who get punished because of the bad ones, we get a raw deal.

However licencing in this country could be beneficial i think, as i personally have come up against a problem that maybe could have been fixed if licencing were in place.

For me it would be hard to find extra cash to pay for it, but if it mean't other pets were being protected then so be it, i think offering people maybe a small incentive reward would be the way to go for licencing their pets.

When i reported nikki and ellie's former bad owner to the SPCA, because of neglect of one of their kittens which was now a young cat and had been badly injured, they could do nothing as she denied ownership, that is where licencing can sort that problem out,this poor kitty was left suffering,in a terrible state, however don't worry folks i managed to capture it and end its suffering, but this is just one case of how this could indeed be helpful.

I think 50 dollars is a reasonable amount,not outrageous and one that i would be prepare to pay.

The one thing that riles me is the people of that town, give this woman no thanks for stopping ferals from breeding,they should be thankful that someone is doing the right thing.

It is the same for me, if i had not spayed ellie and nikki and Zara we would have been unindated by ferals here,then all of a sudden everyone would have cared, and they would have all been killed, i often think of that when i look at nikki and ellie knowing how sweet they are and shudder at the thought, i must remind my elderly neighbour when she has a moan to me about the cats, of course it is only my cats, could never be anyone elses, although we have hundreds in the neighbourhood lol.

**pomtzu** · 11-05-2009, 04:42 PM

Originally Posted by Medusa

I guess if you feed strays, they're considered to be yours.

Yup - that's the stupid law in Delaware. If you provide food for a stray for 3 days - then you are considered the owner and responsible for the animal. That's how I ended up in court! Great message being sent. Send Animal Control to issue a summons because I was trying to help a cat in distress, but don't take the time to send Animal Control after the people that abuse and neglect animals. What's wrong with that picture???

**Freedom** · 11-05-2009, 05:05 PM

Several of you mentioned, just pay the $50. Not that easy. it is a kennel license, which means you MUST have certain facilities. No idea what that would be for cats. For dogs they want runs, indoor / outdoor areas, fencing, and so forth.

Same law here, if you feed ferals, they are considered yours. You have to have proof of spay / neuter, rabies shots and so forth. Some areas, the law allows if you are working with a feral cat rescue, and it is the folks who try to go it alone who end up in trouble. With a rescue, you get the ear tipping so everyone can tell which cat has been fixed. Still hard to show up to date rabies.

It is quite frustrating, and I am surprised she wasn't grandfathered in when they changed the law in Dudley Mass. Every city and town here in RI is different. One will say 3 dogs, 5 cats max; the very next one will be 4 dogs, 3 cats max.

Some have antihoarding laws rather than a set limit. Which is also ticky to comply with. I have 10 cats, all vetted, up to date, fixed, and the house is spotless. Yet I COULD be considered a hoarder if the Animal Control Officer wanted to interpret it that way.

As usual, the problem starts a few steps back, with cat owners who let their cats out to roam, cats which are not fixed. One stray meets another, over a dinner of mouse tartare, under the moonlight and next thing you know, there is a litter of kittens out side.

**Medusa** · 11-05-2009, 05:55 PM

Originally Posted by Freedom

As usual, the problem starts a few steps back, with cat owners who let their cats out to roam, cats which are not fixed. One stray meets another, over a dinner of mouse tartare, under the moonlight and next thing you know, there is a litter of kittens out side.

Exactly. I often wonder, though, how farmers get away w/it. One woman that I spoke with told me that the cats at her farm numbered into the hundreds now and she couldn't afford to vet them and have them altered. She could barely afford to feed them all. If she had listened to me when she had around a dozen or so, the problem could have been averted or at least lessened in severity. Cat people are called crazy, hoarders, etc. but most of us are just trying, usually in vain, to clean up other people's messes.