Do you let your cats run at large?

[jennielynn1970]

I am so sick of these animals. If they aren't spayed then they probably aren't vaccinated. What if all their poop all over our yard gave something to myself, my animals, or my family? I'm at the point where I want to trap them and take them to a far away shelter, then send their owners a nasty note and make them think I did something bad to hurt their cats. Either way, I'm going to set traps.

None of my cats go outside. I live in the city, and that is not the place for an animal to be roaming free. We have strays in the area, and I have done trapping and gotten them neutered/spayed and found them new homes.

My mom and dad have 3 cats that do go indoors and outdoors (on a 100 acre farm...), but they spend the nights indoors always, and are also spayed/neutered.

While I can understand you being annoyed by the howling and all that, your alternative to trap them, take them far away and sending a nasty note to the owners is just as bad as letting the cats run at large.

Do you actually rescue?? I'm not sure I'd want someone with your attitude as a rescuer, or for that matter, a neighbor.

[pitc9]

I am not a cat owner, but I did find your poll a little harsh.

In just the same way bad owners spoil dog breeds... the same happens to indoor/outdoor cats.
A few rotten apples shouldn't spoil it for everyone.

And your comment about TNR, wow!!
Do you realize exactly what those people do?
The time, money, blood (literally) sweat and tears they put into doing that all because the REAL irresponsible jerk dumped a few cats off thinking they would be able to take care of themselves on their own??
THERE... there are your irresponsible jerks ... the people that dump the cats that end up forming colonies that people work their asses off to TNR.


My parent's have a beautiful Maine Coon names Leroy and he is an in/out cat. They are responsible owners and had him neutered and gets shots every year and he has 5 acres to himself and he sleeps inside everynight!

So to answer your poll... my parent's cat is an indoor/outdoor cat but they are by NO means irresponsible jerks.
So I guess that makes them responsible jerks!

[Twisterdog]

My two cents worth, sure to be unpopular:

I own dogs. I keep my dogs on my property. They are NEVER allowed to run loose, in my neigbors' yards. If my neighbors wanted dogs, they would get their own. My dogs are my responsibility, and I would never subject them to danger running loose, nor would I subject my neighbors to their presence.

So WHY do cat owners think it is different for them? I'm sure some cats are happier running loose around the neighborhood. My dogs would be happier running around loose, too ... peeing on everything, digging up flower beds, pooping on other people's grass. I do not, for one second, however, think that my dogs' happiness gives me the right to intrude on the rights of other people.

My neighbors' cats use my flowerbeds for litter boxes. They scream and yowl all night on my fence. They have kittens in my shed. If I would have wanted to deal with all this, I would have gotten a cat. It's not fair, and it's not right. I don't park my car in my neighbor's garage. I don't let my kids go into my neighbors' yards and break things. I don't let my dogs run amok on my neighbors' property. WHY, just because it is a cat, is it somehow different? It is NOT.

I don't care if it is a child, a dog, a cat, a rabbit, a ferret ... if it belongs to you, keep it on your own property and don't invade the space or property rights of others.

[Suki Wingy]

I actually agree with everything you just said, Twisterdog.

[jennielynn1970]

**I find his/her screen name to be a bit ironic if this is actually his/her view on the subject of rescue and TNR.**

________________________________________
I'm not a fan of dogs, cats, rats, goats, horses, or any animal roaming neighborhoods. I get upset when I see so many strays that scavenge in my neighborhood. I just realized that the one neighbor and her bratty little son, who totally irritated me, have moved and we now have a very pretty "stray" grey marbled tabby in the neighborhood. Hmmmm... coincidence? I think not.

There are many other options than the ones you listed, for more humane in any case, that would be much more appropriate to handle the outside cats that you hear yowling. I hope you will take the suggestions that have been listed here and utilize them.