That's it I am over it, now time for action!

[finchbreeder]

I'm with Myzo, hate what cats do. But love all creatures great and small. The quick lead method is my preference. Thanks Greg re Mum, she was in a bad way for a couple of weeks, but has rallied. The birds needed her.
LML

[matcho]

Myzo,

I understand what you are saying, but poisoning for feral animals has been around for heaps of time, foxes, pigs, goats, feral cats and dogs and dingoes plus camels, horses, the list goes on, including native birds. Lets not forget rats and mice with Ratsac. If it is ok to set bait stations around your setup for rats and mice what is the problem? Cats are my problem. So what do we do? I dont know. Poison is never good but I am protecting my home and my birds.

Ken.

[Finchman18]

I really feel for you mate, I've also been losing numerous birds to night frights, i heard my birds flying into the wire one night and went outside to find a big ginger cat on the wire, so i decided it was time to set the trap and so far I've caught 3 cats, including one which had no tail, but i still have not caught the ginger bastard that was terrorizing the birds, personally i would say majority of them are feral since i live approximately 5km from my local tip which has more cats than the average pound.
Sadly all 3 cats had to be disposed of humanely, but when you look at the bright side as finch breeders we have to take action against these invasive bastards to protect our stock, just like farmers have too kill foxes, dogs etc to protect their livestock.
I lost 4 pied red faced parrot finches over a period of 3 nights due to night frights, and i just couldn't watch it happen anymore so in my opinion the appropriate actions were taken.

Sorry for your losses mate.

[matcho]

In regards to my last post, I must stress that these animals that I refer to do not have an owner. They are feral, therefore are fair game by any means for eradication. Even Govt Depts condone these measures.

Ken.

[Myzomela]

Hi Matcho,

I guess it's about quick,humane euthanasia. You are right, 1080 is legal so are anticoagulants as used in rat products.

Neither are humane IMO. just because they are legal does not make them right.

I would rather trap and humanely euthanase or shoot them. If like me you had seen a cat die over 24 hrs seizuring and in extreme pain after the owner gave it a panadol because it wasn't well then give it a second because the first one didn't work (!!!) then you may undersatnd my perspective a little more.

Part of being "enlightened" and "civilized" should be reflected in how we treat all animals both friends and foe.

I guess seeing how we treat each other as human beings that I am asking too much ??

This is not meant as a criticism, rather just food for thought.

I hope you manage to get rid of them and you get to enjoy your birds (without fear) again

Myzo

[Finchman18]

[quote="Myzomela"] Shoot them.

That's the way its done ;)

[matcho]

Myzo,

I think you have missed my point. I can trap? Yes. I can humanely euthanase them? Maybe, but how, short of paying $$ to the local vet? I can't shoot them because I don't possess a firearm and even if I did to discharge it in the area which I live may incur a jail sentence because of the discharge and also animal cruelty laws.

No, my way is happening, sorry if the method does not sit well with you. Have used it before many years ago, no such thing as 24 hrs, 10 minutes tops.

Ken.

PS

I do not want this post to degenerate into a s..t fight about what is right or wrong about how people deal with feral problems or their thoughts on those methods. My original post only wanted to let people know what happened to me and how I felt and how I could best deal with my situation.

[fishtales]

the humane part of this is tough, but once you drop them to vermin status......well it becomes easier

[Tiaris]

I have total disregard for cats roaming freely in Australia and I do my bit to keeping my area cat-free but, vermin or not, they can (and should) be humanely disposed of. If you can trap them, you can quickly and easily dispense with them by tipping them into a feed bag and giving it a swift wallop with a mattock handle or similar heavy/strong implement with no give in it. No need for gunshots or slow/painful/cruel suffering by the animal by slow-acting poisons,etc. Being humane in killing an animal may appear brutal but the most direct and quickest method is the kindest.

[loz]

The only good cat is a dead one.