I see them every night , they piddle all over my front yard .
Yes they have been troublesome lately mostly giving my birds night frights , only a problem because the Staffy sleeps inside in winter and isn't out there to chase them off .
Size of an elongated Chihuahua ( according to my partner )...built to squeeze under fences. They run for the drains in the gutters when spooked which is a worry with 3 cat hating poochies hot on their tail.
Its an amazing thing how they have evolved to suit the environment and in any other country I might be impressed however here they are just vermin to me .
Neighbours cat grrrrrr!!
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toothlessjaws
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- Posts: 534
- Joined: 25 Apr 2009, 09:54
- Location: Melbourne, Victoria
- Location: melbourne
hey nathan. no, feral cats grow larger because natural selection favours the larger cats as deb explained however, with domestic cats having only been living wild in australia for approximately 200 years - its is EXTREMELY UNLIKELY that any could attain a size comparable to a puma which is the largest representative of the non pantherine (big cat) tribe.
most healthy non elderly adults can fight off a puma and this truly wild species is responsible for surprisingly very few deaths in their native americas. so its a VERY SAFE assumption to make that no feral cat, be it even a large specimen can or would attempt to kill an adult person or even small child.
just to throw in my scepticism, despite seeing some impressive amateur footage - i find it unlikely that there are pumas or melanistic leopards (aka "panthers") living wild in Australia.
as for the original topic, as funny as the cat-killing suggestions are. lets be realistic, yes letting you cat roam free is arguably irresponsible - but its also really, really common and sadly socially accepted. my advice is, unless you know them to be unreasonable - give your neighbours the benefit of the doubt and speak to them about the issue or just bite the bullet and install some hotwire. but don't preemptively kill their pet. that makes you an even bigger d!ck than them for letting their cat out and is just asking for hostility - which is not to anyones benefit in the long run.
most healthy non elderly adults can fight off a puma and this truly wild species is responsible for surprisingly very few deaths in their native americas. so its a VERY SAFE assumption to make that no feral cat, be it even a large specimen can or would attempt to kill an adult person or even small child.
just to throw in my scepticism, despite seeing some impressive amateur footage - i find it unlikely that there are pumas or melanistic leopards (aka "panthers") living wild in Australia.
as for the original topic, as funny as the cat-killing suggestions are. lets be realistic, yes letting you cat roam free is arguably irresponsible - but its also really, really common and sadly socially accepted. my advice is, unless you know them to be unreasonable - give your neighbours the benefit of the doubt and speak to them about the issue or just bite the bullet and install some hotwire. but don't preemptively kill their pet. that makes you an even bigger d!ck than them for letting their cat out and is just asking for hostility - which is not to anyones benefit in the long run.
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mattymeischke
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- Posts: 862
- Joined: 25 Jul 2011, 20:25
- Location: Southern Tablelands of NSW
Nathan,
I live in a heavily settled area of NSW but get out west quite often.
I have seen many feral cats, never bigger than about wombat-sized.
They always run away from people, and I have never heard of anyone getting hurt let alone killed, except when trying to catch/kill them.
mm.
I live in a heavily settled area of NSW but get out west quite often.
I have seen many feral cats, never bigger than about wombat-sized.
They always run away from people, and I have never heard of anyone getting hurt let alone killed, except when trying to catch/kill them.
mm.
Avid amateur aviculturalist; I keep mostly australian and foreign finches.
The art is long, the life so short; the critical moment is fleeting and experience can be misleading, crisis is difficult....... (Hippocrates)
The art is long, the life so short; the critical moment is fleeting and experience can be misleading, crisis is difficult....... (Hippocrates)
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Shark
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- Posts: 151
- Joined: 14 Jun 2011, 00:00
- Location: Melton Melbourne
Problem is for every 1 neighbor who does the right thing 10 do not and cats are everywhere. It is useless to talk to neighbors about it, just install electric fence and then you know it is keeping cats off while you sleep.
If you trap them and kill them they will only replace them, remember we are in a mouse plague.
If you trap them and kill them they will only replace them, remember we are in a mouse plague.
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tbird
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- Posts: 50
- Joined: 24 Dec 2010, 21:05
- Location: ringwood melbourne victoria
Well I spoke to my neighbour about his cat and he was very apologetic. He said he would move everything on his side of the fence that may be helping the cat climb. He also offered to put some sticky stuff along the fence that cat's don't like the feel of. I have managed to source some "Thorny Devil" which I will add to the fence tops if his sticky stuff doesn't work. So a big thumbs up to my neighbour Pete!
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Diane
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- Posts: 7402
- Joined: 05 Apr 2009, 14:23
- Location: Northern 'burbs of Adelaide
- Location: Northern 'burbs of Adelaide
Good one Neighbour Pete Can you find out what the sticky stuff is?
Bet I get some superglue comments....
Diane
The difference between Genius and Stupidity is, Genius has it’s limits
The difference between Genius and Stupidity is, Genius has it’s limits
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tbird
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- Posts: 50
- Joined: 24 Dec 2010, 21:05
- Location: ringwood melbourne victoria
BB..... The sticky stuff is something he puts on his furniture so the cat won't attack it. Personally I can't see it working outside, as I am sure the weather would destroy it. Anyway, we will see how it goes and if its unsucessfull, I will put the Thorny Devil up. Jane Edmonsen (the gardener) sais its great for keeping possums etc from climbing fences.
