Australia declares war on feral cats with plan to 'cull two million by 2020 - Polidicks

I've worked in an animal shelter, so I know a thing or two. They don't usually go out and try to shoot feral cats. They set traps (cages) and capture them. So thinking people are going to be running around shotgunning cats is ridiculous. Typically the procedure after capturing a cat is figuring out if its domestic or feral. About 90% of the time you know right off the bat as feral cats hate humans. Usually they try to stay clear thus why you have to set traps, but they'll attack you given the chance if you capture one. I've had my hand and arm severely cut up by them before. In the US legally they have to hold the animals for five days to see if someone will come looking for it. After that it becomes legal ownership of the shelter and at this point they can decided if they want to send the animal to adoption or euthanize it. Feral cats are 100% of the time euthanize. As they just continue to breed and wreck havoc on the environment. Although I'm sure its possible to rehabilitate a feral cat to become domestic, but I don't know much about that. Sterilizing the cats is not option like others have posted as its expensive. We can chip and sterilize a cat for about $65 dollars (females are more expensive). But when you get hundreds of cats in per month and are dealing with the fact that animal shelters are usually one of the most under funded organizations its not an option. I hate it for the animals having to be put down, but saving them cost money, and barely anyone is helping to fund it. They have to choose their priorities and help the domesticated animals over the feral. I have a cat of my own so I definitely love animals, but I understand the situation a lot better than your average folk.

The meat could be sold to asian markets since cat\dog are delicacy's, so there is money to be made from this and nothing has to go to waste.

[QUOTE=Empty_Shadow;48259299]It's gonna suck that a lot of legitimate cats are going to get caught in the crossfire cause of this. Happened all the time when I lived in the country, perfectly fine outdoors cats (wearing bells so they can't catch birds and mice) would end up getting shot by farmers. Needs to happen regardless, feral cats are ridiculously destructive and breed like mad.[/QUOTE] Whats bad about domestic cats hunting birds and mice? We let our cats do it here.

Just have shoot on sight, and some money for doing it.

[QUOTE=AWarGuy;48259553]I hate cats, I have a family of magpies that live in my area who I feed and interact with daily and watching a baby magpie grow up before my eyes makes me happy. I've also had cats trying to kill my budgies as well. They need to be stopped (I did have a friendly interaction with two wild cats while on holidays though for a change).[/QUOTE] Cats are terrible but super territorial asshole birds that kills other birds by bullying them to death are great. k.

Feral cats can be an issue in small towns in Nebraska, the damn things shit and piss everywhere, and makes towns smell terrible, one of the towns nearby is literally nick named the cat town, due to the butcher shop in the town. So basically, its goddamn annoying. Its a reason why everyone owns a dog more than cats around here.

[QUOTE=Empty_Shadow;48259299]It's gonna suck that a lot of legitimate cats are going to get caught in the crossfire cause of this. Happened all the time when I lived in the country, perfectly fine outdoors cats (wearing bells so they can't catch birds and mice) would end up getting shot by farmers. Needs to happen regardless, feral cats are ridiculously destructive and breed like mad.[/QUOTE] It's not very responsible of cat owners to let their cats roam outside when they represent a threat to local wildlife. I love cats more than life, but irresponsible cat owners need to be taught a lesson. Cats have much longer lifespans on average too when they're indoor cats. And the average cat owner just gets a new one once their cat gets shot/run over/dies from disease caught outside. I fucking hate cat owners.

[QUOTE=meek;48261755]It's not very responsible of cat owners to let their cats roam outside when they represent a threat to local wildlife. I love cats more than life, but irresponsible cat owners need to be taught a lesson. Cats have much longer lifespans on average too when they're indoor cats. And the average cat owner just gets a new one once their cat gets shot/run over/dies from disease caught outside. I fucking hate cat owners.[/QUOTE] What exactly is wrong with letting a single cat roam outside when you live on a farm? People do the exact same thing with dogs.

[QUOTE=27X;48261309]Cats are terrible but super territorial asshole birds that kills other birds by bullying them to death are great. k.[/QUOTE] A) The australian magpie is a native protected species in Australia B) The American magpie is entirely different to the Australian magpie and is not our resident asshole territorial bird we have to worry about Get your facts right m8

[QUOTE=meek;48261755]It's not very responsible of cat owners to let their cats roam outside when they represent a threat to local wildlife. I love cats more than life, but irresponsible cat owners need to be taught a lesson. Cats have much longer lifespans on average too when they're indoor cats. And the average cat owner just gets a new one once their cat gets shot/run over/dies from disease caught outside. I fucking hate cat owners.[/QUOTE] I let my cats wonder around and they don't even bother the fucking chicken.

I can't help but feel this is going to go about as well as the attempts to curb the rabbit, fox and cane toad populations.

[QUOTE=killerteacup;48263573]A) The australian magpie is a native protected species in Australia B) The American magpie is entirely different to the Australian magpie and is not our resident asshole territorial bird we have to worry about Get your facts right m8[/QUOTE] [media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGGTcYfrEZU&feature=youtu.be&t=66[/media]

[QUOTE=Combine 177;48259423]Why would anyone want cats not to be able catch mice? That is pretty much the original reason why people have cats.[/QUOTE] leaving corpses around is a sure way to end up with diseased livestock

[QUOTE=download;48259160]If you want to fund the $200/cat price tag, go right ahead.[/QUOTE] Because suggesting it makes it totally my job right, that's how a democracy works, right?

It makes me wonder how they will tell the difference between feral and domestic? because shocker is that people let the cat out at night.

[QUOTE=Killuah;48266487]Because suggesting it makes it totally my job right, that's how a democracy works, right?[/QUOTE] The taxpayers have to foot that bill. In either scenario the end result is the same, that animals ability to procreate ends the moment that the culler catches the. And since this is to protect local wildlife it would be kind of contradictory to let them live.

[QUOTE=Arrows;48260439]The meat could be sold to asian markets since cat\dog are delicacy's, so there is money to be made from this and nothing has to go to waste.[/QUOTE] Cat meat is rarely eaten except in certain rural parts of China, dog meat is eaten more often but is still uncommon. Besides, the animals are raised on farms and slaughtered specifically for consumption. Wild animals are too likely to have diseases and parasites. In any case, most overseas east Asians frown on eating cats or dogs, and even in China the practice is falling out of favour. Please stop perpetuating Asian stereotypes, thanks.

[QUOTE=27X;48261309]Cats are terrible but super territorial asshole birds that kills other birds by bullying them to death are great. k.[/QUOTE] Magpies are like any other bird or animal, they are territorial. Magpies announce their Territory via loud caroling constantly and any bird that enters it will be fended off (so birds will know what they are getting into when entering their Territory). Birds are beautiful creatures and asshole pests like feral cats decline the numbers of rarer birds and are endangered or even extinct because of feral cats. So yeah cats are bigger arseholes (and Australian Magpies are native animals and are a protected species where as cats are an introduced species).

[QUOTE=Headhumpy;48266835]Cat meat is rarely eaten except in certain rural parts of China, dog meat is eaten more often but is still uncommon. Besides, the animals are raised on farms and slaughtered specifically for consumption. Wild animals are too likely to have diseases and parasites. In any case, most overseas east Asians frown on eating cats or dogs, and even in China the practice is falling out of favour. Please stop perpetuating Asian stereotypes, thanks.[/QUOTE] Dog still isn't terribly uncommon outside cities in areas like the Philippines afaik.

[QUOTE=Levelog;48261821]What exactly is wrong with letting a single cat roam outside when you live on a farm? People do the exact same thing with dogs.[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=Megadave;48263582]I let my cats wonder around and they don't even bother the fucking chicken.[/QUOTE] If you don't mind the fact that your cat is much more likely to die early than they would have due to infections and diseases (extremely easy to get from being in contact with other animals), fighting with other cats, etc. then go ahead. But you're not doing very good by your pet. And just because your cat doesn't bring his prey home doesn't mean he's not hunting and hurting wildlife. Do some research and you might learn why letting your cat roam is a bad idea. But of course, it's much easier to just let your cat outside than actually bother with them and keep them entertained and exercising, so I understand why people are too lazy to do it (which is why I don't think they should have cats in the first place).

[QUOTE=deadoon;48266765]The taxpayers have to foot that bill. In either scenario the end result is the same, that animals ability to procreate ends the moment that the culler catches the. And since this is to protect local wildlife it would be kind of contradictory to let them live.[/QUOTE] You're still killing one life to save the other. Pretty bigoted if you ask me. Sterilisation is pretty standard in most western countries.

Feral cats are the most dangerous thing to local wildlife populations all over the world and need to have their numbers quelled. [url]http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/feral-cats-kill-billions-of-small-critters-each-year-7814590/?no-ist[/url]

[QUOTE=Killuah;48267283]You're still killing one life to save the other. Pretty bigoted if you ask me. Sterilisation is pretty standard in most western countries.[/QUOTE] Good god, you're so utterly disconnected with reality and wildlife management.

[QUOTE=Passing;48266560]It makes me wonder how they will tell the difference between feral and domestic? because shocker is that people let the cat out at night.[/QUOTE] Should of read my post on the first page. I've explained I've worked in an animal shelter before. You can fucking tell right off the bat if its feral. Almost all domestic cats like humans, unless its just a mean domestic cat, but those are not normal. Feral cats hate humans and will attack given the chance. Domestic cats don't do that, they like humans and want attention from humans. Every injury I ever got from that shelter was from a feral cat.

[QUOTE=AWarGuy;48267005]Magpies are like any other bird or animal, they are territorial. Magpies announce their Territory via loud caroling constantly and any bird that enters it will be fended off (so birds will know what they are getting into when entering their Territory). Birds are beautiful creatures and asshole pests like feral cats decline the numbers of rarer birds and are endangered or even extinct because of feral cats. So yeah cats are bigger arseholes (and Australian Magpies are native animals and are a protected species where as cats are an introduced species).[/QUOTE] You don't sound biased.

[QUOTE=Killuah;48267283]You're still killing one life to save the other. Pretty bigoted if you ask me. Sterilisation is pretty standard in most western countries.[/QUOTE] Go work in an animal shelter for a couple months and maybe your disconnected perspective will change. The entire reason why they euthanize is because of over population. Pet owners rarely go get their animals sterilized. What ends up happening is those animals run from home or have a litter that the owner doesn't want. So you get a bunch of animals running around and creating more animals. In Australia the population has gotten so out of control that sterilizing 2 million animals wouldn't help at all. As you still have 2 millions cats running around destroying all local wildlife. Its an evasive species. Plus cats can be too old to sterilize. It usually should be performed from the ages of 8-10 weeks. Lets just say hypothetically it wouldn't harm the local wildlife if we sterilized all 2 million cats. One million of the cats were male and the other million were females. It cost $200 USD to spay and $100 USD to neuter (male cats are a lot easier :P ). Your grand total is $300,000,000 USD to do the feral cat population in Australia. That is a ton of money when you put in that perspective. Euthanization is a much cheaper option.

I'm not disconnected, just in a different country and as a matter of fact most pet cats here in the bigger cities are either sterilized(female) or castrated(male)cats as many cities have mandatory castration/sterilizaton for wild cats.

Isn't Australia the place where you have to have your dogs voice boxes removed if they bark too much? or is it just certain communities?

Furthermore it doesn't even tackle the main problem which is people being absolute assholes with thei pets.

[QUOTE=meek;48267198]If you don't mind the fact that your cat is much more likely to die early than they would have due to infections and diseases (extremely easy to get from being in contact with other animals), fighting with other cats, etc. then go ahead. But you're not doing very good by your pet. And just because your cat doesn't bring his prey home doesn't mean he's not hunting and hurting wildlife. Do some research and you might learn why letting your cat roam is a bad idea. But of course, it's much easier to just let your cat outside than actually bother with them and keep them entertained and exercising, so I understand why people are too lazy to do it (which is why I don't think they should have cats in the first place).[/QUOTE] Not lazy at all, some cats and dogs just want to be outdoor ones. I've had both back when I lived out on 30 acres. If the animal wanted to stay outside, we let it do that. If it wanted to spend most of the time inside, that was fine too. If it dies earlier, so be it. It wanted to be outside. There are plenty of humans that die earlier because of their choices.