Why can't cat owners keep their cat INSIDE?

[i-need-a-martini]

I am so over all the cats roaming through our backyard.

Not only does it mean our pet rabbit can't be outside in his own backyard or that I have to watch out where I put my hands when I am gardening because there is cat c*ap every where or that we get woken up at night because of cat fights.

But today I have spent the afternoon washing down with bleach all the entrances to my house, the perimetre walls and garden pots because the stench of their spraying is unbearable. They are even spraying the cars in the driveway.

And whilst I know that every cat owner on here will say they are responsible cat owners or that their cat is always inside or that they have cat runs so their cats never leave their property, I have yet to meet a cat owner in Sydney that has any of the above.

If you can't keep a cat on YOUR property then you have no business owning a cat in the first place.

[bella_again]

My cats don't know any different teeny.  They sunbake in the windows and are generally great.  No effect on their health, they are extremely healthy and well adjusted.  On the odd occasion my tortie likes to run outside to the front roll round and walks straight back in.  The only time the russian blue got out she spent it under the house meowing but was glad when we got her inside. We sometimes take our tortie out on a lead and she loves it but again almost always wants to go back as quick as she goes out.  I also have a ginger cat that has no desire what so ever to enter the outside world as long as she is fed, patted and can sunbake is happy.

By far cats are safer inside, I live on a hwy, the amount of dead cats is heart breaking. But even if I didn't I'd keep them in. I always laugh at people who say they love their cats like their kids, but you wouldn't let your kids roam the streets at night fighting other kids and causing damage to peoples property.  Like you say its all about responsible pet ownership.

[cezm]

We moved back into town in February and our cat has adjusted well to being an indoor cat again. She doesn't show any interest in going outside. In our previous house she was outdoors during the day but came inside at night when she was called, and during the day when she wanted company.

10 years ago we lived in town and she used to live indoors but my son would take her for walks in a harness. We had a neighbour whose cat would come to the laundry door and scratch the flyscreens during the night and terrorise our cat on the inside. When I broached it with the neighbour, he insisted his cat never left the patio during the night. Eventually it got too much and we hired a cat trap from the Council, caught the cat and took it round to the neighbour. We never saw the cat in our yard again!

There was a cat being a nuisance here when we moved in. It would whine day and night and spray everywhere. We put up with sleepless nights for 5 months. The Friday before last I got a trap from the Council at 9am. By 10am it was caught in the trap and at 11.15 the Council collected .... ahhhh, the peace and quiet now.

As of 1 July cats don't have to be registered here any more.

[fourandsixpants]

As of 1 July cats don't have to be registered here any more.

.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

wonder why?! Our Shire has been working towards cat registration being compulsory....along with sterilisation and chipping programmes being enforced or made mandatory for several years.....can't understand why a shire would drop cat registrations?.....does not compute IMO. Be interested to know 'why' your local govt is dropping registration requirement cezm.

[imastawka]

I'll second that, paints

[ten*teeny*tiny*toes]

We are behind the times here and they have only recently brought in compulsory cat registrations.

[cezm]

I wasn't able to find out any info as to why. I went into Council the day we got back into town, to register the cat. It was then they told me it was being canned and registration would be free for the rest of last  financial year. Just before we left here 10 years ago it became compulsory to microchip and register.

The argument then was that there were too many strays and council were going to take any they found unregistered.

I wonder if they think they have the situation under control or whether the vocal minority (there was one when it was introduced) complained about the Council's 'money grab' and Council have relented.

[cezm]

I just found this through my friend Google

16th Oct 2013 6:00 AM

CAT owners will no longer have to pay for Toowoomba Regional Council registration after July 1.

The final decision was made yesterday after council was handed back control of the issue last month.

"There is no way registration is controlling the cat population or indiscriminate breeding whatsoever," Cr Carol Taylor said.

"It's not doing anything except penalising responsible owners."

Cr Sue Englart recorded her vote against stopping mandatory registration, arguing that it was "one of the tools by which councils across the state can get good outcomes".

Microchipping will remain compulsory.

http://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/council-abolishes-mandatory-cat-registration/2052386/

There is another article here:

http://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/govt-considers-making-cat-dog-de-sexing-compulsory/2041471/

[mugssy65]

Cat registration has just been brought in here along with mandatory sterilisation and microchipping. I have also heard that people advertising kittens will be fined upto $1000 per kitten! I feel sorry for the rescue groups because this is going to cause people to dump the poor babies!

[***super_nova***]

---

@am*3 wrote:
" I live in NZ and dont have any native birds in my area"

That is what the article I posted covered.. were their native birds in that area before domestic/stray cats took over?

---

many native animals and birds cannot live with us because we removed any trees suitable for them to nest in.  Nowadays there are just 2 kinds of wildlife;

1 - those that can live with us, and they quickly become pests. 

2 - those who cannot live in the environment we create, and they are endangered.

Cats are only small part of it.

[***super_nova***]

---

@bella_again wrote:

  They sunbake in the windows and are generally great.  No effect on their health, they are extremely healthy and well adjusted.

---

Unless you never open a window, or doors how can you keep a cat inside?  All creatures need sunshine to be healthy, and that means direct sun , not filtered through glass.