Nature lovers destroy cats, cat lovers destroy nature.
I support some kind of "If it's on my property, it's not leaving" law, allowing caring and compassionate members of the public to indiscriminately and unashamedly kill any cat, or any other pest on their property, without the social backlash
I am reluctant to sign the current petition as it does not go far enough, merely transferring responsibility from the cat owner to the property occupier ( the offended one).That person should have the legal right to dispose of his cursed trespasser not thereby incurring any costs or waste of precious time.
Bruce Brownlee - 10 years ago
Golly Andrea, Your sense of Geography is appalling. Here in NZ we do not have any snakes or tooth fairies either but we do have birds who have never been exposed to predators and so have not developed a sense of danger to the cowardly cat. Why don't you study the subject ? It is not compulsory to remain an ignorant yobo. Improve your mind with a little study.
andrea - 10 years ago
cats are very much needed in usa and other places i have ADHD and my cat is a terapy cat and she helps me with my day ok so the world needs cats my dog bit me but my cat defened me from a snake does your dog do that no is does not!!!!!
andrea pershall - 10 years ago
fuck u all we need cats
Bruce Brownlee - 10 years ago
Cat owners should watch their animal sit down. First he will fold his tail , expose his anus and plonk it on the carpet thereby transferring threadworm ova - and if said anus itches wipe said organ on your carpet. Now watch your youngster crawl across the same carpet and watch what he does with his now contaminated hands. Yuck !
Mia, I don't know why you overseas people (here in the UK) feel you have the right to comment on a country whose wildlife and ecology you do not understand eludes me. The exception will be if you are an expatriate NZ er. Of course if you read the comments section from bottom to top you will begin to understand the problems of a country whose wildlife was all birds - birds who knew no predators. They were and remain easy meat. Many bird species relinquished flight and in doing so benefitted by reducing energy demands. It was Homo sapiens sapiens who introduced the predators and thus created the problem. As a consequence we have lost hundreds of species not only birds but bats too.
Pia - 11 years ago
@ "Cat Lover" you're a bonafide FOOL and a hater of nature!
@ Jacky feeding Cats doesn't stop them from catching birds, bunnies and other small
animals, it's instinct to hunt, keep them indoors and play with them, give them a lovely place to snooze, treat, stroking, that's what pets want, not to roam outdoors wrecking havoc all night and day on birds and wildlife.
Mia - 11 years ago
I think it's insane to say all Cats should be gone, I love Birds but I like Cats too.
I love all birds, I don't love all Cats as I did my own cats when I had them, for 20 yrs.
They were house Cats they never ever killed a Bird b/c they didn't go out.
I agree that feral cats need to be eliminated, but to say indoor cats have to go,
when they don't have access to the outdoors and don't kill a thing, is insane.
Enough of the human stupidity that I see here in the UK where everyone's cat goes out, comes through windows, willy nilly killing Birds and the freaken owners claim they keep the rodents population down. Well dummies the rodents in your house is one thing, killing rodents and denying Birds of Prey is another.
Cats are pets they belong indoors, as inconvenient as a litter box maybe or getting screening... Hello People they're your Pets KEEP them in and out of the way of the Birds and stop singing Born Free.
OG You have done a reputable website a good deal of harm which raises the questions are you a "plant" to do just that, have you forgotten to take your medication, does your medication need adjusting or have you been at some non prescription hallucinogen ? Whatever way you look at it you need to consult your Psychiatrist.
FUCK THE CATS .IF I SEE YOUR CAT WALKING DOWN MY STREET IL FUKN SHOOT THE CUNT,AND FEED IT TO MY DOG.SIEG FUKN HEIL.
Bruce Brownlee - 11 years ago
John Terry uses the word cruel instead of the more accurate unpalatable. Even if he were correct the facts remain quite plain. Unregulated cats are destroying our unique bird life. John Terry's bloody cat is quite safe = if he takes responsibility for it and confines it to his own property.
John Terry - 11 years ago
This is cruel what most of NZ is saying about cats!
These animals have turned my life around and helped my mother with the alerting of seizures I have.
Plover - 11 years ago
Having cats in New Zealand is not the fault of the cat, but cats ARE a huge problem. Our problem. Something we can and should reverse, in an humane way. Bringing cats into this small country was like introducing a cat into a fully fenced aviary. Having cats and native birds together will eventually leave us one winner - the one that Kiwi families spend more on each year than they spend on needy and impoverished PEOPLE.
Bruce Brownlee - 11 years ago
I draw readers attention to the previous writer. What does he know of NZ conditions ? -nothing. This is revealed by his/her comment on moles which are conspicuous by their absence in NZ, by an abysmal knowledge of Gondwanaland, flightless birds etc. In short the cat lovers position is indefensible. If you read the comments section this applies to many correspondents who obviously have not read Gareth Morgans intro. Rats are easily controlled by other means. I know. I bred birds for years, I kept cats off the roof of my aviaries by using an electric fence on the aviary roof as many bird breeders are forced to do . Give us a break. Don't appeal to your superstitious God. Some of us have read Darwin ,Dawkins, Dennet etc and do not share your nonsensical belief believe in God. Stick to the facts please- and also I want the legal right to exterminate your bloody cat if he ventures onto my property.
i - 11 years ago
I love cats. I have a black cat that goes inside and out. Yes he does kill things, but he always eats what he kills. I believe cats should be allowed to kill certain birds, moles, ect. because it helps keep down the population of these animals. Why else would they have been created. They make great pets as well. If you have a rat problem you can get a cat and the smell from the cat will drive away the rats. So I don't have a problem with cats and I hope this will help you like them better too.
How about a bumper sticker in order to raise funds? Please spare us all the social communication sites (ugh) I refuse to join any of them.
Bruce Brownlee - 11 years ago
Jacky cats have a "hunting Instinct". It is built in. They will kill and torture no matter how well they are fed. They do not kill because of hunger. Often it is just to perfect a technique - or to teach maturing young "how to do it" Most often it is just pleasure. Don't take my word for it. There is a wealth of information for you to discover for yourself out there.
The Dept of Conservations article "Cat Nabbed while Raiding the Mothership" is worth a Google. The true murderous effects of this beastly animal are gradually being demonstrated -as is the mindless obliviousness of their owners.
Bruce Brownlee - 11 years ago
I wonder at the mentality of people like Rhodella "if you don"t like cats don"t own one". It is other peoples cats causing problems for us on our property that bother us. If Rhodellas cats are confined indoors she must be one of the few responsible cat owners in NZ in which case I commend her. However the only possible way she can know what they eat is to examine their stomach contents. Their are plenty of studies doing that. Start with the Greater Wellington Regional Councils Feral and Unwanted Cats.
'
RHODELLA - 11 years ago
I HAVE 5 CATS , NEVER HAVE THEY KILLED FOR FUN , IT IS SIMPLE , IF YOU DONT LIKE CATS ... DONT OWN ONE , I DONT LIKE FAT BEARDED MEN SO I DONT HAVE ONE , NO BRAINER
Bruce Brownlee - 11 years ago
At last ! the apparent dawn of reason in this bizarre discussion. Rod I am so glad you grasped what I was discuusing in most of your diatribe. You will understand our NZ history and even be talking about Gondwanaland when you release your emotive emetic.
David also shows some reason but appears to think breeding birds (I have done so all my life) is easy. They are effected by a wide range of needs food, water, temperature, predators and competition from their own and other species. Some are omnivorous others specialised nectar eaters with or without brush tongues. Some are carnivorous some parasitic. All are wonderful.
Both of you need to learn us bird lovers (even the devils advocates among us) merely want the right to police the area WE created in order to indulge our passion - birds.
We will not tolerate your vile animal in the sanctuary we create by planting food bearing trees. Of course the remedy is in your own hands. I think it is called a boundary.
Rod - 11 years ago
Its funny how humans forget the impact on the environment when they are complaining about other species. Why are the cats in NZ in the first place, they did not hire a boat or a plane to get there. humans took them there. How many acres of forest have the cats cut down, how many houses have they built, how many roads and cars have they made. NONE.
Bruce Brownlee and others like you I think that there should be a bounty on your head.
David - 11 years ago
There are so many other solutions for this. Campaigning for people to keep their cats indoors and showing how indoor cats live much longer healthier lives is one. Showing statistics on how likely it is for your cat to be killed by a car or lost or hurt in some way if left to wander outside on their own is another. Stating that if your cat must be let outside, it be in a supervised manner or on a harness is yet another. Along with the regular spay and neuter campaign and also telling people that if they have an unwanted cat, that they turn it over to a shelter rather than releasing or abandoning it somewhere. In addition to these, im sure some sort of bird breeding and protection program can be set up to breed and raise birds and then release them to help the population's numbers stay up. All of these are simply off the top of my head. This man has so much money and could fix this in much more effective and widely accepted ways than simply "cats need to go". His carelessness towards the value of life is costing both him and his cause dearly.
Bruce Brownlee - 11 years ago
Gosh what a wonderful programm : Feral and Unwanted Cats, produced by the Greater Wellington Regional Council. Good on you Wellington !
Why Gareth is not making use of it surprises me.
Bruce Brownlee - 11 years ago
For those interested in Feral Cats I commend www.gw.govt.nz/assets/council-publications/GWFeralCats-final.pdf
Bruce Brownlee - 11 years ago
Okay Conor you win! $ 6.00 (in todays market) would be more realistic considering the cat problem is man made or to use the correct term Anthropomorphic. However to avoid fraud the tail would of necessity need to be complete with a wedge shaped excision down to base of spine (coccyx). One cannot be too careful when using Public money to pay for it. We must avoid fraudsters.
Public money ? yes of course The expense will be paid by the registration of the cat owner. Considering they caused the problem in the first place that is fair and proper.
Conor I think we could get on well. I will buy you a beer sometime. We could discuss the exuberance of the Welcome Swallow etc as most of our true natives have already been assasinated by your loathsome cats. Cheers !
Conor - 11 years ago
Bruce i'd like it if cats started hunting people and you were the first to go. put a bounty on you.
Bruce Brownlee - 11 years ago
Jennifer some local authorities will lend you a cat trap. They are submersible. Clean your bath with bleach to destroy unwanted disease bacteria. The alternative is a lead or steel tranquilizer. They work well. You are however quite lucky - other countries have Rabies spread by cats but so far NZ has been fortunate and kept that ghastly diease at bay. Your GP might be a sensible option. Your local member of parliament will " wet a finger and hold it into the breeze."
Jennifer - 11 years ago
We have a family of feral cats in our back yard, they've left ripped apart birds and torn open rubbish and have come into the house. The other day my brother was attacked and bitten by one that was in the house. If a dog bit a human it would be put down, yet there is no outcry over the infectious and dangerous nature of cat bites and how quickly they they go bad. We managed to trap it, and called the SPCA, only to be told they don't deal with feral cats, only dogs (of which I've never seen one of, seeing as dogs are REGISTERED and are therefore much less likely to be an issue.) we are now doing a desperate run around being told to phone person after person and wait for responses with no assistance to deal with what are, to put it bluntly, dangerous wild animals that spread disease. These cats are not friendly, they don't mew or purr. They are wild and dangerous. Registering and desexing your cats is the LEAST a reasonable person can be expected do so as to cut down situations like this, and anyone who refuses such basic acts of common sense is in all likely-hood not responsible enough to be a pet owner to begin with.
Bruce Brownlee - 11 years ago
I note no one has contradicted the articulate opinion of Andrew Forsythe. Perhaps this is because most cat owners are governed by emotion rather than reason know they are supported by the wealthy but gormless SPCA which supports their loathsome animals despite evidence against them.
You can only wonder why the lighthouse keeper let his cat extirpate the Stehens Island Wren knowing it was specific and flightless - and by implication priceless.
Loathsome as cats are they understand calculus! they understand velocity, curvature, the nature of an arc, a complete understanding of trajectory point of impact and its consequences. Not bad !
Assuming most cat owners are selfish and ignorant (one nitwit even talks about snakes) they have to be forced to accept the responsibilities of ownership. This can be achived by giving property owners the right to police their own backyard.
Someone out there can invent a light rifle geared to a camera attached to a computer which would have "target" specie profiles in memory. We could control rats, stoats,cats,rabbits and unwanted cats. Only then will cat owners accept responsibiliy.
Andrew Forsyth - 11 years ago
I understand that felo-philes enjoy, and that they and they families derive pleasure from, their pet cats. However, they seem oblivious to, or willfully disregard, the damage that these advanced, introduced, mammalian predators do to our (struggling) native species. If it comes down to "cute, fluffy" pussy-cats with no biological merit in NZ, verses the limited, declining (and preserved at great expense) remaining native biodiversity in NZ (which, after the loss of the many Moa species, is still mainly avian), then the pet pussy cat must take second place. If people want cats, they must guarantee that they are registered, neutered, and will not fight in public (at night), poop on lawns or in gardens, or murder indigenous species. Its a basic question of responsibility. Sensible cat owners are welcome in NZ, irresponsible ones are little more than eco-vandals.
True birds are feathered dinosaurs as demonstrated by discovery of well preserved fossils in China -one even sitting on a clutch of eggs but buried by a sand avalanche (Feathered Dinosaurs Lang and Schouten). Alas the Moa (many species) were exterminated by Maori (Quin Berentson -Moa)
However birds have NOT survived multiple extinction levels as alleged by Keyser Soze.
Since the european introduced the cat,stoat,ferret,opposum and Norway rat, and cleared too much land we have lost too many species and need an all out war on these pests.
We can start with our own backyard and exterminate intruding pests but we need to do it lawfully. We can plant native trees that we know attract native birds. I have an opossum trap a stoat trap and I keep Rat poison out out 24/7. All I have left after predation are Tuis. The bloody cat has got my fantails and many others.
Keyser Soze - 11 years ago
Hello, just thought I'd let you guys in on some science facts! Birds are dinosaurs! Yeah, that's right, they have survived multiple extinction level events! They'll be fine, leave the felids alone.
That Raewyn is nuts !Use what is left of your eroding cerebral cortex and see that you are sanctioning the continuing erradication of bird species in the meantime. Releasing them (no matter what has been done to modify them) is to continue a monstrously stupid cruel thoughtless irresponsible policy - and justified by an organisation whose very name belies it.
Without doubt we could do with fewer dogs although they do not climb trees. However the best cat has rigor mortis.
Most of us anti people are not cruel. We merely want the right to take back what is ours - the backyard and coserve what species we have left.
Raewyn - 11 years ago
lets phase out dogs - they kill kiwi! And who destroys our native forests & depletes native wildlife habitats? SPCAs campaign to trap,desex & release strays back to their colonies is humane & practical becos they can no longer breed & eventually will phase out naturally - ONLY if idiots stopped abandoning/ dumping.
Bruce Brownlee - 11 years ago
Cats good for the environment ? not so ! Blackbird spreads disease ? - no more than any animal or bird.Yes he is a carrier of Avian Malaria but that is of no concern. Unlike the cat he is no Gestapo torturer nor does he carry Toxoplasmosis gondii - thereby threating pregnant women. Unlike the cat he is not a coward who will not fight anything that can defend himself. The blackbird, his cousin the thrush and the starling are essential for the control of grass grub, snails, catterpillers slugs and many other pests.Their absense would cost our country dearly.
I do wish obtuse people would do a little homework before they comment.
Cat Lover - 11 years ago
Cats are GOOD for the environment. We would be over ran by those awful black birds that carry diseases and dirty on everything if we did not have cats in our environment. We would also be over ran by mice and rats who also carry diseases. How terrible someone stupid like that man would even suggest anything like this. Does the people in NZ want to be over ran by diseases?? That is what would happen. Besides I have seen dogs also take care of birds too so do you want to get rid of man's best friend?? Snakes also get rid of birds; are you going to get rid of the snakes too?? There is a balance in the environment which God put there for a reason. You do not want too many birds around either. What a very stupid man that needs to keep his opinions to himself. Thank goodness we have an SPCA. Birds any kind of birds carry diseases and yes birds are dirty.
Bruce Brownlee - 11 years ago
Anibal Cunha reveals her ignorance of Gondwanaland,the development of flightless birds and the total absence of cats in old NZ. The birds only predators were other birds of prey. Consequently even our winged birds have not developed the genetic mechanisms needed to identify real danger and we have already permanently lost many species.
Sentimentality Anibal has its place .It is not here. Birds are under attack. The worst offenders are ignorant Homo sapiens, the cat,rats mustelids and loss of habitat.
Anibal Remo Cunha - 11 years ago
The ignorance leads mankind to pretend to be the decisive owners of hearth's destiny, is indecent to say the least.
I suggest doctor whatever and the he's followers which express dislike regarding cats and claim their extinction to read; " thoughts on humans and other animals" by John Gray.
Cats as all other animals, were here much before us and never endangered the planet as humans are doing since the first print they left in the ground. In fact, for the salvation of heath or better saying, to extend biologic possibility of survive longer, humans should be sterilized, not cats!
For our redemption, if it's still possible, all man should have each arm tattooed with:
"ANIMALS HAVE NO RIGTS, BUT HUMANS THAT HAVE OBLIGATIONS".
Aníbal. Cunha - Portugal
Brian Sparrow - 11 years ago
Natural born killers? You bet. Far too many cats in NZ. Micro-chipping sounds like a plan but probably unworkable due to cost. De-sexing should be incentivised by Govt subsidy. SPCA get into the real world and do not place surplus kittens. Euthanize them.
Bruce Brownlee - 11 years ago
The average cat owner (note average) is arrogant with no sense of the rights of others especially those who are striving to rectify the decline in our birds. There is only one cure. Cats need to be microchipped so that the absense of a chip can be detected from a distance and the animal shot thereby eliminating the need to catch the animal.
The SPCA and get rich quick lawyers need to be sidestepped.
Morgan le Faye - 11 years ago
Why not just keep kitties inside? They live longer that way. The birds will also avoid death by feline as well.
As for bounties for killing cats, that is disgusting. Why not a bounty for every trapped and neutered cat instead? That would bring up the percentage of cats neutered to the 71-94% needed to make stray cats a nonissue.
Why does Mr. Morgan hate purry, furry, lovey kitties so?
Well done Gareth about time it was said,I own a dog and pay to have him microchipped and registered so why should cat owners not have to do the same? Natural born killers is a pretty apt description for them also,again well said,the less of them the better.
Margaret - 11 years ago
I don't have a problem with cats as long as they stay on their own property and don't come onto mine!
Jon - 11 years ago
It astounds me that you can be so powerless to stop cats digging up your vege garden, attacking your chooks or spreading disease -my wife had to give up gardening while pregnant due to the 7 neighbourhood cats that frequented our yard, as toxoplasmosis can cause birth defects. I know it is inconvenient to keep a cat confined to your property, as this also means you have to clean up after it, but please, welcome to the real world. No one is ever going to care if you have cats you take full responsibility for them.
Gareth Morgan for PM :)
doug watson - 11 years ago
i have a lot of sympathy with this campaign - there are far too many cats around. however the solution may be simpler than so far suggested. my sister has a lurcher cross - called dexter - who has a pathological hatred of cats - so far he has killed 6 outright (with a number of maimings) to my sisters knowledge - but in reality it must be many many more. the latest was one who passed through 'his' back garden which he tore to pieces. he is not violent to people by the way - or other dogs - just any other living species and especially cats. so gareth, the answer could lie in dexters dna.
Johnny America - 11 years ago
Better Idea: Do the world a favor and set up traps to catch stray NZ tourists so they can be euthanized.
christiane charrier - 11 years ago
!!! no ...I have never seen such hate against cats ! this shameful campaign must end, immediately, cats deserve our respect and love ! I joined cats to stay ...
Bruce Brownlee - 11 years ago
A bounty would be best - say $5.00 per tail. Bruce Brownlee
Nature lovers destroy cats, cat lovers destroy nature.
I support some kind of "If it's on my property, it's not leaving" law, allowing caring and compassionate members of the public to indiscriminately and unashamedly kill any cat, or any other pest on their property, without the social backlash
I am reluctant to sign the current petition as it does not go far enough, merely transferring responsibility from the cat owner to the property occupier ( the offended one).That person should have the legal right to dispose of his cursed trespasser not thereby incurring any costs or waste of precious time.
Golly Andrea, Your sense of Geography is appalling. Here in NZ we do not have any snakes or tooth fairies either but we do have birds who have never been exposed to predators and so have not developed a sense of danger to the cowardly cat. Why don't you study the subject ? It is not compulsory to remain an ignorant yobo. Improve your mind with a little study.
cats are very much needed in usa and other places i have ADHD and my cat is a terapy cat and she helps me with my day ok so the world needs cats my dog bit me but my cat defened me from a snake does your dog do that no is does not!!!!!
fuck u all we need cats
Cat owners should watch their animal sit down. First he will fold his tail , expose his anus and plonk it on the carpet thereby transferring threadworm ova - and if said anus itches wipe said organ on your carpet. Now watch your youngster crawl across the same carpet and watch what he does with his now contaminated hands. Yuck !
Mia, I don't know why you overseas people (here in the UK) feel you have the right to comment on a country whose wildlife and ecology you do not understand eludes me. The exception will be if you are an expatriate NZ er. Of course if you read the comments section from bottom to top you will begin to understand the problems of a country whose wildlife was all birds - birds who knew no predators. They were and remain easy meat. Many bird species relinquished flight and in doing so benefitted by reducing energy demands. It was Homo sapiens sapiens who introduced the predators and thus created the problem. As a consequence we have lost hundreds of species not only birds but bats too.
@ "Cat Lover" you're a bonafide FOOL and a hater of nature!
@ Jacky feeding Cats doesn't stop them from catching birds, bunnies and other small
animals, it's instinct to hunt, keep them indoors and play with them, give them a lovely place to snooze, treat, stroking, that's what pets want, not to roam outdoors wrecking havoc all night and day on birds and wildlife.
I think it's insane to say all Cats should be gone, I love Birds but I like Cats too.
I love all birds, I don't love all Cats as I did my own cats when I had them, for 20 yrs.
They were house Cats they never ever killed a Bird b/c they didn't go out.
I agree that feral cats need to be eliminated, but to say indoor cats have to go,
when they don't have access to the outdoors and don't kill a thing, is insane.
Enough of the human stupidity that I see here in the UK where everyone's cat goes out, comes through windows, willy nilly killing Birds and the freaken owners claim they keep the rodents population down. Well dummies the rodents in your house is one thing, killing rodents and denying Birds of Prey is another.
Cats are pets they belong indoors, as inconvenient as a litter box maybe or getting screening... Hello People they're your Pets KEEP them in and out of the way of the Birds and stop singing Born Free.
OG You have done a reputable website a good deal of harm which raises the questions are you a "plant" to do just that, have you forgotten to take your medication, does your medication need adjusting or have you been at some non prescription hallucinogen ? Whatever way you look at it you need to consult your Psychiatrist.
FUCK THE CATS .IF I SEE YOUR CAT WALKING DOWN MY STREET IL FUKN SHOOT THE CUNT,AND FEED IT TO MY DOG.SIEG FUKN HEIL.
fuk da cats if i see the cunt shitting on my lawn il shoot the cunt mmm for life you sluts.
fuk da cats if i see the cunt shitting on my lawn ill shoot da cunt mmm for life you sluts
fuk da cats if i see the cunt shitting on my lawn ill shoot da cunt mmm for life you sluts
fuk da cats if i see the cunt shitting on my lawn ill shoot da cunt mmm for life you sluts
fuk da cats if i see the cunt shitting on my lawn ill shoot da cunt mmm for life you sluts
fuk da cats if i see the cunt shitting on my lawn ill shoot da cunt mmm for life you sluts
FUCK THE CATS .IF I SEE YOUR CAT WALKING DOWN MY STREET IL FUKN SHOOT THE CUNT,AND FEED IT TO MY DOG.SIEG FUKN HEIL.
John Terry uses the word cruel instead of the more accurate unpalatable. Even if he were correct the facts remain quite plain. Unregulated cats are destroying our unique bird life. John Terry's bloody cat is quite safe = if he takes responsibility for it and confines it to his own property.
This is cruel what most of NZ is saying about cats!
These animals have turned my life around and helped my mother with the alerting of seizures I have.
Having cats in New Zealand is not the fault of the cat, but cats ARE a huge problem. Our problem. Something we can and should reverse, in an humane way. Bringing cats into this small country was like introducing a cat into a fully fenced aviary. Having cats and native birds together will eventually leave us one winner - the one that Kiwi families spend more on each year than they spend on needy and impoverished PEOPLE.
I draw readers attention to the previous writer. What does he know of NZ conditions ? -nothing. This is revealed by his/her comment on moles which are conspicuous by their absence in NZ, by an abysmal knowledge of Gondwanaland, flightless birds etc. In short the cat lovers position is indefensible. If you read the comments section this applies to many correspondents who obviously have not read Gareth Morgans intro. Rats are easily controlled by other means. I know. I bred birds for years, I kept cats off the roof of my aviaries by using an electric fence on the aviary roof as many bird breeders are forced to do . Give us a break. Don't appeal to your superstitious God. Some of us have read Darwin ,Dawkins, Dennet etc and do not share your nonsensical belief believe in God. Stick to the facts please- and also I want the legal right to exterminate your bloody cat if he ventures onto my property.
I love cats. I have a black cat that goes inside and out. Yes he does kill things, but he always eats what he kills. I believe cats should be allowed to kill certain birds, moles, ect. because it helps keep down the population of these animals. Why else would they have been created. They make great pets as well. If you have a rat problem you can get a cat and the smell from the cat will drive away the rats. So I don't have a problem with cats and I hope this will help you like them better too.
How about a bumper sticker in order to raise funds? Please spare us all the social communication sites (ugh) I refuse to join any of them.
Jacky cats have a "hunting Instinct". It is built in. They will kill and torture no matter how well they are fed. They do not kill because of hunger. Often it is just to perfect a technique - or to teach maturing young "how to do it" Most often it is just pleasure. Don't take my word for it. There is a wealth of information for you to discover for yourself out there.
Feed your cat so they don't kill birds
The Dept of Conservations article "Cat Nabbed while Raiding the Mothership" is worth a Google. The true murderous effects of this beastly animal are gradually being demonstrated -as is the mindless obliviousness of their owners.
I wonder at the mentality of people like Rhodella "if you don"t like cats don"t own one". It is other peoples cats causing problems for us on our property that bother us. If Rhodellas cats are confined indoors she must be one of the few responsible cat owners in NZ in which case I commend her. However the only possible way she can know what they eat is to examine their stomach contents. Their are plenty of studies doing that. Start with the Greater Wellington Regional Councils Feral and Unwanted Cats.
'
I HAVE 5 CATS , NEVER HAVE THEY KILLED FOR FUN , IT IS SIMPLE , IF YOU DONT LIKE CATS ... DONT OWN ONE , I DONT LIKE FAT BEARDED MEN SO I DONT HAVE ONE , NO BRAINER
At last ! the apparent dawn of reason in this bizarre discussion. Rod I am so glad you grasped what I was discuusing in most of your diatribe. You will understand our NZ history and even be talking about Gondwanaland when you release your emotive emetic.
David also shows some reason but appears to think breeding birds (I have done so all my life) is easy. They are effected by a wide range of needs food, water, temperature, predators and competition from their own and other species. Some are omnivorous others specialised nectar eaters with or without brush tongues. Some are carnivorous some parasitic. All are wonderful.
Both of you need to learn us bird lovers (even the devils advocates among us) merely want the right to police the area WE created in order to indulge our passion - birds.
We will not tolerate your vile animal in the sanctuary we create by planting food bearing trees. Of course the remedy is in your own hands. I think it is called a boundary.
Its funny how humans forget the impact on the environment when they are complaining about other species. Why are the cats in NZ in the first place, they did not hire a boat or a plane to get there. humans took them there. How many acres of forest have the cats cut down, how many houses have they built, how many roads and cars have they made. NONE.
Bruce Brownlee and others like you I think that there should be a bounty on your head.
There are so many other solutions for this. Campaigning for people to keep their cats indoors and showing how indoor cats live much longer healthier lives is one. Showing statistics on how likely it is for your cat to be killed by a car or lost or hurt in some way if left to wander outside on their own is another. Stating that if your cat must be let outside, it be in a supervised manner or on a harness is yet another. Along with the regular spay and neuter campaign and also telling people that if they have an unwanted cat, that they turn it over to a shelter rather than releasing or abandoning it somewhere. In addition to these, im sure some sort of bird breeding and protection program can be set up to breed and raise birds and then release them to help the population's numbers stay up. All of these are simply off the top of my head. This man has so much money and could fix this in much more effective and widely accepted ways than simply "cats need to go". His carelessness towards the value of life is costing both him and his cause dearly.
Gosh what a wonderful programm : Feral and Unwanted Cats, produced by the Greater Wellington Regional Council. Good on you Wellington !
Why Gareth is not making use of it surprises me.
For those interested in Feral Cats I commend www.gw.govt.nz/assets/council-publications/GWFeralCats-final.pdf
Okay Conor you win! $ 6.00 (in todays market) would be more realistic considering the cat problem is man made or to use the correct term Anthropomorphic. However to avoid fraud the tail would of necessity need to be complete with a wedge shaped excision down to base of spine (coccyx). One cannot be too careful when using Public money to pay for it. We must avoid fraudsters.
Public money ? yes of course The expense will be paid by the registration of the cat owner. Considering they caused the problem in the first place that is fair and proper.
Conor I think we could get on well. I will buy you a beer sometime. We could discuss the exuberance of the Welcome Swallow etc as most of our true natives have already been assasinated by your loathsome cats. Cheers !
Bruce i'd like it if cats started hunting people and you were the first to go. put a bounty on you.
Jennifer some local authorities will lend you a cat trap. They are submersible. Clean your bath with bleach to destroy unwanted disease bacteria. The alternative is a lead or steel tranquilizer. They work well. You are however quite lucky - other countries have Rabies spread by cats but so far NZ has been fortunate and kept that ghastly diease at bay. Your GP might be a sensible option. Your local member of parliament will " wet a finger and hold it into the breeze."
We have a family of feral cats in our back yard, they've left ripped apart birds and torn open rubbish and have come into the house. The other day my brother was attacked and bitten by one that was in the house. If a dog bit a human it would be put down, yet there is no outcry over the infectious and dangerous nature of cat bites and how quickly they they go bad. We managed to trap it, and called the SPCA, only to be told they don't deal with feral cats, only dogs (of which I've never seen one of, seeing as dogs are REGISTERED and are therefore much less likely to be an issue.) we are now doing a desperate run around being told to phone person after person and wait for responses with no assistance to deal with what are, to put it bluntly, dangerous wild animals that spread disease. These cats are not friendly, they don't mew or purr. They are wild and dangerous. Registering and desexing your cats is the LEAST a reasonable person can be expected do so as to cut down situations like this, and anyone who refuses such basic acts of common sense is in all likely-hood not responsible enough to be a pet owner to begin with.
I note no one has contradicted the articulate opinion of Andrew Forsythe. Perhaps this is because most cat owners are governed by emotion rather than reason know they are supported by the wealthy but gormless SPCA which supports their loathsome animals despite evidence against them.
You can only wonder why the lighthouse keeper let his cat extirpate the Stehens Island Wren knowing it was specific and flightless - and by implication priceless.
Loathsome as cats are they understand calculus! they understand velocity, curvature, the nature of an arc, a complete understanding of trajectory point of impact and its consequences. Not bad !
Assuming most cat owners are selfish and ignorant (one nitwit even talks about snakes) they have to be forced to accept the responsibilities of ownership. This can be achived by giving property owners the right to police their own backyard.
Someone out there can invent a light rifle geared to a camera attached to a computer which would have "target" specie profiles in memory. We could control rats, stoats,cats,rabbits and unwanted cats. Only then will cat owners accept responsibiliy.
I understand that felo-philes enjoy, and that they and they families derive pleasure from, their pet cats. However, they seem oblivious to, or willfully disregard, the damage that these advanced, introduced, mammalian predators do to our (struggling) native species. If it comes down to "cute, fluffy" pussy-cats with no biological merit in NZ, verses the limited, declining (and preserved at great expense) remaining native biodiversity in NZ (which, after the loss of the many Moa species, is still mainly avian), then the pet pussy cat must take second place. If people want cats, they must guarantee that they are registered, neutered, and will not fight in public (at night), poop on lawns or in gardens, or murder indigenous species. Its a basic question of responsibility. Sensible cat owners are welcome in NZ, irresponsible ones are little more than eco-vandals.
True birds are feathered dinosaurs as demonstrated by discovery of well preserved fossils in China -one even sitting on a clutch of eggs but buried by a sand avalanche (Feathered Dinosaurs Lang and Schouten). Alas the Moa (many species) were exterminated by Maori (Quin Berentson -Moa)
However birds have NOT survived multiple extinction levels as alleged by Keyser Soze.
Since the european introduced the cat,stoat,ferret,opposum and Norway rat, and cleared too much land we have lost too many species and need an all out war on these pests.
We can start with our own backyard and exterminate intruding pests but we need to do it lawfully. We can plant native trees that we know attract native birds. I have an opossum trap a stoat trap and I keep Rat poison out out 24/7. All I have left after predation are Tuis. The bloody cat has got my fantails and many others.
Hello, just thought I'd let you guys in on some science facts! Birds are dinosaurs! Yeah, that's right, they have survived multiple extinction level events! They'll be fine, leave the felids alone.
That Raewyn is nuts !Use what is left of your eroding cerebral cortex and see that you are sanctioning the continuing erradication of bird species in the meantime. Releasing them (no matter what has been done to modify them) is to continue a monstrously stupid cruel thoughtless irresponsible policy - and justified by an organisation whose very name belies it.
Without doubt we could do with fewer dogs although they do not climb trees. However the best cat has rigor mortis.
Most of us anti people are not cruel. We merely want the right to take back what is ours - the backyard and coserve what species we have left.
lets phase out dogs - they kill kiwi! And who destroys our native forests & depletes native wildlife habitats? SPCAs campaign to trap,desex & release strays back to their colonies is humane & practical becos they can no longer breed & eventually will phase out naturally - ONLY if idiots stopped abandoning/ dumping.
Cats good for the environment ? not so ! Blackbird spreads disease ? - no more than any animal or bird.Yes he is a carrier of Avian Malaria but that is of no concern. Unlike the cat he is no Gestapo torturer nor does he carry Toxoplasmosis gondii - thereby threating pregnant women. Unlike the cat he is not a coward who will not fight anything that can defend himself. The blackbird, his cousin the thrush and the starling are essential for the control of grass grub, snails, catterpillers slugs and many other pests.Their absense would cost our country dearly.
I do wish obtuse people would do a little homework before they comment.
Cats are GOOD for the environment. We would be over ran by those awful black birds that carry diseases and dirty on everything if we did not have cats in our environment. We would also be over ran by mice and rats who also carry diseases. How terrible someone stupid like that man would even suggest anything like this. Does the people in NZ want to be over ran by diseases?? That is what would happen. Besides I have seen dogs also take care of birds too so do you want to get rid of man's best friend?? Snakes also get rid of birds; are you going to get rid of the snakes too?? There is a balance in the environment which God put there for a reason. You do not want too many birds around either. What a very stupid man that needs to keep his opinions to himself. Thank goodness we have an SPCA. Birds any kind of birds carry diseases and yes birds are dirty.
Anibal Cunha reveals her ignorance of Gondwanaland,the development of flightless birds and the total absence of cats in old NZ. The birds only predators were other birds of prey. Consequently even our winged birds have not developed the genetic mechanisms needed to identify real danger and we have already permanently lost many species.
Sentimentality Anibal has its place .It is not here. Birds are under attack. The worst offenders are ignorant Homo sapiens, the cat,rats mustelids and loss of habitat.
The ignorance leads mankind to pretend to be the decisive owners of hearth's destiny, is indecent to say the least.
I suggest doctor whatever and the he's followers which express dislike regarding cats and claim their extinction to read; " thoughts on humans and other animals" by John Gray.
Cats as all other animals, were here much before us and never endangered the planet as humans are doing since the first print they left in the ground. In fact, for the salvation of heath or better saying, to extend biologic possibility of survive longer, humans should be sterilized, not cats!
For our redemption, if it's still possible, all man should have each arm tattooed with:
"ANIMALS HAVE NO RIGTS, BUT HUMANS THAT HAVE OBLIGATIONS".
Aníbal. Cunha - Portugal
Natural born killers? You bet. Far too many cats in NZ. Micro-chipping sounds like a plan but probably unworkable due to cost. De-sexing should be incentivised by Govt subsidy. SPCA get into the real world and do not place surplus kittens. Euthanize them.
The average cat owner (note average) is arrogant with no sense of the rights of others especially those who are striving to rectify the decline in our birds. There is only one cure. Cats need to be microchipped so that the absense of a chip can be detected from a distance and the animal shot thereby eliminating the need to catch the animal.
The SPCA and get rich quick lawyers need to be sidestepped.
Why not just keep kitties inside? They live longer that way. The birds will also avoid death by feline as well.
As for bounties for killing cats, that is disgusting. Why not a bounty for every trapped and neutered cat instead? That would bring up the percentage of cats neutered to the 71-94% needed to make stray cats a nonissue.
Why does Mr. Morgan hate purry, furry, lovey kitties so?
Hahahaha...Watch..Which one is Gareth !!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=fvwp&v=AdVBU-gS2xo&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89FDAYsTgfs
Well done Gareth about time it was said,I own a dog and pay to have him microchipped and registered so why should cat owners not have to do the same? Natural born killers is a pretty apt description for them also,again well said,the less of them the better.
I don't have a problem with cats as long as they stay on their own property and don't come onto mine!
It astounds me that you can be so powerless to stop cats digging up your vege garden, attacking your chooks or spreading disease -my wife had to give up gardening while pregnant due to the 7 neighbourhood cats that frequented our yard, as toxoplasmosis can cause birth defects. I know it is inconvenient to keep a cat confined to your property, as this also means you have to clean up after it, but please, welcome to the real world. No one is ever going to care if you have cats you take full responsibility for them.
Gareth Morgan for PM :)
i have a lot of sympathy with this campaign - there are far too many cats around. however the solution may be simpler than so far suggested. my sister has a lurcher cross - called dexter - who has a pathological hatred of cats - so far he has killed 6 outright (with a number of maimings) to my sisters knowledge - but in reality it must be many many more. the latest was one who passed through 'his' back garden which he tore to pieces. he is not violent to people by the way - or other dogs - just any other living species and especially cats. so gareth, the answer could lie in dexters dna.
Better Idea: Do the world a favor and set up traps to catch stray NZ tourists so they can be euthanized.
!!! no ...I have never seen such hate against cats ! this shameful campaign must end, immediately, cats deserve our respect and love ! I joined cats to stay ...
A bounty would be best - say $5.00 per tail. Bruce Brownlee