Don't shoot the cat ...

[Marla]

Apparently Wisconsin is considering adding feral cats to the list of animals it's ok for any licensed hunter to kill, as South Dakota and Minnesota have allowed for decades. While feral cats are a real problem, this sounds like a big invitation to shoot any cat without a collar. I've already lost two cats in my life to people with more firepower than sense -- both on my own property, too.

http://dontshootthecat.com/

[daniel1983]

I am a big supporter of hunting animals to reduce populations for numerous reasons.

But when idiots start to shoot peoples pets, everything is getting out of hand.

There was a nice piece of land that the local farmer would let us drive across to get to one of our deer hunting spots. This went on for years never any problems. Then one day...some idoit shot and killed one of his horses thinking it was a deer (i dont know how you could confuse the two). This would have never taken place if this person would have just followed the rules and hunted where he was supposed to hunt.

It is the stupid and ignorant people that give good hunters a bad name. Not all hunters are ignorant drunken gun wielding psycopaths that set the woods on fire and kill bambi's mom. Just remember that some of us are good guys that do what is right.

[montie420]

first of all it would not be people pets, the law says "an animal that does not have a collar and does not appear to be friendly" or something of that mannor

second cats are HUGELY detrimental to the environment, unlike other animals that kill for food cats just kill for fun.

third hunting cats has been legalized in other states for decades with out it being an issue.

[daniel1983]

first of all it would not be people pets, the law says "an animal that does not have a collar and does not appear to be friendly" or something of that mannor

second cats are HUGELY detrimental to the environment, unlike other animals that kill for food cats just kill for fun.

third hunting cats has been legalized in other states for decades with out it being an issue.

Yes...but Marla was saying that several incidents have happened to her where cats were killed by people. To some people the law says "an animal that does not have a collar and does not appear to be friendly" and to some it say "open season on all cats". Just because it is a law does not mean people will follow it exactly.

I agree...the cats are very detrimental to the environment. I dont know about the killing for fun... but I have heard reports of bird, frog, and lizard populations in an area greatly decreasing in the presence of large amounts of wild cats.

It was definately an issue when the laws were getting passed. Do you really think animal rights groups would allow something like this to get passed unopposed?

[mlededee]

just because a cat isn't wearing a collar doesn't mean that it isn't someone's pet. and how can you judge whether a cat is friendly or not? most strays are shy, and may not actively seek interaction with people but that certainly doesn't make them unfriendly. feral cats do not do a whole lot of killing for fun. they are killing for food just like other wild animals. if your pet got out and someone shot it how would you feel about that? hunting and shooting feral cats just to get rid of them are too completely different things. if this is legalized what will they do next? decide that if you are a licensed hunter you have the right to shoot your neighbor because they had an unfortunate upbringing and weren't ever given a chance to make it in life? (yes i am going overboard here, but i make my point.)

[daniel1983]

I see a different side of things because I am a hunter and I am also from Louisiana. Louisiana actually has a bounty on nutria rats. They cause so much damage to areas that they are actually hunted for money, pelts, food, etc. I have pet cats and would be heartbroken if something were to happen to them. But when an animal is released into the wild in an area where it is not originally from and is hurting the environment, I see no problem with getting rid of them (although, I really like the idea of the animals actually being used for something).

Mel, I respect your point about saving all of the cats, but at what cost. These animals are greatly harming populations of native anoles, toads, and birds. If your neighbor with the "unfortunate upbringing" were to break into your house and kill your family, would you not want him to be killed before he could do so?

there are two sides to everything, both are always right and both are always wrong. Great topic.

[mlededee]

good point about the neighbors daniel, but shooting him or her still isn't the best solution in my opinion, even though i would sure want to.

i like cats. i HATE it that there are so many strays. however, i don't think that the solution is to allow hunters to shoot them. the purpose of hunting is to get food or hides, etc.--generally the hunter uses the animal he kills in some way. shooting a cat is not hunting. it is shooting the animal for the purpose of killing it and nothing more. i don't want some kid stalking around the dumpster outside my apartment at night hoping to nail a few cats. a better solution would be to trap the cats and euthanize them. i hate the thought of it but i feel it is a much better solution than allowing people to shoot them.

[Anthony83]

WoW thats completely stupid.....Yeah It takes a real skillfull hunter to track down and shoot a stray cat somebody break out the trophies.

[xdeus]

shooting a cat is not hunting. it is shooting the animal for the purpose of killing it and nothing more.

Hmmm... would you feel different if they were used for Burm or Retic meals? I find it interesting that people will defend one life yet justify the killing of another. People kill feral cats to protect the environment and other species and people kill rodents to feed to their pet snakes. What makes one right and the other wrong?

[Anthony83]

What effects do the cats really have on the enviornment is it really that serious
what happened to trapping them and putting them to sleep. and for people who own cats arent you supposed to have the cat fixed if you do not want kittens. I know we had alot of strays in our neigborhood we thought the did us a favor they kept the mice away.