Dear cat owners

[ghoti_mhic_uait]

Edit: feanelwasuggested that it's more likely to be a squirrel-squirrel affair. I like that idea better than the cat one, especially as our local cats previously seemed to be mostly gentle specimens.

Please control your beasts. Today I discovered a dead squirrel in our garden. It wasn't in sight of the door, and I don't have a cat, so it was pure luck that I found it when I was out by myself, and that Judith didnt find it first. She loves squirrels - I'm sure it would have been both upsetting and a health risk if she'd found it first.

I feel faintly sick. I wish I had some way of knowing which house the cat in question came from, I'd go and ask them to clean it up.

Comments

[valkyriekaren.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure how you prevent a cat from killing rodents, short of keeping it indoors or tying it up - neither of which are generally considered good for cats! It's not like you can train them, and since they were basically domesticated for killing vermin, that killer instinct when encountering anything small and fluffy/feathery has never been bred out.

[absinthecity.livejournal.com]

*nod* 'Controlling' a cat isn't really...a thing.

[the-alchemist.livejournal.com]

Why is keeping cats indoors bad, as a matter of interest? My husband is very against letting ours out, and I've always vaguely believed that's wrong, but never been able to give a reason why.

[valkyriekaren.livejournal.com]

I think opinions are divided on this, but as I understand it unless a cat has been raised from a kitten to be an 'indoor cat', it's likely to be quite unhappy if it can't get out.

[mooncat75.livejournal.com]

Untrue. My two cats were born feral and lived feral, taught by 'cat-mom' how to hunt, hide, and stalk. My friends and I managed to catch my two and I have raised them indoors and they are quite happy. They like to sit in the windows and taunt the neighbor dog.

The key to happy indoor cats is keeping them entertained so they don't get bored. Have a second cat to keep them company, toys, and interactive play with their human.