The Pet Thread

First.Aspect

pinno said:

He just came in 10 mins ago. Very hungry but looking like nothing happened.
Barsteward.
Phew.

You have to understand that he doesn't mind what you think, providing you feed him.

pinno

First.Aspect said:

pinno said:

He just came in 10 mins ago. Very hungry but looking like nothing happened.
Barsteward.
Phew.

You have to understand that he doesn't mind what you think, providing you feed him.

Oh, it's all one way.
Dogs have masters, cats have servants.

First.Aspect

pinno said:

First.Aspect said:

pinno said:

He just came in 10 mins ago. Very hungry but looking like nothing happened.
Barsteward.
Phew.

You have to understand that he doesn't mind what you think, providing you feed him.

Oh, it's all one way.
Dogs have masters, cats have servants.

It is worse than that. They are conducting a giant experiment. I think you are in the control group.

pinno

He's right next to me, curled up and fast asleep.
The tw@t.

ugo.santalucia

Cute


Not so cute...

briantrumpet

My dislike of cats hasn't been moderated by a very much loved one of a neighbour: said cat has now hospitalised both owners with vicious unprovoked bites that have caused deep infection, the latest one requiring five days of hospitalisation and i/v antibiotics. Bet they won't have the horrid thing put down... "Oh, she didn't mean it!"

First.Aspect

briantrumpet said:

My dislike of cats hasn't been moderated by a very much loved one of a neighbour: said cat has now hospitalised both owners with vicious unprovoked bites that have caused deep infection, the latest one requiring five days of hospitalisation and i/v antibiotics. Bet they won't have the horrid thing put down... "Oh, she didn't mean it!"

That's just like hating dogs because every now and then a pit bull disembowels a toddler.

I'm struggling to remember the last time anyone died after being attacked by a domestic cat.

briantrumpet

First.Aspect said:

briantrumpet said:

My dislike of cats hasn't been moderated by a very much loved one of a neighbour: said cat has now hospitalised both owners with vicious unprovoked bites that have caused deep infection, the latest one requiring five days of hospitalisation and i/v antibiotics. Bet they won't have the horrid thing put down... "Oh, she didn't mean it!"

That's just like hating dogs because every now and then a pit bull disembowels a toddler.

I'm struggling to remember the last time anyone died after being attacked by a domestic cat.

It's a fair point, and on the plus side, it was only its owners it hospitalised, not strangers.

First.Aspect

briantrumpet said:

First.Aspect said:

briantrumpet said:

My dislike of cats hasn't been moderated by a very much loved one of a neighbour: said cat has now hospitalised both owners with vicious unprovoked bites that have caused deep infection, the latest one requiring five days of hospitalisation and i/v antibiotics. Bet they won't have the horrid thing put down... "Oh, she didn't mean it!"

That's just like hating dogs because every now and then a pit bull disembowels a toddler.

I'm struggling to remember the last time anyone died after being attacked by a domestic cat.

It's a fair point, and on the plus side, it was only its owners it hospitalised, not strangers.

Is the cat okay?

rjsterry

briantrumpet said:

My dislike of cats hasn't been moderated by a very much loved one of a neighbour: said cat has now hospitalised both owners with vicious unprovoked bites that have caused deep infection, the latest one requiring five days of hospitalisation and i/v antibiotics. Bet they won't have the horrid thing put down... "Oh, she didn't mean it!"

Avoid bites. Some really nasty bacteria in cat saliva.

First.Aspect

rjsterry said:

briantrumpet said:

My dislike of cats hasn't been moderated by a very much loved one of a neighbour: said cat has now hospitalised both owners with vicious unprovoked bites that have caused deep infection, the latest one requiring five days of hospitalisation and i/v antibiotics. Bet they won't have the horrid thing put down... "Oh, she didn't mean it!"

Some really nasty bacteria in cat saliva. That's why they get abscesses on their neck when they have, ahem, territorial disputes.

Whereas dog spit is potable.

rjsterry

First.Aspect said:

rjsterry said:

briantrumpet said:

My dislike of cats hasn't been moderated by a very much loved one of a neighbour: said cat has now hospitalised both owners with vicious unprovoked bites that have caused deep infection, the latest one requiring five days of hospitalisation and i/v antibiotics. Bet they won't have the horrid thing put down... "Oh, she didn't mean it!"

Some really nasty bacteria in cat saliva. That's why they get abscesses on their neck when they have, ahem, territorial disputes.

Whereas dog spit is potable.

Well it's not great, but IIRC cat spit is almost evolved to make bites go septic. Cats that fight tend to get abscesses on the back of their neck from war wounds.

First.Aspect

rjsterry said:

First.Aspect said:

rjsterry said:

briantrumpet said:

My dislike of cats hasn't been moderated by a very much loved one of a neighbour: said cat has now hospitalised both owners with vicious unprovoked bites that have caused deep infection, the latest one requiring five days of hospitalisation and i/v antibiotics. Bet they won't have the horrid thing put down... "Oh, she didn't mean it!"

Some really nasty bacteria in cat saliva. That's why they get abscesses on their neck when they have, ahem, territorial disputes.

Whereas dog spit is potable.

Well it's not great, but IIRC cat spit is almost evolved to make bites go septic. Cats that fight tend to get abscesses on the back of their neck from war wounds.

Trust me, my wallet fully understands this.

Happily most of the time they just make funny noises and settle things by sitting at right angles to one another before walking away.

pinno

I cannot (bar student days) remember when I didn't have 1 or 2 or 3 cats. I tend to stick to 1 nowadays in respect of the environmental impact they can wreak.
In all that time, I have only ever been badly scratched once* and seen as the vast majority of cats I have ever owned have been strays or rescue cats. Therefore, there is something the owners are doing to wind the cat up.
*This one occasion: I had one stray who scratched me and her claw caught the inside of my nostril and it bled and bled. I made the mistake of picking her up. This was early on after she 'moved in'. After she gained trust and I learnt her habits, she was the gentlest cat I have ever known. She was one very highly strung (and mostly frightened moggy) to start with. She never ever once soiled anywhere indoors.
She knew the engine note of my car and would appear every single time I came home, rain wind or snow.
She would watch me leave and watch me come back.

Got killed on the road unfortunately. Bless her white socks.

laurentian

First.Aspect said:

briantrumpet said:

My dislike of cats hasn't been moderated by a very much loved one of a neighbour: said cat has now hospitalised both owners with vicious unprovoked bites that have caused deep infection, the latest one requiring five days of hospitalisation and i/v antibiotics. Bet they won't have the horrid thing put down... "Oh, she didn't mean it!"

That's just like hating dogs because every now and then a pit bull disembowels a toddler.

I'm struggling to remember the last time anyone died after being attacked by a domestic cat.

. . . sadly, the same cannot be said for literally millions of our indigenous songbirds and small mammals . . .

First.Aspect

laurentian said:

First.Aspect said:

briantrumpet said:

My dislike of cats hasn't been moderated by a very much loved one of a neighbour: said cat has now hospitalised both owners with vicious unprovoked bites that have caused deep infection, the latest one requiring five days of hospitalisation and i/v antibiotics. Bet they won't have the horrid thing put down... "Oh, she didn't mean it!"

That's just like hating dogs because every now and then a pit bull disembowels a toddler.

I'm struggling to remember the last time anyone died after being attacked by a domestic cat.

. . . sadly, the same cannot be said for literally millions of our indigenous songbirds and small mammals . . .

Go read up on that. Grossly exaggerated. The sort of thing More of Less enjoys pulling to shreds.

laurentian

First.Aspect said:

laurentian said:

First.Aspect said:

briantrumpet said:

My dislike of cats hasn't been moderated by a very much loved one of a neighbour: said cat has now hospitalised both owners with vicious unprovoked bites that have caused deep infection, the latest one requiring five days of hospitalisation and i/v antibiotics. Bet they won't have the horrid thing put down... "Oh, she didn't mean it!"

That's just like hating dogs because every now and then a pit bull disembowels a toddler.

I'm struggling to remember the last time anyone died after being attacked by a domestic cat.

. . . sadly, the same cannot be said for literally millions of our indigenous songbirds and small mammals . . .

Go read up on that. Grossly exaggerated. The sort of thing More of Less enjoys pulling to shreds.

The RSPB is where I just "read up":

https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/gardening-for-wildlife/animal-deterrents/cats-and-garden-birds/are-cats-causing-bird-declines/

100 million deaths 27 million of which are estimated to be birds. Even if it were "pulled apart" to 25% of their estimates, it's still an awfully high number

First.Aspect

laurentian said:

First.Aspect said:

laurentian said:

First.Aspect said:

briantrumpet said:

My dislike of cats hasn't been moderated by a very much loved one of a neighbour: said cat has now hospitalised both owners with vicious unprovoked bites that have caused deep infection, the latest one requiring five days of hospitalisation and i/v antibiotics. Bet they won't have the horrid thing put down... "Oh, she didn't mean it!"

That's just like hating dogs because every now and then a pit bull disembowels a toddler.

I'm struggling to remember the last time anyone died after being attacked by a domestic cat.

. . . sadly, the same cannot be said for literally millions of our indigenous songbirds and small mammals . . .

Go read up on that. Grossly exaggerated. The sort of thing More of Less enjoys pulling to shreds.

The RSPB is where I just "read up":

https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/gardening-for-wildlife/animal-deterrents/cats-and-garden-birds/are-cats-causing-bird-declines/

100 million deaths 27 million of which are estimated to be birds. Even if it were "pulled apart" to 25% of their estimates, it's still an awfully high number

Did you actually read the article?

laurentian

First.Aspect said:

laurentian said:

First.Aspect said:

laurentian said:

First.Aspect said:

briantrumpet said:

My dislike of cats hasn't been moderated by a very much loved one of a neighbour: said cat has now hospitalised both owners with vicious unprovoked bites that have caused deep infection, the latest one requiring five days of hospitalisation and i/v antibiotics. Bet they won't have the horrid thing put down... "Oh, she didn't mean it!"

That's just like hating dogs because every now and then a pit bull disembowels a toddler.

I'm struggling to remember the last time anyone died after being attacked by a domestic cat.

. . . sadly, the same cannot be said for literally millions of our indigenous songbirds and small mammals . . .

Go read up on that. Grossly exaggerated. The sort of thing More of Less enjoys pulling to shreds.

The RSPB is where I just "read up":

https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/gardening-for-wildlife/animal-deterrents/cats-and-garden-birds/are-cats-causing-bird-declines/

100 million deaths 27 million of which are estimated to be birds. Even if it were "pulled apart" to 25% of their estimates, it's still an awfully high number

Did you actually read the article?

Yes . . . your point?

First.Aspect

laurentian said:

First.Aspect said:

laurentian said:

First.Aspect said:

laurentian said:

First.Aspect said:

briantrumpet said:

My dislike of cats hasn't been moderated by a very much loved one of a neighbour: said cat has now hospitalised both owners with vicious unprovoked bites that have caused deep infection, the latest one requiring five days of hospitalisation and i/v antibiotics. Bet they won't have the horrid thing put down... "Oh, she didn't mean it!"

That's just like hating dogs because every now and then a pit bull disembowels a toddler.

I'm struggling to remember the last time anyone died after being attacked by a domestic cat.

. . . sadly, the same cannot be said for literally millions of our indigenous songbirds and small mammals . . .

Go read up on that. Grossly exaggerated. The sort of thing More of Less enjoys pulling to shreds.

The RSPB is where I just "read up":

https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/gardening-for-wildlife/animal-deterrents/cats-and-garden-birds/are-cats-causing-bird-declines/

100 million deaths 27 million of which are estimated to be birds. Even if it were "pulled apart" to 25% of their estimates, it's still an awfully high number

Did you actually read the article?

Yes . . . your point?

The part that says there's no evidence it is causing species decline? The part that says most of them are caught because they'd have died anyway? You know, important stuff like that.

laurentian

The part that says there's no evidence it is causing species decline? The part that says most of them are caught because they'd have died anyway? You know, important stuff like that.

I didn't mention species decline, just deaths due to cat predation (this is "important stuff" in the context of the statement and your subsequent comment)

"most" also doesn't mean "all" . . . once again, a fraction, say 1%, of 100 million is still an awful lot

pangolin

laurentian said:

First.Aspect said:

The part that says there's no evidence it is causing species decline? The part that says most of them are caught because they'd have died anyway? You know, important stuff like that.

I didn't mention species decline, just deaths due to cat predation (this is "important stuff" in the context of the statement and your subsequent comment)

"most" also doesn't mean "all" . . . once again, a fraction, say 1%, of 100 million is still an awful lot

What is your point then? It sounded like you were implying cats were causing damage to mammal numbers, but you posted an article that specifically says there is no scientific evidence they are causing damage to these species.

laurentian

My point was pretty clear, cats kill small mammals and song birds. That is the only point I made which is exactly what the RSPB article says - I wasn't implying anything - I don't see the need to.

The fact that the killing of something doesn't affect the overall population doesn't alter the fact that they are killed does it?

First.Aspect

laurentian said:

My point was pretty clear, cats kill small mammals and song birds. That is the only point I made which is exactly what the RSPB article says - I wasn't implying anything - I don't see the need to.

The fact that the killing of something doesn't affect the overall population doesn't alter the fact that they are killed does it?

Depends whether it's dead already, to be honest. Or on the ground about to die.

It isn't ideal when a cat brings something in, but unless you are a vegan and believe only in herbivorous pets, then you've got a bit of a double standards issue going on.

pangolin

laurentian said:

My point was pretty clear, cats kill small mammals and song birds. That is the only point I made which is exactly what the RSPB article says - I wasn't implying anything - I don't see the need to.

The fact that the killing of something doesn't affect the overall population doesn't alter the fact that they are killed does it?

But that is not what the article is saying

It is likely that most of the birds killed by cats would have died anyway from other causes before the next breeding season

More broadly, if the populations are stable, who cares if cats are killing some?

focuszing723

Sparrow?

laurentian

Again "most" doesn't equal "all" and I for one care. The human race is pretty adept at killing its own kind with no affect on overall population, it doesn't make that right.

As far as what the "article is saying" it says "They estimate that cats in the UK catch up to 100 million prey items over spring and summer, of which 27 million are birds." Whatever it goes on to say about the relative health or life expectancy of those doesn't change this.

@First Aspect. Domestic cats are not an indigenous species to the UK. No double standards from me. They are an introduced apex predator and I don't own one or any other kind of pet, herbivorous or otherwise.

First.Aspect

I think we should eraticate rabbits and hares. They aren't indigenous and they are eating large quantities of grass. The rabbits also dig unsightly holes and the hares behave irresponsibly each spring.

First.Aspect

Neither should be kept as pets.

laurentian

First.Aspect said:

I think we should eraticate rabbits and hares. They aren't indigenous and they are eating large quantities of grass. The rabbits also dig unsightly holes and the hares behave irresponsibly each spring.

. . . and they don't predate our indigenous song birds or small mammals so I'm cool with rabbits and hares. I have also not mentioned any support for the eradication of cats. (FYI, I think they should be better controlled but that's a different conversation)