Angry Neighbors

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pancake - 15 Apr 2006 17:40 GMT

Have 3 cats who have been allowed outdoors for all of their lives and
are avid hunters . We have a chain link fence around our lot which the
cats can easily climb. Over the last few weeks I've noticed a new
litter of squirels in a tree hollow in the yard. Today there's one
less...... and a neighbor happened to see the kill. Now they've
threatened to set traps in their yard which is directly behind ours.
I realize that they are within their rights and I must either
construct a barrier or start keeping them inside. Don't really have
the funds to build a wall, so conversion to an indoor life is the only
option.. Any suggestions to ease the process?
Pancake

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The Bad, BAD Vet - 15 Apr 2006 20:10 GMT

> Have 3 cats who have been allowed outdoors for all of their lives and
> are avid hunters . We have a chain link fence around our lot which the
> cats can easily climb. Over the last few weeks I've noticed a new
> litter of squirels in a tree hollow in the yard. Today there's one
> less...... and a neighbor happened to see the kill.

As a vet, I can thoroughly recommend a course of action which never fails to
work in these difficult kinds of situations - buy an air-rifle, and use it
to pick-off your cats whenever they make a move on the poor, harmless
squirrels. As everyone knows, squirrels are more intelligent, and generally
better all-round, than cats, and in any choice where one or the other has to
die, then it has to be the cats.

> Now they've threatened to set traps in their yard which is directly behind

ours.

Speaking as a vet, I absolutely side with your neighbours. I know, from a
professional point of view, that your cats should be punished for what
they're doing, and that traps are a perfect way to go about it. I would
suggest that your neighbour uses good, old-fashioned gin traps. They've
stood the test of time, and you can't beat them (unlike your cats, eh?!). I.
myself, have used them on cats several times, and i can recommend them.

> I realize that they are within their rights and I must either
> construct a barrier or start keeping them inside.

I have to tell you that, as a vet, I do NOT approve of keeping cats indoors.
Mind you, I don't approve of keeping them OUTdoors either, so the only
alternative is to have them put down. I suggest something quick and
relatively humane, like drowning, or throwing them from the roof.

> Don't really have the funds to build a wall, so conversion to
> an indoor life is the only option..

As a vet, I disagree. Another option, as I mentioned above, is putting them
out of their misery. Think about the squirrels. Have you no shame? Cruel
idiots like you should be jailed.

> Any suggestions to ease the process?

Yes. When you finally see sense and decide to terminate your filthy,
diseased, squirrel-murdering cats, drug them with sleeping-pills first.
Stops them squealing so much, see.

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philo - 15 Apr 2006 23:55 GMT

> Have 3 cats who have been allowed outdoors for all of their lives and
> are avid hunters . We have a chain link fence around our lot which the
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> option.. Any suggestions to ease the process?
> Pancake

There are fences with a flexible top...when the cat grabs onto it...
it bends backwards...
you could prob. install such a system on your fence without having to
replace everything

you could try googling for cat-proof fence

here is one link i found

http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/cat_care/fence_me_in.html

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Martin - 17 Apr 2006 02:59 GMT

"within their rights" are you sure? - in the UK laying traps for domestic
animals is criminal

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Matthew AKA NMR - 17 Apr 2006 03:07 GMT

Some states maybe but not all over it is felony animal abuse most
everywhere

>> Have 3 cats who have been allowed outdoors for all of their lives and
>> are avid hunters . We have a chain link fence around our lot which the
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> "within their rights" are you sure? - in the UK laying traps for domestic
> animals is criminal

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xkatx - 17 Apr 2006 03:42 GMT

> Some states maybe but not all over it is felony animal abuse most
> everywhere

You can set out cat traps on your own private property, but there's
guidelines... You can't lure a cat with food or anything like that, and it
has to be a cage type thing that does NOT harm or hurt an animal in any way
at all. You then cannot do as you please with any trapped cat, you have to
call the pound, who then takes the cat in and fines the owner, or keeps the
animal until an owner goes looking for it, and then hands out fines or puts
the cat to the shelter for adoption.
I know you can do it here, but there's rules and all that. No cruelty
involved and no luring. THAT comes with various fines, depending on what
you're doing if not following the guidelines, and I know that there's a
cruelty to animals fine that you can get if you're trapping and doing it in
a cruel way. The property management here does this, and they use cages
given by the pound to trap animals (cats and dogs) and the management here
works with the city to hand out fines to tenants not following rules about
pets being kept in yards or on leashes in the common areas. No cats or dogs
are allowed (as stated in the leases for all) to just wander as they please.

>>> Have 3 cats who have been allowed outdoors for all of their lives and
>>> are avid hunters . We have a chain link fence around our lot which the
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>> "within their rights" are you sure? - in the UK laying traps for domestic
>> animals is criminal

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